2 MI:frock or sack?

[Frank]

Hello,
I am looking for information regarding what the 2 MI company F infantry was issued at the start of the war: frock coats or sack?
I am gathering information because I am going to start portraying Franklin Thompson, (Sarah Emma Edmonds) soldier, nurse, spy and mail carrier.
Thanks in advance for any help to a new member on the discussion board!

~ Tiffany E. 4th OVI Com. B

[jthlmnn]

From the photo found on this link, http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/8558/
the answer would appear to be "Neither". It looks like the enlisted personnel are wearing shell jackets.

Good luck and have fun,

[Rob Weaver]

Not much elase helpful on the site, though. Are they wearing dark blue trousers?

[jthlmnn]

Not much elase helpful on the site, though. Are they wearing dark blue trousers?
That's why I only cited the photo. From the lack of contrast between jacket and trowsers, and from the early date of the photo, I believe you are correct with dark blue for the trowsers. As I recall one of the earlier uniforms of the Iron Brigade regiments (after the gray fiasco) also included dark blue trowsers.

[Rob Weaver]

Yep. 2nd Wisconsin had dark blue trousers. The "raggedy-a**ed 2nd."

[Minieball577]

From what I recall the name "ragged assed second" came from the era of the gray pants, and the dark blue trousers were the solutiion to the posteriors of the troops hanging out during inspections.

[Rob Weaver]

You are absolutely correct, and I didn't mean to infer that it came from the blue trousers. By the time they got them, however, the name already stuck.

[jthlmnn]

Tiffany/Sarah/Frank,

Has this been helpful to you?

[RJSamp]

From what I recall the name "ragged assed second" came from the era of the gray pants, and the dark blue trousers were the solutiion to the posteriors of the troops hanging out during inspections.

Specifically the 2nd set of Gray uniforms issued when they were out east......from an unscrupulous New York contractor who had a lot of shoddy in the material.....

That Madaus article always comes in handy.....he is missed....

[Frank]

Ummm......sort of. But I do thank you for your help! I'm thinking that if I'm not wearing the right coat/pants to portray Frank/Sarah, then how are the people watching me going to know what I should/shouldn't be wearing?

~ Tiffany

[jthlmnn]

Ummm......sort of. But I do thank you for your help! I'm thinking that if I'm not wearing the right coat/pants to portray Frank/Sarah, then how are the people watching me going to know what I should/shouldn't be wearing?

~ Tiffany

The key is that you will know and that will affect your portrayal, to some degree. Confidence in your uniform will add confidence to your impression. It may also spark some easy opening questions from the folks, like "How come you aren't dressed like those guys over there?" To those who do know their uniforms, or the 2nd MI, you will add credibility to your impression by demonstrating that you have researched your persona. All that being said, let's look at what you know or can surmise so far, from just one photograph.

We can establish, at minimum, that the 2nd Michigan was wearing shell jackets early in the war. Being a comparitively tight fitting garment, Sarah might have had a tougher time disguising her gender than with a fatigue blouse. Its seems that, for the same period, dark blue trowsers are more likely than sky blue. From that same photograph, my tired old eyes take the headgear to be kepis, rather than forage caps. (Note the knurl around the top, as opposed to the flat circle of a forage cap.) I'll stand corrected if others can demonstrate that we are actually seeing forage caps. One more thing from the photo, noting the position of the rifles and the method of holding them (rifle in the right hand, thumb and forefinger around the trigger guard), you can surmise that these men were trained using Hardee's 1855 manual. (To see more of this manual and/or compare to the styles of other manuals, see The Drill Network http://home.att.net/~Cap1MD/Drill.htm) Early in the war, it is also more likely that hat brass would have been common and plentiful, so attaching the Jäger horn, regimental # and company letter would be appropriate and would also give visual clues as to the person you are portraying.

As to verifying the above, and maybe other aspects of the uniform, you might try contacting the 2nd Michigan website, to see what they know about the early uniform. I would also go to the Library of Congress website and search for other images of the 2nd Michigan from the early war period. The same type of research might be available from the Historical Society of Michigan, the Michigan Historical Center or any other site that has a large collection of CW photos. (Check the Authentic Campaigner site and do a site search. They also have a good folder on CW photos.) All this is stuff you can do via the internet.

I hope ths is more to the point and helpful as you begin to develope your impression.

Good Luck,