Impression Guidelines
Crowley's 3rd MO. Infantry
As Crowley's 3rd. Missouri Confederate Infantry we portray multiple
impressions of the Missouri soilder throughout the war based on
date of specific battles at events. Our 3 main impressions are Early war
Missouri State Guard / Van Dorn's Army of the West 1861-1862, Mid-
war Confederate Missouri Brigade / Army of Tennesse 1862-
1863, and Late-war Confederate Missouri Brigade / Army of Tennesse
1864-1865.
Early-war Missouri State Guard / Van Dorn's Army of the
West 1861 - Battles of Booneville MO, Cole Camp MO, Carthage MO,
Lexington MO, Wilson's Creek MO
Mid-war Confederate Missouri Brigade / Army of the West/Army of
Mississippi 1862-1863 - Battles of Elk Horn Tavern AK (Pea Ridge), Iuka
MS, Corinth MS, Port Gibson MS, Champion's Hill, Big Black, Siege of
Vicksburg MS
Late-war Confederate Missouri Brigade / Army of Tennesse 1864-1865 -
Battles of Lattimer House GA, Kennesaw Mountain GA, Atlanta GA,
Alltoona GA, Franklin TN, Fort Blakeley AL
Early-war Missouri State Guard / Van Dorn's Army of the West 1861
The early-war Missouri State Guard / Van Dorn's Army of the West impression is that of a civilian solider. Most of these men came straight off the farm, or right out of the city with little to no military experience. These men of the Missouri State Guard did not officially join the regular Confererate Army until 1862 and as such arrived ready to enlist in the Guard dressed in what they wore from day to day as Missouri citizens and civilians. Without the resources of the Confederate Government these citizen soldiers served in the Missouri State Guard without standardized uniforms or regular military equipment. It is thought that around 30% of the men had some uniformity on a company level even if it was motley and not regular army issued uniforms. Many of these men would have taken advantage of captured uniforms and equipment from federal forces and to see some of these men dressed in blue would not be uncommon. In general this early-war Missouri State Guard / Van Dorn's Army of the West impression is a mixed bag of civilian clothing, pre-war militia uniforms, captured federal uniforms, and company level coordinated dress. Arms and equipment would be again a mixed bag of civilian hunting / game rifles and shotguns, pre-war militia weapons, captured federal arms and equipment, farm tools, pikes, and pistols.
Mid-war Confederate Missouri Brigade Army of the West 1862-1863
The mid-war Confederate Missouri Brigade / Army of the West impression is that of the Western Thearter Confederate Infantryman. The men of the early war Missouri State Guard are organized into the First Missouri Confederate Brigade in Osceola, MO December 1861. In April 1862 following the March 7-8 battle of Elk Horn Tavern ( Pea Ridge, AK ) the Brigade is transferred east of the Mississippi River. In Sept. of 1862 the Brigade is reorganized and Gen. Cockrell takes command after the death of Gen. Little during the battle of Iuka. The men of Cockrell's Missouri Brigade go on to fight in the battles of Corinth, Port Gibson, Champions Hill, Big Black, and finally the Seige of Vicksburg in May 16-July 3, 1863. There are 2 seperate uniform options and impressions for this Mid-war Confederate Missouri Brigade/Army of the West 1862-1863 Impression. The first is that of the uniforms issued to the Missouri Brigade in Arkansas on March 1-2, 1862 just prior to the battle of Elk Horn Tavern. This uniform impression is that of the undied white sheeps wool, or ice cream suit. Here is what Pvt. Ephraim Anderson writes about these uniforms "Our regiment was uniformed here; the cloth was of rough coarse texture, and the cutting and style would have produced a sensation in the fashionable circles: the stuff was white, never having been colored, with a goodly supply of grease - the wool had not been purified by any application of water since it had been taken from the back of the sheep" The second impression is that of uniforms issued to the Missouri Brigade in Mississippi late 1862, what is know as the Columbus Depot jacket with grey jean wool and blue cuff and collar. The Missouri Brigade would be in this Columbus Depot uniform up to the siege and finally the surrender at Vicksburg, MS 1863.
Late-war Confederate
Missouri Brigade
Army of Tennesse
1863-1865
The men of the early war Missouri State Guard are organized into the First Missouri Confederate Brigade in Osceola, MO December 1861. In April 1862 following the March 7-8battle of Elk Horn Tavern ( Pea Ridge, AK ) the Brigade is transferred east of the Mississippi River. In Sept. of 1862 the Brigade is reorganized and Gen. Cockrell takes command after the death of Gen. Little during the battle of Iuka. The men of Cockrell's Missouri Brigade go on to fight in the battles of Corinth, Port Gibson, Champions Hill, Big Black, and finally the Siege of Vicksburg in May 16-July 3, 1863. In December 1862/January 1863 the Missouri Brigade begins to receive its first issue of the Columbus Depot Shell Jacket along with pants, and caps. Below is documented info on this issue of uniforms to troops.
In January 1863, while encamped near Grenada, Mississippi, "there was a suit of uniform issued to every man in the Brigade [sic]. Grey Pants, grey Jackets & grey Caps. The collars & cuffs of the Jackets are trimmed [sic] with light blue." (Phillip T. Tucker, The South's Finest: The First Missouri Confederate Brigade from Pea Ridge to Vicksburg (Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Publishing Co., Inc., 1993)While in winter quarters near Grenada, Mississippi on December 24, 1862 the army was reviewed by President Davis, and Generals Johnston,Price, Loring and others. Colonel R. S. Bevier of the Missouri Brigade gives this account: "The First [Missouri] Brigade were clothed in their new uniforms of gray striped by blue, and presented a fine appearance
Equipment
Personal
Footwear- Period Brogans of military or civilian make
Headgear- Civilian hats such as Slouch Hats and Wheel Caps, Kepi, or Forage Caps (Missouri State Guard must be of a civilian type or previous federal issue kepi)
Shirts- Military issue shirts of the period or civilian shirts
Pants- Jean wool, wool, or cotton trousers of the period style of military or civilian
Vest- Jean wool, wool, cotton civilian or military
Jackets (all but battle shirts and civilian coats should be made of any variation of Jean Wool unless otherwise specified):
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Battle Shirts (appropriate for Missouri State Guard and are to be made of cotton and lightweight jean wool and other variations of wool)
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Civilian sack coats and dress coats( appropriate for early war as the Missouri State Guard)
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White Wool Jacket (Such as the Appler Jacket which was a variation or type of a white wool that belonged to a member of the 4th Mo)
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Columbus Depot (mid war)
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Dept. of Alabama(late war)
Alternative Jackets:
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Frock Coat(appropriate for impression from mid to late war)
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Commutation Jackets( appropriate for impressions from mid to late war)
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Bach Jackets (Made of imported English army cloth and was unique that it had red tape around the neck. Appropriate for late war Trans-Mississippi troops.)
Socks- wool or cotton of period style
Under drawers- wool or flannel of period style
Accouterments for Regular Confederate Infantry
All accoutrements must be of "captured" federal accouterments, confederate manufactured accouterments, or imported foreign accouterments (mainly English make) based off of original specimens. One massive aspect to take into account is the southern government of the State of Missouri bought enough accouterment sets from Magee and George of New Orleans, Louisiana to outfit every Missouri confederate soldier twice. Missouri Boot and Shoe offers these accouterments to purchase. Another Aspect to take into account is there was tons of English goods being poured into Texas and Louisiana and there is no doubt that some could have easily made its way into the hands of Missouri troops.
Belts and Buckles- Should be made of brown or black leather and must have a period buckle of any sort. Period buckles must be civilian, square C.S., a documented version of the oval C.S., Georgia frame, fork tongue, English imported snake buckle, billet buckle, or roller buckle.
Cartridge box- 1839 Musket Cartridge box (.69 cal), 1857 cartridge box (.58 cal or .69 cal) , 1861 cartridge box, or English made Thaxton Box. Any confederate copy of the before listed cartridge boxes are appropriate.
Cartridge box sling- Leather or canvas to fit your cartridge box
Cap Pouch- C.S. , U.S., or imported English issue black or brown leather
Canteen- tin or copper drum canteen, 1858 smooth side canteen, U.S. bullseye canteen, wood civilian canteen
Haversack- civilian patterns, C.S. or U.S. issued
Knapsack- By far the most underrepresented piece of equipment in this hobby. Must be of C.S. issued, "captured federal", or English Import.
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Any Confederate issue wood framed pack
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"Captured" Federal 1853 Double Bag Knapsack
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Mexican War Style Knapsack
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Kibler Knapsack (confederate copy of the Mexican War Knapsack)
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Any type of reproduction of the 1856 British Regulation pack. Variations include reproductions of Isaac Campbell and Co. or Ross and Co. Enough of these were imported into the Confederacy that possibly 1 in 4 of all Confederate troops were issued with them.