Michigan made kepis

[major bill]

When the Federal Government asked Michigan to provide regiments the State of Michigan supplied most of the uniform items to include caps. Here are some of the cap providers as well as some other "Michigan" cap information.

1. F. Buhl & Company was located at 148 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit Michigan. They were listed as manufactures and wholesale dealers in hats, cap, furs and straw goods, buck mittens and gloves and buffalo robes. F. Buhl & Company provided the State of Michigan many caps, cap fronts, and company letters. They provided some of the caps for the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. It appears that some of the cap contract was sub-contacted out to other Detroit firms. The State of Michigan contract with Buhl firm to make the caps for the 5th to 10th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiments. Many of the State's officers purchased higher quality caps from F. Buhl & Company.
2. S. A Fuller & Company, was located at 182 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit Michigan. They were listed in the gazetteer as being jobbers of hats, caps and furs. They provide some of the caps for the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiments. Fuller & Company provided the grey caps for the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Some officers purchased their higher quality caps from S. A. Fuller & Company.
3. J. T. Smith was located at 184 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit Michigan. J.T. Smith was listed in the gazetteer as selling hat, caps and furs. He provided some of the caps for the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and some of the caps for the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
4. T. H. Armstrong (Thomas) & Company was located at 168 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit Michigan. Reportedly they were manufactures and dealers in hats, caps, furs, umbrellas, canes, etc. They also carried Masonic and I.O.O.F. regalia and jewels. Armstrong & Company provided some of the caps for the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and some of the caps for the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
5. Voorhees & Mill (probably Detroit Michigan) in 1861 reportedly sold 1000 caps to Michigan.
6. S. Robman & Company (city unknown) in1861 reportedly sold cap fronts and straps to Michigan.
7. G. W. Milles of Hastings Michigan before the start of the Civil War made the caps worn by the Hasting True Blues.
8. J. & A Herzog was located at 152 Lake, Chicago Illinois. They provided the caps to the Hudson Zouave Cadets in 1860.

 

[Badgercwcollector]

Any of thee companies still doing business ?

 

[major bill]

Any of thee companies still doing business ?

I would have to check but would highly doubt it. According to the Michigan Adjutant General Michigan supplied 10,035 caps, most and perhaps all were made in Michigan. The Federal Government had another 11,868 sets if uniforms made in Detroit for regiments forming in Michigan, but it is uncertain if this included the caps or hats,.

 

[mofederal]

There is a chance that some examples may have survived. I am sure that it would take a lot of research, but well worth the effort involved in the search.

 

[major bill]

There is a chance that some examples may have survived. I am sure that it would take a lot of research, but well worth the effort involved in the search.

Perhaps, but I have yet to hear of one. However 10 thousand caps is a fair amount and I would not be surprised if a couple survived. The 900 three month men in the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry must have brought a fair number home with them.

 

[major bill]

 

[major bill]

I am having problems reading this but it appears to be for caps.

 

[CW Watch & Sword Guy]

When the Federal Government asked Michigan to provide regiments the State of Michigan supplied most of the uniform items to include caps. Here are some of the cap providers as well as some other "Michigan" cap information.

1. F. Buhl & Company was located at 148 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit Michigan. They were listed as manufactures and wholesale dealers in hats, cap, furs and straw goods, buck mittens and gloves and buffalo robes. F. Buhl & Company provided the State of Michigan many caps, cap fronts, and company letters. They provided some of the caps for the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. It appears that some of the cap contract was sub-contacted out to other Detroit firms. The State of Michigan contract with Buhl firm to make the caps for the 5th to 10th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiments. Many of the State's officers purchased higher quality caps from F. Buhl & Company.
2. S. A Fuller & Company, was located at 182 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit Michigan. They were listed in the gazetteer as being jobbers of hats, caps and furs. They provide some of the caps for the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiments. Fuller & Company provided the grey caps for the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Some officers purchased their higher quality caps from S. A. Fuller & Company.
3. J. T. Smith was located at 184 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit Michigan. J.T. Smith was listed in the gazetteer as selling hat, caps and furs. He provided some of the caps for the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and some of the caps for the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
4. T. H. Armstrong (Thomas) & Company was located at 168 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit Michigan. Reportedly they were manufactures and dealers in hats, caps, furs, umbrellas, canes, etc. They also carried Masonic and I.O.O.F. regalia and jewels. Armstrong & Company provided some of the caps for the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and some of the caps for the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
5. Voorhees & Mill (probably Detroit Michigan) in 1861 reportedly sold 1000 caps to Michigan.
6. S. Robman & Company (city unknown) in1861 reportedly sold cap fronts and straps to Michigan.
7. G. W. Milles of Hastings Michigan before the start of the Civil War made the caps worn by the Hasting True Blues.
8. J. & A Herzog was located at 152 Lake, Chicago Illinois. They provided the caps to the Hudson Zouave Cadets in 1860.

Great research, MB. Did these providers ever include identifying tags in the garments they made, or was that not allowed?

 

[major bill]

Great research, MB. Did these providers ever include identifying tags in the garments they made, or was that not allowed?

No surviving example have been found but I would expect the could have had tags inside. Here are the caps in an image. Can anyone give me some insight on what they are? They kind of look like standard forage caps.

 

[major bill]

This is also probably one of them. I have not positively Identified it but it appears maybe to be the same flag as the image below which has been identified as the 1st Michigan Three Month Infantry.

 

[major bill]

One of the Detroit made caps on a Coldwater Zouave who was in the 1st Michigan Three Month Infantry. Note the Detroit made jacket and trousers. Also note the pocket between the 6th and 7th button of his jacket on his right side under his cartridge belt.

 

[CW Watch & Sword Guy]

One of the Detroit made caps on a Coldwater Zouave who was in the 1st Michigan Three Month Infantry. Note the Detroit made jacket and trousers. Also note the pocket between the 6th and 7th button of his jacket on his right side under his cartridge belt.
View attachment 186830

Might that pocket have been for ... I don't know ... a watch!?

 

[major bill]

Might that pocket have been for ... I don't know ... a watch!?

Perhaps but the jacket was based on the style worn during the Mexican American War and somewhere in the back of my mind I remember something said about the low pocket being for caps.

That said look at the single picket in the trousers on the right ( photo is reversed so our rigbt). It might be for a watch.

 

[CW Watch & Sword Guy]

Perhaps but the jacket was based on the style worn during the Mexican American War and somewhere in the back of my mind I remember something said about the low pocket being for caps.

That said look at the single picket in the trousers on the right ( photo is reversed so our rigbt). I might be for a watch.

Ah yes.

 

[MIKirby]

Major Bill, the uniform jacket from the 1st MI 3 mo Infantry looks almost like the 5 Button Coat that Michigan provided early war. Also, if I recall reading elsewhere, weren't these uniforms Gray? Or Dark Blue?

It also appears that the coat is a variant of the M-1832 Fatigue Jacket. Except, the M-1832 Fatigue Jacket has two pockets lower to the waist line.

Also, from the image provided I'm curious to what the Buckles had on their traps. Looks like something was there, but is blurred/worn down.

 

[major bill]

These are often called roundabout jackets and were common fatigue dress for militia companies in many states. The ones for the 1st Michigan Three Month Infantry and 2nd Michigan Infantry were dark blue also said time be dark Navy blue.

The 4th Michigan Infantry wore very similar or identical jackets made of gray cloth. The 3rd Michigan Infantry wore simular gray jackets but with apparently 10 buttons and shower collars.

NCOs attending the Camp of Instruction wore jackets like the 1st Three Month Infantry, but their gray jackets were trimmed with black.

 

[major bill]

Major Bill, the uniform jacket from the 1st MI 3 mo Infantry looks almost like the 5 Button Coat that Michigan provided early war. Also, if I recall reading elsewhere, weren't these uniforms Gray? Or Dark Blue?

It also appears that the coat is a variant of the M-1832 Fatigue Jacket. Except, the M-1832 Fatigue Jacket has two pockets lower to the waist line.

Also, from the image provided I'm curious to what the Buckles had on their traps. Looks like something was there, but is blurred/worn down.

I am using the working theory that because the same Detroit company that made the Michigan 5 buttom coats made some of the jackets that were issued to the 1st Michigan Three Month Infantry, that the cloth shoulder epaulets were made the same way.

 

[major bill]

Except for a few milita companies who purchased compy buckled all belt buckles were standard US belt plates. When Michigan obtained muskets they also recieved the normal US belts and such.

 

[major bill]

Before the War the Coldwater Zouaves wore Zouve uniforms so this has to be what the were issued when they joined the 1st Michigan Three Month Infantry.