Uniform,Accouterments and Possesions of Colonel John Nelson Cromwell 47th Illinois

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Jul 28, 2015
Years ago I was able to obtain this wonderful collection of Colonel John Nelson Cromwell, born in 1830 at Plainfield, NJ, Cromwell headed West ending up in Peoria, IL. A silver plater, he became a member of the National Blues, elected 2nd Lt of the militia group. He enlisted on August 8th 1861 and was commissioned captain of company A 47th Illinois infantry. Captain Cromwell stood 5 foot 8 inches tall had a light complexion, gray eyes and dark hair. He was promoted to major on May 9th 1862 and joined the regimental staff that day.
He was captured while checking on night pickets during the Iuka campaign and was interred in Richmond's Libby Prison. Upon parole, he was promoted Colonel of the regiment and due to his POW experiences, vowed never to be captured again, which would prove fatal.

While in command of the rear guard at Jackson Mississippi he went to visit some of his wounded that could not be moved and were certain to fall prisoner that day. Upon resuming his duties he was unaware that Confederate cavalry had come down a side street and had cut him off from his command. He was instructed to surrender, but pulled his pistol and dropped one cavalier from the saddle before he was pierced by multiple carbine rounds.

His collection consists of his dress frockcoat, two pairs of very well made officer's trousers, a vest, sash, sword belt, socks with a tag that reads "Uncle Nelson's army socks", National Blues shako pom pom, feathers and shako bugle insignia, with NB in the center. Also included is his bible with an inscription, "To Nelson, from mother with love".

The chest and chair are not part of the archive, only there to help display the collection. Both pair of officer's trousers have canvas reinforcing about 6-7 inches from hem bottom upwards. Both have double buttons around the inside of the hem so that a strap might be secured around the arch/instep of the foot, securing the pants leg, from creeping up while mounted, the boot being worn on the outside of the pants
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Looking at his (full colonel) shoulder straps, can't really tell if they are faded or subdued, i.e., they don't really stand-out much compared to the polished frock buttons.
 
Looking at his (full colonel) shoulder straps, can't really tell if they are faded or subdued, i.e., they don't really stand-out much compared to the polished frock buttons.
They are faded/tarnished, this was most likely his dress coat, I imagine he was wearing a field frock or sack coat when he was killed.
 
They are faded/tarnished, this was most likely his dress coat, I imagine he was wearing a field frock or sack coat when he was killed.
He must have had means, his trousers have maroon piping around the top edge of the pants waist area with internal belting around the waist as well. The frock has significant sweat stains in the sleeves, so it was worn quite often, most likely for dress parades.
 
Years ago I was able to obtain this wonderful collection of Colonel John Nelson Cromwell, born in 1830 at Plainfield, NJ, Cromwell headed West ending up in Peoria, IL. A silver plater, he became a member of the National Blues, elected 2nd Lt of the militia group. He enlisted on August 8th 1861 and was commissioned captain of company A 47th Illinois infantry. Captain Cromwell stood 5 foot 8 inches tall had a light complexion, gray eyes and dark hair. He was promoted to major on May 9th 1862 and joined the regimental staff that day.
He was captured while checking on night pickets during the Iuka campaign and was interred in Richmond's Libby Prison. Upon parole, he was promoted Colonel of the regiment and due to his POW experiences, vowed never to be captured again, which would prove fatal.

While in command of the rear guard at Jackson Mississippi he went to visit some of his wounded that could not be moved and were certain to fall prisoner that day. Upon resuming his duties he was unaware that Confederate cavalry had come down a side street and had cut him off from his command. He was instructed to surrender, but pulled his pistol and dropped one cavalier from the saddle before he was pierced by multiple carbine rounds.

His collection consists of his dress frockcoat, two pairs of very well made officer's trousers, a vest, sash, sword belt, socks with a tag that reads "Uncle Nelson's army socks", National Blues shako pom pom, feathers and shako bugle insignis with NB in the center. Also included is his bible with an inscription, "To Nelson, from mother with love".

The chest and chair are not part of the archive, only there to help display the collection. Both pair of officer's trousers have canvas reinforcing about 6-7 inches from hem bottom upwards. Both have double buttons around the inside of the hem so that a strap might be secured around the arch/instep of the foot, securing the pants leg, from creeping up while mounted, the boot being worn on the outside of the pantsView attachment 122900 View attachment 122901 View attachment 122902 View attachment 122903 .

Cromwell, wearing what appears to be the uniform above, as you can see, the shoulder straps are fairly bright and vibrant.
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I'm seeing the full colonel eagles on the mannequin, but seeing a blank strap (2Lt.) on Cromwell's head & shoulders portrait.
No, the eagles are on the straps of the CDV, it would not make sense to have line rank on a field and staff double breasted coat, not to mention that Cromwell was commissioned into the service as a captain and never held the rank of Lt. Not sure if your computer allows it, but you can blow up the picture and can see the outline of the eagle.
 
Thanks @Package4 for posting Colonel Cromwell's uniform grouping.

Could you please post more detailed photos of the socks.
 
Outstanding group of items. Thanks for sharing. A pity the colonel's watch (my particular collecting passion) did not stay with his uniform.
No doubt he had it with him, along with his field belt, pistol, sword which were most likely were made trophies of Captain McLane's company, of Wert Adam's Confederate cavalry. Cromwell's body was attended to by Mason's, who had it buried, just outside of Jackson and was retrieved a year later and re-interred in Baptist Evergreen Cemetery, in Plainfield, NJ.
 
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