Engineer uniform made in Battle Creek Michigan

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Brev. Brig. Gen'l
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Henry Brown of Battle Creek made the uniforms for Howland's First Grade Engineer Company a.k.a. Battle Creek Engineer Corps.

All members regardless of rank were to receive uniforms of superior material to include frock coats and not roundabouts. They were to receive ‘blue broad cloth frock coats, pants, vest, cap, calf boots, and an overcoat of blue blarge (sic.).”[ii] provided the uniforms. His tailor shop was located on Main Street above the Anthony Schoder’s Hardware Store. [iii]They were to receive a brace of Colt navy revolvers.[iv] They were first issued 16 Sharps rifles, but this was soon increased to Colt navy revolvers and 27 Sharp rifles.[v]

The Entire first graduating class from MAC (Michigan Agricultural College) joined this company. This is One of those students.
engineee.jpg


This is not the standard enlisted engineer uniform. Note the collar seems a bit tall and the gusset in the underarms. So what else am I missing on this locally made uniform?

The Howland 1st Grade Engineers, all wore tailor made frock coats and were described by one of the citizens of St. Louis "There goes a whole company of Brigadier Generals: another thought we were all Captains, and other, officers going to their commands."


“First Grade Engineers”, Letter from the Second Regiment, Headquarters Richardson’s Brigade, Arlington Heights Sept 4 1861, Battle Creek Journal, September 13 1861, p. 2, col. 8.

[ii]“ First Grade Engineers, signed Z.T. Peavers”, Battle Creek Citizen, September 20 1861, p. 2, col. 7. “First Grade Engineers’, Battle Creek Citizen, September 13 1861, p. 2, col. 8..

[iii] “First Grade Engineers, from special correspondent, sent from Battle Creek Oct. 3 1861”, Battle Creek Journal, September 13 1861.

[iv]“Michigan First Company of Engineers”, Detroit Free Press, October 5 1861, p. 1, col. 1

[v] “From the Engineer Corps, letter from H.R. form fort Augustine St Louis”, 2:3. “Letter form H. R. from Camp Howard Tipton Mo. October 24 1861”, Battle Creek Journal, November 1 1861, p. 2, col. 3.

The Howland 1st Grade Engineers, all wore tailor made frock coats and were described by one of the citizens of St. Louis "There goes a whole company of Brigadier Generals: another thought we were all Captains, and other, officers going to their commands." The entire first graduating class of Michigan Agricultural College (Michigan State University) had joined this company.


“First Grade Engineers”, Letter from the Second Regiment, Headquarters Richardson’s Brigade, Arlington Heights Sept 4 1861, Battle Creek Journal, September 13 1861, p. 2, col. 8.

[ii]“ First Grade Engineers, signed Z.T. Peavers”, Battle Creek Citizen, September 20 1861, p. 2, col. 7. “First Grade Engineers’, Battle Creek Citizen, September 13 1861, p. 2, col. 8..

[iii] “First Grade Engineers, from special correspondent, sent from Battle Creek Oct. 3 1861”, Battle Creek Journal, September 13 1861.

[iv]“Michigan First Company of Engineers”, Detroit Free Press, October 5 1861, p. 1, col. 1

[v] “From the Engineer Corps, letter from H.R. form fort Augustine St Louis”, 2:3. “Letter form H. R. from Camp Howard Tipton Mo. October 24 1861”, Battle Creek Journal, November 1 1861, p. 2, col. 3.
 
In a letter dated 24 Jan, 1862, Friedrich Bertsch, Co. A, Ninth Ohio Infantry wrote to the Cincinnati Volksfreund:

“We arrived here [Somerset, KY] yesterday after a forced march. The road was marshy for the most part as everywhere in recent times, however the weather had dried it somewhat. After about 6 miles the road slopes steeply and was rocky to the banks of Fishing Creek, which was very deep, but had to be waded through or ridden over, although a body of Michigan Pioneers lay in the area, with their yellow lapels and collars, and could have built a bridge without great strain.”

Reinhart, transl. A German Hurrah.
 
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