- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
At the start of the Civil War Michigan had several "Irish" militia companies. When it did not appear Michigan would form an "Irish" regiment, these militia companies were faced with a difficult choice; join a non Irish regiment, wait to see if at some point Michigan might form an Irish regiment, or find a slot in an Irish regiment in some other state. The Detroit Jackson Guards opted to leave their home state to serve in the war.
The Jackson Guards a.k.a. Detroit Jackson Guards (Detroit, Wayne County) was formed in 1860 by a group of patriotic Irish-American citizens from Detroit. They had an image of their namesake, Andrew Jackson, on their flag. They decided that they would wear gray uniforms with buff facings and some appropriate color trim befitting their name [green?]. Captain Mark McGraw was the first commander. In 1860 they were known to carry Minnie rifles.
Soon after the start of the Civil War the company believed they were selected for inclusion in one of the state’s first two regiments. James McGrath came to their armory and measured the men for uniforms. The McGrath supplied uniforms mirrored those of the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment to include dark blue 9-button roundabouts and dark blue trousers and caps. They also received dark blue overcoats with capes.
They were disappointed when they were not accepted in either of the first two Michigan Regiments. They were also unable to secure a position in any of the other regiments forming in Michigan in early 1861, so they traveled to Chicago to join the Irish-American Regiment currently forming there. They became Company A of the 1st Illinois Infantry Regiment (Mulligan’s Irish Brigade a.k.a. 1st Irish Brigade a.k.a. Irish Brigade of the West). Just prior to departing from Detroit, Captain McGraw was preparing to issue new “suits of clothing”, but if these uniforms were of the same style as their original uniforms, copies of the 9-button roundabout uniforms or a new style is not known.[ii]At the time of their departure Michigan had stopped issuing the dark blue 9-button roundabouts and was issuing dark blue 5-button sack coats, so perhaps the company obtained these.
The Mulligan’s Irish Brigade a.k.a. 23rd Illinois Infantry Regiment issued different uniforms to different companies. Mulligan’s Irish Brigade was issued M1855 rifled muskets by Illinois. When the Jackson Guards departed Chicago for the seat of war as part of the 23rd Illinois, a local newspaper stated that the 23rd Illinois Infantry Regiment wore dirty worn-out ‘country suits’ [This might indicate that the Jackson Guards have never received new uniforms from Illinois prior to departing Chicago].
Military Movement, Detroit Free Press, August 22 1860, p. 1, col. 2.
[ii] “Jackson Guard,” Detroit Daily Tribune, December 31 1861, p. 1, col. 6.
The Jackson Guards a.k.a. Detroit Jackson Guards (Detroit, Wayne County) was formed in 1860 by a group of patriotic Irish-American citizens from Detroit. They had an image of their namesake, Andrew Jackson, on their flag. They decided that they would wear gray uniforms with buff facings and some appropriate color trim befitting their name [green?]. Captain Mark McGraw was the first commander. In 1860 they were known to carry Minnie rifles.
Soon after the start of the Civil War the company believed they were selected for inclusion in one of the state’s first two regiments. James McGrath came to their armory and measured the men for uniforms. The McGrath supplied uniforms mirrored those of the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment to include dark blue 9-button roundabouts and dark blue trousers and caps. They also received dark blue overcoats with capes.
They were disappointed when they were not accepted in either of the first two Michigan Regiments. They were also unable to secure a position in any of the other regiments forming in Michigan in early 1861, so they traveled to Chicago to join the Irish-American Regiment currently forming there. They became Company A of the 1st Illinois Infantry Regiment (Mulligan’s Irish Brigade a.k.a. 1st Irish Brigade a.k.a. Irish Brigade of the West). Just prior to departing from Detroit, Captain McGraw was preparing to issue new “suits of clothing”, but if these uniforms were of the same style as their original uniforms, copies of the 9-button roundabout uniforms or a new style is not known.[ii]At the time of their departure Michigan had stopped issuing the dark blue 9-button roundabouts and was issuing dark blue 5-button sack coats, so perhaps the company obtained these.
The Mulligan’s Irish Brigade a.k.a. 23rd Illinois Infantry Regiment issued different uniforms to different companies. Mulligan’s Irish Brigade was issued M1855 rifled muskets by Illinois. When the Jackson Guards departed Chicago for the seat of war as part of the 23rd Illinois, a local newspaper stated that the 23rd Illinois Infantry Regiment wore dirty worn-out ‘country suits’ [This might indicate that the Jackson Guards have never received new uniforms from Illinois prior to departing Chicago].
Military Movement, Detroit Free Press, August 22 1860, p. 1, col. 2.
[ii] “Jackson Guard,” Detroit Daily Tribune, December 31 1861, p. 1, col. 6.
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