Thoughts on a uniform

[major bill]

I was working on this image tonight and wanted to see if any of our members see anything I am missing. I will allow responses before I add what I think.

 

[Package4]

Looks like a Type I RD, 6 piece, 9 button front, trousers do not appear to be of the same material, possibly a satinet.

 

[major bill]

Are the shoulder straps too long? They kind of overlap the collar. It does kind of resemble Type I RD, 6 piece, 9 button front. Are the nine buttons small buttons?

Is he wearing a tie with US flag on it?

 

[major bill]

Locally made corporal stripes? They are spaced a bit far apart.

 

[Package4]

Locally made corporal stripes? They are spaced a bit far apart.

Typical of Confederate chevrons, I can't really see the button size, but if they are smaller then it is most likely a commutation jacket. I can't see the tie very well, but early war flags were so similar I wouldn't venture a guess.

 

[major bill]

This is identified as being Corporal Hiram Madden, Company F, 5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. My problem is that the 5th Michigan Infantry received dark blue 5 button "Michigan" blouses. This plainly is not a dark blue 5 button blouse. This left me a couple of possibilities.

1. The photo has been misidentified.
2. Madden is wearing a pre war militia uniform. The Michigan Uniformed Militia regulations at the start of the Civil War called for gray uniforms/
3. He is wearing the gray uniform with black trim issued to NCOs from the 5th to 7th Michigan at the Camp of Instruction which NCOs of those regiments attended prior to those regiments were formed and before Michigan started making the Michigan 5 button blouses.

I went with opinion #3. However, some people greatly disagree with my view.

 

[major bill]

The problem is some people are sure the bellow image of the Monroe Light Guard form Monroe Michigan. Some reenactors have made a few of the uniforms they believed were worn by the Monroe Light Guard, so they have some skin in the game, but I do not. I studied the original and to me they may be wearing the same uniforms. Sorry I did not pay for a photo copy and this copy of the image is poor.

 

[captaindrew]

Could it be a Veteran Reserve Corps. Jacket? Was he wounded or disabled and later served in the Reserves?

 

[major bill]

There is also a third photograph that seems to show the same uniform. Two of the men are from different companies of the 7th Michigan Infantry and one form the 5th Michigan Infantry. So three possibilities:

1. All three are wearing militia uniforms They are in different companies and different regiments and the three uniforms seem the same or very similar. However, Michigan regulations did specify gray uniforms and all three companies could have purchased their uniforms from the same tailor. Still the uniforms look a bit rough for pre war militia uniforms and look more lower quality.
2. Some have suggested that the uniform of the Monroe Light Guard is correct and the other two photographs are of Confederates and have been misidentified. I need to give this some thought and was wondering if the top uniform could be Confederate.
3. Because all three men went to the Camp of Instruction, these are the gray uniforms with black trim and black rank issued at the Camp of Instruction.

So my reason for this post is to see if the top uniform could be a Confederate uniform. If so I might need to reconsider my view this is the Michigan Camp of Instruction uniform.

Maybe I need to go to the Michigan Achieves, take a magnifying glass and spend some time examining all three photographs. The construction of the jackets and the construction of the caps should be identical or very nearly so if they are Michigan Camp of Instruction uniforms.

 

[mofederal]

It would be nice if it was VRC jacket. you don't see so many of those. Well I don't see so many. I have seen some real ones though.

 

[major bill]

Another possible Michigan Camp of Instruction gray uniform. Or is it a Confederate uniform?