Benton Hussars Cavalry

[mofederal]

I found these somewhere online, and I was searching for something else entirely, but it is the first time I have ever seen the illustration. The first uniform is an illustration of a member of the 1st US Hussars or the 3rd new Jersey Cavalry. This is the description given for the Hussar uniform.

BENTON HUSSARS CAVALRY BATTALION, 1861

The Benton Hussars (Joseph Nemitt's Cavalry Battalion) was raised in St Louis, Missouri, in late 1861, and wore a most distinctive costume, the usual colors being reversed in the light blue jacket and dark blue trousers. Their headgear was the old-style shako, which was undoubtedly replaced by the kepi as the war progressed. The colors are the regulation colors reversed, with the black hussar braiding on the jacket. Raised at St Louis, Missouri, late 1861, the unit served with the Army of the West and 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of South-west Missouri up to February 1862 when it was incorporated in the 5th Missouri. The black braiding on the jacket confirmed the 'Hussar' title, as did the 1851 pattern cloth shako, which latter item no doubt gave way to the képi once active service was commenced. Incorporating Von Deutsch's Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Cavalry Company (Company 'D', afterwards 'G') and Fremont's Bodyguard (Company 'G'), the Benton Hussars served with the Army of the West and the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of South-west Missouri until February 1862, when it was incorporated with the Hollan Horse into the 5th Missouri Cavalry, eventually passing into the 4th Missouri, which united both the Benton and Fremont Hussars. (1)

This info was taken from Mine Creek Battlefield Site.

 

[major bill]

I think I messed up when posting my response, so this may be a double response. The Beton Hussar is illustration # 4.

This is Michael Blake's view of the Benton Hussars from his book American Civil War Cavalry. Both Blake and Haythornthwaite (the uniforms in post #1) did limited original research and relied heavily on other people's research. I am not questioning their books and the books are great for the color images. It is just I am not sure where either of them got their information. Both need to be taken with a gain of salt.

 

[mofederal]

It is pretty hard to find out any info early uniforms. I could never find any real source of information on the Benton Hussars or on Zagonyi's Guard. I did find a lot of info on Zagonyi though.

 

[mofederal]

I did find this image of the commander of the Fremont/Benton Hussars.

Colonel George E. Waring of the Fremont Hussars, wears an unusual style kepi and double breasted shell jacket under his cape. He also carries an unusual style of saber. Note the odd hilt. His unit was also known as the 1st Regiment Western Cavalry. Massachusetts Commandery Military Order of the Loyal Legion & the U.S. Army Military History Institute / Jim Enos.

 

[major bill]

The Benton Hussars (Joseph Nemitt's Cavalry Battalion) was raised in St Louis, Missouri, in late 1861, and wore a most distinctive costume, the usual colors being reversed in the light blue jacket and dark blue trousers. Their headgear was the old-style shako, which was undoubtedly replaced by the kepi as the war progressed. The colors are the regulation colors reversed, with the black hussar braiding on the jacket.

I have to wonder where they got the uniform information. Both Blake and Haythornthwaite included images of the Benton Hussars in their books. The problem is neither one of them gave a source. Blake's book came out in 1973 and I suspect that in his 1976 book, Haythornthwaite used the image in Blake's book and did not do any original research on the Benton Hussars. The real question then is where did Blake get his uniform information for the image he put in his book?

It seems possible that the description in post #1 may be based on the image from one of these books. I would like to see a reference as to where Blake obtained the uniform information he used for the image of the Benton Hussars.

Ron Field wrote the article American Hussar which is a nice article about hussar uniforms worn in the United States. Mr. Field included a color uniform plate and several photographs of American Hussars. Ron field gave descriptions of most the hussar units he included. however, this is all he had to say about the Benton Hussars. "Little is known of the Benton Hussars, also know as Nemitt's Battalion, which was later reorganized as part of the 5th Missouri Cavalry. I consider Ron Field more reliable than either Blake or Haythornthwaite and it is interesting that he did not include uniform details for the Benton Hussars. I am assuming he did not find any sources except Blake and Haythornthwaite and that Mr. Field did not use uniform information from the images seen Blake's and Haythornthwaite's books because he never found any original information about the uniforms and was uncertain of the sources used by Blake and Haythornthwaite .

 

[major bill]

The number of Civil War era hussar units is not large and it is interesting that Missouri provided the Union a hussar regiment and a hussar battalion. It appears that The Fremont Hussars (1st Regiment Western Cavalry) may have been a hussar unit in name only and may have not worn hussar uniforms. Colonel George E. Waring the commander of the Fremont Hussars shown is post #4, does appear to have a pelisse over his shoulder but he does not wear the hussar dolman style jacket and may in fact wear an officer double breasted frock coat cut off at the waist.

 

[James N.]

... Colonel George E. Waring of the Fremont Hussars, wears an unusual style kepi and double breasted shell jacket under his cape. He also carries an unusual style of saber. Note the odd hilt. His unit was also known as the 1st Regiment Western Cavalry. Massachusetts Commandery Military Order of the Loyal Legion & the U.S. Army Military History Institute / Jim Enos.

I believe that's Austrian, likely for heavy cavalry - even someone as well-known as Irvin McDowell also for some reason carried an Austrian saber, though his was for light cavalry in a hussar pattern:

 

[archieclement]

Glad it's not just me who sees little resemblance between the actual photo and the artist renderings........

 

[mofederal]

I found the following information late last night in The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board - Archive: Message by Kirby Ross:

The Benton Hussars integrated into the 5th Missouri Cavalry in February 1862. The 5th Missouri Cavalry integrated into the 4th Missouri Cavalry in November 1862. This may help, and then again it may not. There is an old document held in the John C. Fremont Collection at the J.S. Copley Library of Copley Press, which is located in California and elsewhere in the U.S. This old document dates to 1863, and is entitled "Abstract of the History of the Fourth Volunteer Regiment of Missouri Cavalry," by George E. Waring. It is further described as being "An account of the regiment, composed of two former regiments, namely the Fremont Hussars and the Benton Hussars."

This document appears to be part of a private collection owned by the publishing company. Copley Press is headquartered at 7776 Ivanhoe Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037. Once you access the abstract, hopefully it will contain information on Nemett. Undoubtedly it will contain information on the Hussars that has barely seen the light of day.

 

[Package4]

Here is what the enlisted hats most likely looked like, or very similar:

 

[Lampasas Bill]

It wouldn't be unusual to have a hussar unit formed in Missouri, considering the large foreign population of St. Louis. The majority of troops raised in the St. Louis area by Lyon, and later under Fremont, were of German extraction.