The 1st Missouri Volunteer Infantry is a Confederate reenacting unit, so most of our impressions are for the South. Once in a while, we galvanize to the Union, but not very often. Keep in mind that we will not turn down the request to become Federals for a weekend.

Many of the events for 2000 are early war, so this year we are going entirely as Missouri State Guard troops who fought with Sterling Price. Now a word about authenticity in 2000. After reading many articles, webpages, and regulations for events this year one thing stands out, "authenticity". The sponsors of events are asking more and more for reenactors to tailor their impressions towards strict uniform and equipment guidelines. The day's of wearing the trusty grey shell and federal sky blue pants are nearing a close. This year we are reenacting early war battles and our normal late war impression does not fit. When you research the Missouri State Guard, you will find that these men were truly citizen soldiers and had little military clothing at all. Does this mean you have to go out and spend money on new clothes? Not at all! Check with other members on what they will be doing to improve their impression. Recently, the 1st Sgt. sewed a pair of pants and a vest for less than $40 dollars and 5 hrs. of his time, and you can do it to! So you ask, what's out and what's in?

• Out - Shells, frocks, sack coats, and kersey's. In - civilian frocks, trowsers, and sack suits.
• Out - Leather accoutrements In - haversacks.
• Out - Kepis, bummers, and forge hats In - any hat civilian.
• Out - U.S. Belt plates and hat brass In - square buckles and plain belts and hats.
• Out - Military canteens In - bottles and gords .

To make a more authentic impression, you will need to do more than take of your shell jacket. Here is a more detailed list of what you need. Fortunately, you should already have most of this equipment. Remember these citizen soldiers came from home and had no military equipment. All they had was what they brought with them.

• Hats: A black slouch preferred, but brown, gray, and straws are acceptable. When getting a slouch, do not get a shapeless one. A formed hat was the style. Lusty zesty is the ticket.
• Shirts: Remember soldiers wore shirts from home and they were of various colors and/or patterns. Shirts were made in the same style (four-button pullover with yoke in back, one button cuffs and long square tails). Buttons should be pewter, wood, or stamped metal. No plastic buttons.
• Suspenders: Any of the various styles and materials available are acceptable. They should be button type; no alligator clamps or elastic.
• Vests: Vests were a popular item of the day. Men in the 1860's always wore vests and coats. This was because a shirt was considered underwear. This is not a necessity, but if you have one, make sure it is period style.
• Coat: If you get a civilian coat, a regular sack coat is fine. Try to avoid using gray or blue. Plaids were stylish in the '60's. Coats should be made of materials like jean, wool, broadcloth and flannel.
• Trousers: Get period civilian canvas, cotton, or wool trousers. No Kersey Blues for the State Guard.
• Footwear: Jefferson Brogan U.S. M1851 style. Boots are also acceptable, make sure they are period style, stovepipe type in black or brown.
• Socks: Wool of any color or style. Soldiers wore socks from home. No elastic tops.
• Drawers: Period underwear can be used but they are not required. It is probably one of the last items you will get. Also long underwear is very nice for those chilly autumn nights. It doesn't have to be period looking, as long as it stays covered when camps are open.
• Accouterments: belt, haversack, and canteen. Again, these boys had nothing. The government did not supply them with any accouterments. They kept their cartridges in haversacks if they had them, and thier caps in their pockets.

We also do impressions of late war, or Confederate soldiers who may have fought in the Army of the Trans-Mississippi. Confederate Soldier Uniform:

• Jackets: The common Shell Jacket in "MISSOURI GRAY" wool. No outside pockets, epaulettes, collar or cuff trim, or piping. Preferably with seven pewter "I" buttons. The gold color "CSA" buttons look farby! You can have it lined with muslin if you wish.
• Hats, shirts, suspenders, vests, trousers, footwear, socks, and drawers: Same as above.

Like I said before, if we are asked to galvanize, then we'll put on the old blue coat and portray soldiers who fought in the Army of the West. Union Soldier Uniform:

• Hats: You can use your slouch here. If you want to get a kepie or bummer for your federal impression, get it in federal blue. No piping, but an infantry bugle is ok.
• Shirts, suspenders, vests, shoes, socks: See above list.
• Trousers: U.S. Army 1862 sky blue foot pattern.
• Jackets: The common Sack Coat in the federal blue. Again, no fancy stuff on the outside except for the four gold eagle buttons, and you can have it lined with muslin if you wish.
• Greatcoat: Not required, but recommended for early spring or fall events. Get the U.S. Army sky blue infantry pattern.
• Poncho: Not required, but you will be glad to have one. Get the U.S. Army issue, not the Confederate blanket type. The first sheds water, the second doesn't.

Here is a list of accouterments to have on hand for the above impressions. For early war or MSG impressions, all you really need is a belt, haversack, and canteen. Almost all volunteers were not equipped with government issued accouterments. They kept their cartridges in haversacks and caps in their pockets. Late war or regular confederate soldiers were issued accouterments, and it reported that some stole accouterments from dead Yankees because "their equipment was made better". Union soldiers had the same accouterments, with only minor differences.

Accouterments:

• Cartridge Box: U.S. M1855 .58 caliber cartridge box with U.S. box plate to be affixed UPSIDE-DOWN on the flap. This can be secured with a piece of leather to make it easy to change if needed. Make sure you have tins; its easier to store your cartridges with them.
• Cartridge Box Sling: To fit cartridge box and to be fitted with U.S. sling plate type 1839.
• Waistbelt: U.S. regulation waistbelt M1854 style. Oval U.S. belt plate with arrow back. Belt plate worn upside-down for a confederate impression, and rightside-up for a federal impression.
• Cap Pouch: U.S. M1850 style.
• Canteens: U.S. M1858 (smoothside) canteen with sky blue covering. The wooden canteens also work well.
• Haversacks: Off white canvas haversack with leather strap and buckle or button closure. You should also have a U.S. issue tarred haversack.
• Messgear: We are currently working to put together a company mess box. What you will need is a tin plate, three tined fork, knife, and spoon (all with wooden handles), and a tin cup, army type with soldered joints. Don't get those with the rolled joints, they are Indian War.

Tents, Weapons, etc.

• Tent: Get a wedge or "A" tent. A tent 7' long, 6' high, and 6'wide will sleep two with plenty of room for their gear. You can buy forged tent stakes or those 12" long spikes, and make your own poles.
• Bedding: One gum blanket, or water treated piece of off white canvas for use as a ground cloth. Get a wool blanket of either gray or dark blue color. You can use a sleeping bag, but it has to been out of sight when the camp is open to the public. Period-looking quilts are also acceptable.
• Weapons: Three band muskets are a must! Don't buy two a bander and expect to use it in a reenactment. British M1853 Enfields and U.S. Springfields (M1861 or M1863) are the primary weapons of Company "I". Also get the correct bayonet and scabbard to go with it. Officers may carry pistols and swords of their choosing (they have all the rank, so they get to do what they want, right?)

The Bolded items above should be acquired first. The rest you can get over time. We have some items we can loan to recruits until they can get their own gear.

Some notes to get started:

• When you buy your rifle, buy your bayonet and scabbard at the same time.
• All leather accouterments must be black.
• Because we do a Missouri State Guard impression, some members have different clothes (Mexican War uniforms, etc.) to make a slightly different impression. Make sure you have all the necessary items required before starting new impressions.
• When you go out to buy equipment, get some help from another member if you are unsure of what to get.
• The first thing you should get is the canteen. Marching around in a wool uniform with eight pounds of equipment and a nine pound rifle in 80-90+ degree heat will be very tiring! You will need plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
• Haversack stuffers like a housewife, pipe, tobacco, currency, cards, dice, pocketknife and food are kept in your haversack.
• When you start to acquire your equipment, you may want to make yourself a wooden trunk to store and transport it all. It's easier to leave everything in there than try to account for everything before you go to an event only to realize that you forgot something after you've arrived. This is easy to make at home using pine boards, period-looking hinges, rope for handles and a nice stain. I made mine for about $45.
• Speaking of making thinks at home, some of the items above like haversacks, housewives, shirts, and even your tent can be made at home for much less than you could buy pre-made. Some of our members have made equipment and it looks pretty good!
• Eyewear: Contact lenses are acceptable, but from experience, I would not recommend it. I lost one of my lenses at my first event. That's when I decided to find some period frames. Some catalog companies sell eyeglasses, but I went to a junk/antique store and found a pair of period wire frames.

Finally, the 1st MO does not require that our new members get all of their equipment right away. Some 20th century items can pass because they are hard to see from the battlefield. We do encourage members to make a good attempt to look historically accurate and acquire the necessary items for this hobby. However, there is no set time period in which a new recruit must acquire these items.