Uniforms Zouave uniforms come to Michigan. Researching the Adrian Guard Zouave uniforms.

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Brev. Brig. Gen'l
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I believe the Adrian Guard was the first Michigan unit to adopt a Zouave uniform. I am researching their Zouave uniform. I was hoping that someone might have a photo of them. If no one has an image perhaps you might enjoy seeing what a Midwest militia company war in the years leading up to the Civil War. So far this is what I have.

The Adrian Guard (Adrian, Lenawee County) became Company D of the 2nd​ Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. They formed in 1842 and were Michigan's second oldest militia company. They also appear to have served in the Toledo War of 1834, so the exact date of their formation is in question but the company may have formed for the Toledo War and a new company, using the original name, formed in 1842.
cannon.

They certainly obtained uniforms soon after forming but what uniforms they wore between 1842 and 1854 are largely unknown. In 1846 'They have lately made some alterations in the Uniform, which is a great improvement in their appearance." i In 1847 "Never have we seen anything more beautiful that the new Plumes just obtained by the Company and never have we seen a neater Uniform on the whole than their present one."ii The first information about their uniforms comes from 1854 when they reportedly purchased new uniforms. Details on the uniforms they adopted in 1854 uniforms have yet to be found, but these uniforms should have, if they followed state regulations, been based on the current U. S. Infantry uniforms except with better quality trim and possibly additional lace.

In 1859, they again purchased new uniforms and move into a new armory. Their new uniforms were very elegant, and were gray in color, trimmed with gold lace, and they wore black dress caps. Local newspapers noticed the elegance of their new uniforms with The Adrian Evening Expositor describing the Adrian Guard uniforms as 'decidedly the handsomest one we ever saw."iii The local newspaper reported that they were "negotiating for ferocious looking caps to be worn by the company on parades, Their new uniforms, cap-a-pie is elegant and can't be beat in the United States."iv Did they wear coatees, frock coats or jackets?

Three additional articles discuss their uniforms but provide little additional information. The Adrian Daily Expositor in 1860 agrees that they wore gray uniforms and called their black dress hats, shakos. According to the Detroit Weekly Tribune in 1860 the Adrian Guard wore gray and gold uniforms with black shakos.v The Detroit Daily Advertiser in 1860 gives the dress uniforms of the Adrian Guard as being gray with red trim. The Detroit Daily Advertiser said their dress headwear were bearskins.vi Did they have both black shakos/dress caps and bearskins?

"Before leaving Adrian , the old members of the Guard, thinking to make us look something like soldiers, had bestowed upon us their old fatigue uniforms, and we, expecting the State would give us uniforms as soon as we reached Detroit, sent home all our surplus clothing. Our caps were gray, waistcoats light blue and the pants had been originally red, but the material being cheap had faded to a dirty brown color. These being all old and much worn were not very picturesque. At home we were well known, this faded uniform was considered a mark of honor, and we boys fresh from school, were naturally pleased with the novelty of our dress." (Civil War Journal of a Union Soldier, presented by P.C. Zick). The gray caps are not mentioned anywhere else and the term "waistcoat" may indicate a Zouave jacket.

When the company was reorganized for war in 1861, it arrived at Fort Wayne with only half of the men in uniforms and halve of the men carrying arms (the newspaper did not describe the uniform but the Adrian Daily Expositor call these gray fatigue dress) and half the men in gray shirts and civilian trousers and without arms. Another newspapers indicate that the Adrian Cadets wore "gray shirts in approximation to a uniforms.".i Presumably the men in gray shirts and without arms were new members, recruited to bring the company up to war strength who had not had sufficient time to obtain the standard company gray fatigue company uniform. It is unclear why the company had both the 1860 Zouave style fatigue uniforms and the 1861 gray fatigue uniforms.
A letter printed in The Hillsdale Standard in July of 1861 describes the Adrian Guards as wearing gray fatigue dress, armed with flintlocks and being well equipped.ii What had happened to the Adrian Guard's 40 rifle muskets and 40 musket rifles (at the start of the Civil War the State send out officers to collect arms, so did they take the Adrian Guard's arms?)?

The Adrian Daily Expositor ran an article about an Adrian Guards deserter and described his clothing as having been made by Adrian citizens, but if this referred to the gray fatigue dress or a 'new' recruit in his gray shirt is unknown.

The Adrian Guards Band (Adrian, Lenawee County) was the company's antebellum band. In August of 1860, they had "new Zouave uniforms in somewhat a'la Zouave" style.iii They probably had worn more traditional style uniforms prior to their switch to these new Zouave uniforms. A September newspaper article tells us they were in full military uniforms and had silver instruments, but the article did not indicate the 'full military uniforms' was of the Zouave style.
i "The War, Arrival of Volunteers", Detroit Free Press, April 30 1861 p. 1, col. 1.
ii Hillsdale Standard, July 4 1861, p. 3, col. 6.
iii "The New Instruments", Adrian Daily Expounder, August 23 1860, p. 2, col. 2.

i The Guard, Adrian Michigan Expositor, may 13 1846, p. 2, col. 4.
ii The Guard, Adrian Michigan Expositor, June 2 1847, p. 2, col 1.
iii Adrian Evening Expositor, March 16 1859, p.3, col. 1.
iv "The Guards", Adrian Daily Watch Tower, June 13 1859, p. 2, col. 1.
v "The Fourth at Adrian", Detroit Weekly Tribune, July 10 1860, pp. 2, col. 1 .
vi "The Encampment at Jackson", Detroit Daily Advertiser, August 30, 1860, p. 1, col. 1.
They also may have been active under this name in In 1859, they again purchased new uniforms and move into a new armory.
They also appear to have served in the Toledo War of 1834, so the exact date of their formation is in question but the company may have formed for the Toledo War and a new company, using the original name, formed in 1842.
They took great pride in their splendid uniforms and in their proficiency at drill. Their dedication paid handsome rewards and they were listed in class I, the top class, of the Michigan Uniformed Militia, being ranked the second best Michigan Militia company on the State Military Board's order of merit for both 1859 and 1860. Fred Hart was the company commander in 1860. In 1860 Captain Fred Hart with 28 men attended the Michigan Uniformed Militia encampment held in Jackson. Captain William Humphrey took the men to war.
When they first formed in 1842 they likely carried state owned 1822 muskets. As Michigan received more modern arms, the Adrian Guards were rewarded by being issued some of the improved arms. In 1859, they carried rifled muskets and had 1 six-pound brass cannon with carriage and limber complete. The 1861 Michigan Quartermasters Report indicates they were now armed with 40 rifle muskets, 40 musket rifles, 8 noncommissioned officer swords and 1 six-pound brass
Their new uniforms were very elegant, and were gray in color, trimmed with gold lace, and they wore black dress caps. Local newspapers noticed the elegance of their new uniforms with The Adrian Evening Expositor describing the Adrian Guard uniforms as 'decidedly the handsomest one we ever saw."i The local newspaper reported that they were "negotiating for ferocious looking caps to be worn by the company on parades, Their new uniforms, cap-a-pie is elegant and can't be beat in the United States."ii Did they wear coatees, frock coats or jackets?
Three additional articles discuss their uniforms but provide little additional information. The Adrian Daily Expositor in 1860 agrees that they wore gray uniforms and called their black dress hats, shakos. According to the Detroit Weekly Tribune in 1860 the Adrian Guard wore gray and gold uniforms with black shakos.iii The Detroit Daily Advertiser in 1860 gives the dress uniforms of the Adrian Guard as being gray with red trim. The Detroit Daily Advertiser said their dress headwear were bearskins.iv Did they have both black shakos/dress caps and bearskins?
After the1860, visit of the United States Zouaves Cadets of Chicago, the
company acquired Zouave style uniforms consisting of blue roundabout jackets with gilt buttons and scarlet a la Zouave pants. The pants were not gathered at the ankles and were worn loose. With the Zouave uniforms red a'la Zouave caps were worn.v "The Adrian Guard has adopted, as their fatigue dress, a Zouave uniform of red pants, red cap and blue jacket, and present a fine appearance."vi They adopted Ellsworth's light infantry drill as well. The Adjutant General's Report of 1860 reported that this company wore both gray uniforms and Zouave uniforms.
Adrian Weekly Expounder tells us "The Guards have recently adopted a new fatigue uniform, consisting of a red cap and al Zouave scarlet pants which follow the Zouave pattern except that it is not gathered at the ankle, and blue roundabout with gilt buttons - a very handsome and appropriate fatigue dress."vii
Their new Zouave uniforms did not escape the notice of both of Detroit's major newspapers. A Detroit Free Press article in August of 1860 describes their new fatigue uniforms as Zouave uniforms with blue jackets, red pants and red caps.viii
"Before leaving Adrian , the old members of the Guard, thinking to make us look something like soldiers, had bestowed upon us their old fatigue uniforms, and we, expecting the State would give us uniforms as soon as we reached Detroit, sent home all our surplus clothing. Our caps were gray, waistcoats light blue and the pants had been originally red, but the material being cheap had faded to a dirty brown color. These being all old and much worn were not very picturesque. At home we were well known, this faded uniform was considered a mark of honor, and we boys fresh from school, were naturally pleased with the novelty of our dress." (Civil War Journal of a Union Soldier, presented by P.C. Zick). The gray caps are not mentioned anywhere else and the term "waistcoat" may indicate a Zouave jacket.
i Adrian Evening Expositor, March 16 1859, p.3, col. 1.
ii "The Guards", Adrian Daily Watch Tower, June 13 1859, p. 2, col. 1.
iii "The Fourth at Adrian", Detroit Weekly Tribune, July 10 1860, pp. 2, col. 1 .
iv "The Encampment at Jackson", Detroit Daily Advertiser, August 30, 1860, p. 1, col. 1.
v "Military Encampment at Jackson", Adrian Daily Expositor, August 27 1861, p. 1, col. 2 also described in Charles Lindquist, Adrian The City That Worked "A History of Adrian Michiana 1825 – 2000',p. 2, Lenawee County Historical Society, Adrian 2004.
vi"The Jackson Encampment", Adrian Daily Expositor, August 29 1861, p. 1, col. 2.
vii "The Grand Rapids Encampment", Detroit Weekly Expounder, September 4 1860, p., 2, col. 5.
viii "The Jackson Encampment", Detroit Free Press, August 29 1860, p. 1, col. 2-3 ((col. 2).
 
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