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To reassure our more sensitive forum members. Michigan did not dig up any dead bodies to form the Skeleton Regiments. Early in the War Michigan formed 7 infantry regiments. The Federal Government only would accept 4 of the 7 infantry regiments. The privates in the remaining 3 regiments were allowed to return to their homes to await the time they might be needed. The officers and non commissioned officers were sent off to a Camp of Instruction for training. These unneeded regiments, 5th to 7th infantry regiments were the 3 Michigan Skeleton Regiments.
Camp of Instruction gray uniforms: Michigan established a Camp of Instruction for the officers and noncommissioned officers from the militia companies being considered for inclusion in the 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiments. This Camp of Instruction held at Detroit's Fort Wayne from July to August of 1861 was commanded by Brigadier General A. S. Williams. The officers and noncommissioned officers attending the Camp of Instruction were often referred to as the 'Skeleton Regiments'. The men, selected to attend, were instructed to wear uniforms of blue or some color other than gray. Once at Fort Wayne the men would be issued caps, shirts and perhaps even full uniforms if such were available. The State had yet to decide what the uniform would be. General Orders No. 30 paragraph V simply stated "The uniforms will be prescribed and furnished after the rendezvousing is completed."[ii]
An article in the Detroit Daily Advertiser on July 2 1861 indicates they were going to receive blue uniforms styled like the uniforms of the 1st Three Month and 2nd Infantry Regiments, made of blue cloth manufactured by the Battle Creek and Jonesville Woolen Factories. "It is possible that the color adopted for the three regiment will be grey, should they be called into service. In the meantime the uniform of the Camp of Instruction may be blue as originally intended of something else besides gray."[iii] "The contract for uniforming the non-commissioned officers in Camp of Instruction at Fort Wayne has been given to Samuel Sykes. The cloth is blue, and is manufactured at the Battle Creek and Jonesville Woolen factories."[iv] But Battle Creek and Jonesville Woolen factories did not have the vats required to produce blue cloth and so these blue uniforms never materialized. The State was unable to procure any blue cloth from any other source. Michigan was left no choice but to issue the noncommissioned officers gray uniforms.[v] It appears that Samuel Sykes and Co. did make the uniforms for the noncommissioned officers and the gray cloth Sykes used to make the uniforms came from the Battle Creek and Jonesville Woolen Factories. Soon after they arrived the noncommissioned officers received gray uniform shirts and dark blue caps, and these were worn with either their prewar militia uniforms or civilian clothing, until the remainder of their gray uniforms arrived.[vi] The Detroit Daily Tribune reported that the noncommissioned officers of the Skeleton Regiments had been outfitted in gray uniforms.[vii] The Weekly Mercury and St, Joseph County Advertiser indicates the noncommissioned officers attending the Camp of Instruction were being measured for uniforms which were to be made of gray, with the noncommissioned officers received uniforms at cost to themselves, officers attending the Camp of Instruction would furnish their own dress uniforms.[viii]Once fully issued each noncommissioned officer received one gray roundabout jacket with black trim with black badges on the sleeves to denote rank one pair of gray pants, one gray shirt, a dark blue cap and a pair of coarse shoes.[ix] The men were not issued overcoats. A total of 525 jackets and pairs of pants were issued, but only 420 of the blue caps.
The staff officers of the regiments attending the Camp of Instruction wore standard blue Michigan staff officer uniforms.[x] Senior officers of the regiments attending the Camp of Instruction wore uniforms similar to the staff officers of the 1st Three Month Infantry Regiment and 2nd Infantry Regiment which were like the standard Michigan staff officers blue uniforms.[xi] No information is available which describes the uniform purchased by the company officers attending the Camp of Instruction; however, it is probable that the normal state, company grade officer's blue frock coats were purchased by the officers.[xii] The State officer's frock coats were based on the current U.S. officer's frock coats. Officers in charge of operating the Camp of Instruction wore the standard State blue frock coats, either general, staff grade or company grade, which ever was appropriate.
Three photographs appear to show noncommissioned officers uniform.[xiii] The gray roundabouts have nine gilt buttons and standing collars outlined with black trim and matching cloth epaulets trimmed in black. There are black chevrons on the lower sleeves, apparently of black tape and not the thin cord seen on some coat sleeves. There do not appear have any buttons of the sleeves. The jackets in all three photographs are for corporals and have black chevrons pointed downward. The chevrons have a space between the bars that are quite wide, that is as wide as the bars themselves. The roundabouts do not appear to have any external pockets and the standing collars have welding to help them remain standing. The dark blue caps appear rather short in height and one has a company letter on it.
A photograph of Corydon L. Bowdish, of the 7th Michigan Infantry Regiment, Company B, showing him from the chest up, has him in a gray jacket which is very similar to the Camp of Instruction uniform, but the collar lacks any trim. His cap is dark in color and probably dark blue. Why his uniform lacks the customary black trim is unknown, but it is possible that some non-commissioned officers were issued jackets without black trim. One explanation could be that the manufacture ran out of black tape. It is also possible that the State had a few surplus gray uniforms, originally intended for the 4th Infantry Regiment, and could have issued some of these to the men at the Camp of Instruction.[xiv]
Because in the above discussed photographs the gray trousers are seen in only one photograph, details on their construction is not available. The normal state practice of not having noncommissioned officer stripes on the legs appears to have been retained and the trousers were probably like the trousers of the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment. If so, they would have had pockets on the side seams.
By the time the Camp of Instruction began, the Michigan had depleted its supply of modern arms so the old rifles of the 4th Michigan Infantry Regiment were used at the Camp of Instruction.
[ii] "The War, General Order no. 30", Detroit Free Press, June 11 1861, p. 1, col 1.
[iii] "Matters at Camp", Detroit Daily Advertiser, June 22 1861, p. 1, col. 3.
[iv] "The Uniforms", Detroit Daily Advertiser, July 2 1861, p.1, col. 4.
[v] Detroit Daily Advertiser, June 14 1861.
[vi] "The Camp of Instruction at Fort Wayne", Detroit Free Press, July 6 1861, p. 1, col. 2.
[vii] Detroit Daily Tribune, August 2 1861.
[viii] "From the Camp of Instruction, Fort Wayne, July 15, 1861", signed G. H. I, (Constantine) Weekly Mercury and St. Joseph County Advertiser, July 18 1861, p. 2, col. . (Constantine)Weekly Mercury and St. Joseph County Advertiser, Jul 11 1861.
[ix] "Fort Wayne Camp of Instruction, Letter from a Ranger dated July 8 1861", Marshall Statesman, July 10 1861, p.3, col. 1.
[x] The Camp of Instruction was commanded by Brigadier General A.A. William and his staff included William D. Wilkins as Brigade. Major & Inspector and Henry M. Whittlesey Brigade. Quartermaster & Aid de-camp..
[xi] "Matters at the Camp", Detroit Daily Advertiser, June 26 1861, p.1, col. 3.
[xii] Although enough blue cloth for enlisted uniforms could not be found, higher-grade officer quality cloth would likely have been available.
[xiii] These three photographs housed in the Michigan Achieves and are of Cpl. Hiram Madden of the 5th Michigan Infantry Company F, Cpl. La Pointe of the 7th Michigan Infantry Company D, and Wellington Bowdish of the 7th Michigan Company B.
[xiv] Michigan did not intend for the men at the Camp of Instruction to wear the gray uniforms issued there for anything other than training. Blue uniforms were to be issued to the men prior to them leaving Michigan, so using up any surplus uniforms seems possible. It is also possible that Michigan allowed any men who already had prewar company uniforms to utilize these at the Camp of Instruction.
Camp of Instruction gray uniforms: Michigan established a Camp of Instruction for the officers and noncommissioned officers from the militia companies being considered for inclusion in the 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiments. This Camp of Instruction held at Detroit's Fort Wayne from July to August of 1861 was commanded by Brigadier General A. S. Williams. The officers and noncommissioned officers attending the Camp of Instruction were often referred to as the 'Skeleton Regiments'. The men, selected to attend, were instructed to wear uniforms of blue or some color other than gray. Once at Fort Wayne the men would be issued caps, shirts and perhaps even full uniforms if such were available. The State had yet to decide what the uniform would be. General Orders No. 30 paragraph V simply stated "The uniforms will be prescribed and furnished after the rendezvousing is completed."[ii]
An article in the Detroit Daily Advertiser on July 2 1861 indicates they were going to receive blue uniforms styled like the uniforms of the 1st Three Month and 2nd Infantry Regiments, made of blue cloth manufactured by the Battle Creek and Jonesville Woolen Factories. "It is possible that the color adopted for the three regiment will be grey, should they be called into service. In the meantime the uniform of the Camp of Instruction may be blue as originally intended of something else besides gray."[iii] "The contract for uniforming the non-commissioned officers in Camp of Instruction at Fort Wayne has been given to Samuel Sykes. The cloth is blue, and is manufactured at the Battle Creek and Jonesville Woolen factories."[iv] But Battle Creek and Jonesville Woolen factories did not have the vats required to produce blue cloth and so these blue uniforms never materialized. The State was unable to procure any blue cloth from any other source. Michigan was left no choice but to issue the noncommissioned officers gray uniforms.[v] It appears that Samuel Sykes and Co. did make the uniforms for the noncommissioned officers and the gray cloth Sykes used to make the uniforms came from the Battle Creek and Jonesville Woolen Factories. Soon after they arrived the noncommissioned officers received gray uniform shirts and dark blue caps, and these were worn with either their prewar militia uniforms or civilian clothing, until the remainder of their gray uniforms arrived.[vi] The Detroit Daily Tribune reported that the noncommissioned officers of the Skeleton Regiments had been outfitted in gray uniforms.[vii] The Weekly Mercury and St, Joseph County Advertiser indicates the noncommissioned officers attending the Camp of Instruction were being measured for uniforms which were to be made of gray, with the noncommissioned officers received uniforms at cost to themselves, officers attending the Camp of Instruction would furnish their own dress uniforms.[viii]Once fully issued each noncommissioned officer received one gray roundabout jacket with black trim with black badges on the sleeves to denote rank one pair of gray pants, one gray shirt, a dark blue cap and a pair of coarse shoes.[ix] The men were not issued overcoats. A total of 525 jackets and pairs of pants were issued, but only 420 of the blue caps.
The staff officers of the regiments attending the Camp of Instruction wore standard blue Michigan staff officer uniforms.[x] Senior officers of the regiments attending the Camp of Instruction wore uniforms similar to the staff officers of the 1st Three Month Infantry Regiment and 2nd Infantry Regiment which were like the standard Michigan staff officers blue uniforms.[xi] No information is available which describes the uniform purchased by the company officers attending the Camp of Instruction; however, it is probable that the normal state, company grade officer's blue frock coats were purchased by the officers.[xii] The State officer's frock coats were based on the current U.S. officer's frock coats. Officers in charge of operating the Camp of Instruction wore the standard State blue frock coats, either general, staff grade or company grade, which ever was appropriate.
Three photographs appear to show noncommissioned officers uniform.[xiii] The gray roundabouts have nine gilt buttons and standing collars outlined with black trim and matching cloth epaulets trimmed in black. There are black chevrons on the lower sleeves, apparently of black tape and not the thin cord seen on some coat sleeves. There do not appear have any buttons of the sleeves. The jackets in all three photographs are for corporals and have black chevrons pointed downward. The chevrons have a space between the bars that are quite wide, that is as wide as the bars themselves. The roundabouts do not appear to have any external pockets and the standing collars have welding to help them remain standing. The dark blue caps appear rather short in height and one has a company letter on it.
A photograph of Corydon L. Bowdish, of the 7th Michigan Infantry Regiment, Company B, showing him from the chest up, has him in a gray jacket which is very similar to the Camp of Instruction uniform, but the collar lacks any trim. His cap is dark in color and probably dark blue. Why his uniform lacks the customary black trim is unknown, but it is possible that some non-commissioned officers were issued jackets without black trim. One explanation could be that the manufacture ran out of black tape. It is also possible that the State had a few surplus gray uniforms, originally intended for the 4th Infantry Regiment, and could have issued some of these to the men at the Camp of Instruction.[xiv]
Because in the above discussed photographs the gray trousers are seen in only one photograph, details on their construction is not available. The normal state practice of not having noncommissioned officer stripes on the legs appears to have been retained and the trousers were probably like the trousers of the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment. If so, they would have had pockets on the side seams.
By the time the Camp of Instruction began, the Michigan had depleted its supply of modern arms so the old rifles of the 4th Michigan Infantry Regiment were used at the Camp of Instruction.
"Cantonment Blair", Detroit Free Press, July 6 1861, p. 1, col.1.[ii] "The War, General Order no. 30", Detroit Free Press, June 11 1861, p. 1, col 1.
[iii] "Matters at Camp", Detroit Daily Advertiser, June 22 1861, p. 1, col. 3.
[iv] "The Uniforms", Detroit Daily Advertiser, July 2 1861, p.1, col. 4.
[v] Detroit Daily Advertiser, June 14 1861.
[vi] "The Camp of Instruction at Fort Wayne", Detroit Free Press, July 6 1861, p. 1, col. 2.
[vii] Detroit Daily Tribune, August 2 1861.
[viii] "From the Camp of Instruction, Fort Wayne, July 15, 1861", signed G. H. I, (Constantine) Weekly Mercury and St. Joseph County Advertiser, July 18 1861, p. 2, col. . (Constantine)Weekly Mercury and St. Joseph County Advertiser, Jul 11 1861.
[ix] "Fort Wayne Camp of Instruction, Letter from a Ranger dated July 8 1861", Marshall Statesman, July 10 1861, p.3, col. 1.
[x] The Camp of Instruction was commanded by Brigadier General A.A. William and his staff included William D. Wilkins as Brigade. Major & Inspector and Henry M. Whittlesey Brigade. Quartermaster & Aid de-camp..
[xi] "Matters at the Camp", Detroit Daily Advertiser, June 26 1861, p.1, col. 3.
[xii] Although enough blue cloth for enlisted uniforms could not be found, higher-grade officer quality cloth would likely have been available.
[xiii] These three photographs housed in the Michigan Achieves and are of Cpl. Hiram Madden of the 5th Michigan Infantry Company F, Cpl. La Pointe of the 7th Michigan Infantry Company D, and Wellington Bowdish of the 7th Michigan Company B.
[xiv] Michigan did not intend for the men at the Camp of Instruction to wear the gray uniforms issued there for anything other than training. Blue uniforms were to be issued to the men prior to them leaving Michigan, so using up any surplus uniforms seems possible. It is also possible that Michigan allowed any men who already had prewar company uniforms to utilize these at the Camp of Instruction.
Bringing the