Uniforms and Equipment
Sub-headings: Authenticity Clothing Accouterments
Authenticity
As a living history unit, one of our main concerns is to portray our unit in a historically accurate fashion. We have included below the quotes from historical documents and other sources to support the appearance of the group. Note: despite the attraction of not scrubbing, we portray our unit as it set out for the campaign rather than after months of wear and tear...
Orlando Brown, a private in Hickman's company, later remembered,
"The Government did not equip the Kentucky volunteer in the rifle regiment. He furnished his own gun and his own clothes, and was paid eight dollars a month! The equipment of a volunteer in Hickman's company consisted of a hunting-shirt made of linsey, with a slight fringe border, color either blue, such as obtained from indigo, a pale yellow made from hickory bark, or a dingy brown obtained from the black walnut. His pants were Kentucky jeans, and he walked in shoes or moccasins, as was his fancy. Around his waist was a leather belt, on one side was a leather pocket fastened by leaden tacks, instead of thread, and in this was placed the indispensable tomahawk. Across his shoulder was the strap that held up his powder horn, in which strap was another leather case containing his formidable butcher knife, and another to hold his bullets. A knapsack of home manufacture contained his clothing, and the outside of it was garnished with a glittering tin cup. His well-tried-rifle, faithful and to be trusted in the hour of peril, .... was his weapon of war." (Brown in Clift, 19)
An eyewitness account from the River Raisin battle by British officer John Richardson adds and clarifies details,
"...it was the depth of winter; but scarcely an individual was in possession of a great cloak or cloak, and few of them wore garments of wool of any description. They still retained their summer dress, consisting of cotton stuff of various colors, shaped into frocks, and descending to the knee; their trowsers were of the same material. They were covered with slouched hats, worn bare by constant use; .... fastened by broad leathern belts, into which were thrust axes and knives of an enormous length..." (Richardson in Chartrand, 62).
A British traveler to Kentucky in 1817 noted that the militia,
"... they carry a cartouche for balls in front, having the powder horn slung at their back.... The dress of some was dark blue pantaloons with red trimmings, a dark blue linen or cotton hunting shirt, fastened round the waist with a belt, which also serves for tomahawk and knife." (Palmer in Chartrand, 155)
Red-fringed hunting shirts of various colors are also noted at the Battle of the Thames and are accurately portrayed in an engraving of the battle (Chartrand, 63).
Thus, we have arrived at the uniform depicted below. It has the slouch hat, dark blue hunting frock edged in red, leather belt, tomahawk, and knife. Our white canvas pants are accurate to the time, likely civilian dress, and more durable than linen pants. The cartridge box with its prepared rounds agrees with other accounts and with regulations governing reenacting battles. For instance, "Invaded on all Sides" repeatedly reports prepared cartridges being used by the Kentuckians (for instance, page 196 with "their reserve ammunition supply had dwindled to a third of a keg of cartridges, while many of the men on the line had barely two or three cartridges left in their boxes."). Thus, while we have the powder horns, etc. we rarely wear them on the field due to safety rules at most events. From personal experience, the Kentuckians likely carried coarser powder (such as FF) in the cartridges and used the powder horns for priming with FFFF powder. The result is a much more dependable working rifle.... but, using a priming horn would violate safety rules at most reenacting events....
Clothing
Our group wears blue hunting frocks edged in red. The linen is from William Booth Draper. We dye an off-white linen red and then fray it by pulling out the threads to give the fringe. After much hand-stitching, a small button is attacked under the cape to hold the frock closed at the top. The belt holds the rest of the frock closed. The pants are typical, white breeches we make ourselves. Likewise, we wear short, black gaiters we have made. Our shirts we buy from sutlers with the favorite being King's Landing in New Brunswick. We do wear black neckerchiefs that we have made ourselves for both style and comfort. The hats are converted Hardee hat blanks that are trimmed and edged with black twill tape to give the black, slouch hat look of the historical records.
Authenticity
As a living history unit, one of our main concerns is to portray our unit in a historically accurate fashion. We have included below the quotes from historical documents and other sources to support the appearance of the group. Note: despite the attraction of not scrubbing, we portray our unit as it set out for the campaign rather than after months of wear and tear...
Orlando Brown, a private in Hickman's company, later remembered,
"The Government did not equip the Kentucky volunteer in the rifle regiment. He furnished his own gun and his own clothes, and was paid eight dollars a month! The equipment of a volunteer in Hickman's company consisted of a hunting-shirt made of linsey, with a slight fringe border, color either blue, such as obtained from indigo, a pale yellow made from hickory bark, or a dingy brown obtained from the black walnut. His pants were Kentucky jeans, and he walked in shoes or moccasins, as was his fancy. Around his waist was a leather belt, on one side was a leather pocket fastened by leaden tacks, instead of thread, and in this was placed the indispensable tomahawk. Across his shoulder was the strap that held up his powder horn, in which strap was another leather case containing his formidable butcher knife, and another to hold his bullets. A knapsack of home manufacture contained his clothing, and the outside of it was garnished with a glittering tin cup. His well-tried-rifle, faithful and to be trusted in the hour of peril, .... was his weapon of war." (Brown in Clift, 19)
An eyewitness account from the River Raisin battle by British officer John Richardson adds and clarifies details,
"...it was the depth of winter; but scarcely an individual was in possession of a great cloak or cloak, and few of them wore garments of wool of any description. They still retained their summer dress, consisting of cotton stuff of various colors, shaped into frocks, and descending to the knee; their trowsers were of the same material. They were covered with slouched hats, worn bare by constant use; .... fastened by broad leathern belts, into which were thrust axes and knives of an enormous length..." (Richardson in Chartrand, 62).
A British traveler to Kentucky in 1817 noted that the militia,
"... they carry a cartouche for balls in front, having the powder horn slung at their back.... The dress of some was dark blue pantaloons with red trimmings, a dark blue linen or cotton hunting shirt, fastened round the waist with a belt, which also serves for tomahawk and knife." (Palmer in Chartrand, 155)
Red-fringed hunting shirts of various colors are also noted at the Battle of the Thames and are accurately portrayed in an engraving of the battle (Chartrand, 63).
Thus, we have arrived at the uniform depicted below. It has the slouch hat, dark blue hunting frock edged in red, leather belt, tomahawk, and knife. Our white canvas pants are accurate to the time, likely civilian dress, and more durable than linen pants. The cartridge box with its prepared rounds agrees with other accounts and with regulations governing reenacting battles. For instance, "Invaded on all Sides" repeatedly reports prepared cartridges being used by the Kentuckians (for instance, page 196 with "their reserve ammunition supply had dwindled to a third of a keg of cartridges, while many of the men on the line had barely two or three cartridges left in their boxes."). Thus, while we have the powder horns, etc. we rarely wear them on the field due to safety rules at most events. From personal experience, the Kentuckians likely carried coarser powder (such as FF) in the cartridges and used the powder horns for priming with FFFF powder. The result is a much more dependable working rifle.... but, using a priming horn would violate safety rules at most reenacting events....
Clothing
Our group wears blue hunting frocks edged in red. The linen is from William Booth Draper. We dye an off-white linen red and then fray it by pulling out the threads to give the fringe. After much hand-stitching, a small button is attacked under the cape to hold the frock closed at the top. The belt holds the rest of the frock closed. The pants are typical, white breeches we make ourselves. Likewise, we wear short, black gaiters we have made. Our shirts we buy from sutlers with the favorite being King's Landing in New Brunswick. We do wear black neckerchiefs that we have made ourselves for both style and comfort. The hats are converted Hardee hat blanks that are trimmed and edged with black twill tape to give the black, slouch hat look of the historical records.
Accouterments
The haversack is standard for the time and also handmade by us. The wooden canteen is appropriate for the time. The wooden barrel style is standard and imitates the regulars in its color and lettering (Chartrand, 109). We have found that neither the wooden nor tin canteens stand up to the rigours of skirmishing. Presently, we are experimenting with modified, large, 'hip flasks'. They will give the look of the tin canteens without losing their tops, leaking, crushing/breaking.... The cartridge boxes are the 1808 US model.
As for edged weapons, all the members carry at least a long knife of either single or double edged style as long as it looks period appropriate. Tomahawks are carried by some members and our officers and sergeants carry replica time period swords (along with red or maroon sashes to denote their ranks).
Like any militia unit that brings its personal firearms to the battlefield, there is no standardization. This aspect was a bonus for our group as it permitted us to demonstrate various firearms to the public. The vast majority of us carry rifles (Kentucky, Pennsylvanian, Frontier/Blue Ridge, ......) and we have a 'captured' Brown Bess as well for demonstration purposes.
Thus our group is designed to fit the historical record for a group of Hickman's volunteers from one of the more settled parts of Franklin county. As shown above, our clothes and gear also fit in with later battles as well. If you have any questions, please contact us or, better yet, refer to these excellent sources - Chartrand, Clift, and Naveaux - in the Resources section.
As for edged weapons, all the members carry at least a long knife of either single or double edged style as long as it looks period appropriate. Tomahawks are carried by some members and our officers and sergeants carry replica time period swords (along with red or maroon sashes to denote their ranks).
Like any militia unit that brings its personal firearms to the battlefield, there is no standardization. This aspect was a bonus for our group as it permitted us to demonstrate various firearms to the public. The vast majority of us carry rifles (Kentucky, Pennsylvanian, Frontier/Blue Ridge, ......) and we have a 'captured' Brown Bess as well for demonstration purposes.
Thus our group is designed to fit the historical record for a group of Hickman's volunteers from one of the more settled parts of Franklin county. As shown above, our clothes and gear also fit in with later battles as well. If you have any questions, please contact us or, better yet, refer to these excellent sources - Chartrand, Clift, and Naveaux - in the Resources section.