Below is presented some uniform/equipment information on the 8th, 81st Illinois Infantry Regiments. Feel free to contribute or ask questions.
The following was found in Frederick Todd's American Military Equipage, Vol. 2 (State Troops) It concerns the 8th Ill. "April 1861: US conversion, cartridge box only. May: state gray fatigue clothing. Aug: state gray, "brigade," dress and full accunterments. Dec: 80 French short rifles issed. c. March 1862: US reg inf uniform. 1862-1863: Enfield rifle. 1864-1865: Springfield rifled musket." On April 27, 1861, the 8th Illinois (serving as state militia volunteers) was issued 725 U.S. altered muskets and bayonets. These were probably .69 caliber muskets, likely M1822s.
(The wartime diary of James Jessee, Co. K, of the 8th Ill. Regt. notes that on March 13, 1862, he received "...new uniform jacket dark blue, pants light blue..." This quote, along with Todd's info, seems to pin down the date the 8th Ill. received their first blue uniforms and that was March 1862.
Another account of the 8th receiving blue uniforms: Gouldsmith D. Molineaux, Co. E of the 8th Regt. wrote in his diary on March 13, 1862: "...We received our new uniforms today light blue pants dark blue jackets. Mine don't fit me ..."
Todd's book also goes on to say, "Very little information exists regarding the style and type of uniforms worn by the 90-day volunteers. The first recorded uniform was merely 'a gray shirt, blue cap, and red blanket roll,' for the first six regiments. In May some 5,000 uniforms arrived from New York, and these were issued to the first six regiments, number 7-12. It was described as a, 'Jacket and pants of course gray cloth, blue zouave cap, and substantial shoes.' These uniforms were later found to be of 'shoddy' construction, the work of unscrupulous contractors." Charles Wills in his diary recording his service in Co. E wrote in late May, "We had our uniforms about a week. Gray satinette pants and roundabout, with a very handsome blue cap, nine brass buttons up the jacket front and gray flannel shirt."
I'm going to jump a head a little to another quote from Todd's book, that reads, "On 20 August 1861, as a reward for enlisting, the first Brigade of Illinois Volunteers (7th through 12th Regiments) were to receive a distinctive brigade uniform. It was described by a reporter of the Chicago Tribune: The uniform is in two suits, the first, a fine doeskin casimere ... (grey) coat with a short skirt, midway to the knee, trimmed with scarlett for artillery, and blue for infantry. The pants are the same material. The hat is of a soft durable felt, gray, moderately high crowned, cocked at the sides by a simple button. The fatigue suit is a shirt, pantaloon and zouave cap in a firm hickory cloth. The overcoat is the usual army pattern."Contemporary evidence points out that this 'Brigade' uniform was not issued to all six regiments. Only the 8th, 9th, 11th and 12th Regiments seem to have received it, if the evidence found in contemporary references is correct. From various letters, diaries and order books, it appears that the Brigades uniforms were issued in late August or early September. "Contracts for gray cloth ceased upon receipt of a War Department letter dated 23 September 1861, which requested 'that no troops hereafter furnished by your State, for the service of the Government, be uniformed in gray - that being the color generally worn by the enemy.' The issuance of gray clothing did cease on receipt of this order, but gray uniforms continued to be worn by Illinois soldiers well into 1862." Charles Wills described the a uniform issued to the 8th which must have been the 'brigade uniform' noted above. On Sept. 1, 1861, Wills wrote, "A uniform was also furnished us last week. It is of all-wool goods, and not so heavy as to be uncomfortable. The color is very fine gray, the pants are fashionably cut and equal to such as would cost six dolars in Peoria. The coats have short skirts and are rather fancifully trimmed in blue ... We will have a fatigue suit shortly."
Images of the following 8th Ill. Regt. soldiers can be found at the Illinois State Historical Society:
Co. A - Capt George A. Durfee
Co. B - Richard F. Jones
Co. E - Jacob Walters, Adam E. Rosier, Edward F. Geachen
Co. H - John G. Moss
Co. K - Philip Blind, Capt. James Carman, Eratus Baxter, Lytle R. Henline, Charles Stillhammer, David Roads, Anderson Wiley.
NOTE: Some of these men were transfers from the 17th Ill. Also, this is not the complete listing for 8th Ill. images.
Images of the following 8th Ill. Regt. soldiers can be found at the United States Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks:
Wartime bust portrait of 2nd Lt. Charles H. Hurt, Co. G
Waist up seated portrait of Pvt. Gilbert Brooks, Co. G
A bust view of Corp. William N. Bullard, Co. A
Wartime torso view of 1st Sgt. Daniel Hindman, Co. E
Wartime torso image of Pvt. John Lytle, Co. I, 33rd & 8th Regt
Bust view of Pvt. Alexander Johnson, Co. H, 8th Regt., Kansas Vol. Inf.; Co. , 14th Regt. Missouri Vol. Inf.; Co. L, 17th Regt., Ill. Vol. Cav. He has a GAR badge pinned to his civilian coat.
Post Civil War bust image of Pvt. Christopher C. Bridgman, Co.
G
Post Civil War image of Corp. John W. Schell, Co. D
Bust image of Musician Andrew H. Jordan, Co. K, 124th Regt., Ill. Vol. Inf. & alias Andrew Harmon, Co. I, 8th Regt.
Seated wartime image of Surg. Silas T. Trowbridge
Full standing wartime image of Capt. Daniel Sayers, Co. C
Wartime bust image of Capt. Alva C. Bishop, Co. H
Wartime bust image of 1st Lt. Benjamin F. Monroe, Co. I
Click here for Adjutant General's Report on the 8th Ill.
Again, referring to Todd's Vol. 2 on State Troops, it reads under the 81st Ill: "1862: Austrian rifled musket, cal .58, 1863: Enfield rifle. 1864-1865: Springfield rifled musket." Apparently, the 81st Ill. received regulation federal uniforms, including frock coats and dress hats. Photographic evidence has confirmed the usage of Austrian Lorenzes.
It is interesting to note what Todd's has to say on state Quartermaster General supplies. It notes that from April 26, 1861 to July 1862, "...the following items within the principal categories were purchased: 25,044 dress hats, and 9,080 brass figures and letters; 59,172 caps, 3,432 cap covers with capes (havelocks); 19,046 frock coats; 64,412 jackets; 11,072 blouses; 112,287 pairs of pants; 21,878 pairs of boots; 93,148 pairs of shoes; 72,866 overcoats; 95,967 woolen blankets; 20,637 enameled or rubber blankets; 35,223 knapsacks; 45,925 haversacks; 54,740 canteens." The 81st Ill. was mustered into service in August 26th, 1862 and received orders in Oct. 8th, 1862 to join Grant's army in the field.
Click here for Adjutant General's Report on the 81st Ill.
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