19th Century Shako (Company of Military Historians Forum)

19th Century Shako

Query:

Forum policy is that in general we don’t post “for sale” items unless the auction or item is exceptional or has substantial educational value for members, and I judged that this one was at least unusual, and qualifies for posting here, despite the fact that it is an active auction. Unfortunately I know nothing about military headgear, and for all I know this could be a common shako.

Answer:

I don’t think this shako is unusual. Many militia companies in the northeast adopted shakos with brass bindings and bills. I think it dates from the 1830’s.

The plate may have been manufactured in England in the 1820s or 1830s.

Full details of the plate and some information on the shako may be found in J. Duncan Campbell and Michael O’Donnell’s “American Military Headgear Insignia”. I’m sure this reference work is in many libraries or available for purchase.

Minuteman Captain’s Uniform (Company of Military Historians Forum)

Q:  

Hello–I’m looking for guidance in accurately portraying the uniform and demeanor of Captain Silas Fowler, a Captain in the Minuteman regiment who was present defending the North Bridge in Lexington Mass. during the first battle of the American Revolution.

Our town here in Lexington NY will be celebrating its bicentennial in 2013 and I’m trying to design full-size commemorative statues of Captain Fowler and his 5 Minutemen compatriots. I’d like these soldiers’ uniforms to be as accurate as possible to honor Captain Fowler and the men who served under him in the tradition of the great military uniform artist and historian,Charles McBarron Jr. Could someone give me some guidance and direction as to where to begin. Thanks very much.

A:

Former Massachusetts resident here.

Checked our archive of uniform plates and could not find a reference for you.

However, a link is below to the Massachusetts Military Museum.

The works of the American illustrators H. A. Ogden and Howard Pyle may contain some impressions.

You can also search for engravings by Amos Doolittle, a CT militiaman who arrived shortly after the action. Check with the CT Historical Society.

There is a fine painting, “Concord Bridge” by A. Lassel Ripley that I think is in the possession of the UnumProvident Corporation

I am looking for the best references, books, articles, etc. for US Army uniforms and accoutrements during the Blackhawk War 1832. Any help would be appreciated.

From the Forum, Company of Military Historians

Please see “Shield of the Republic, Sword of Empire. a Bibliography of United States Military Affairs”. John C. Fredericksen, compiler. (NY: Greenwood, 1990). This will give you a comprehensive list of books and articles.

Also, Francis Paul Prucha devotes a chapter to the war in “The Sword of the Republic” (Lincoln: Univ. of Nebraska, 1969). Paperback published in 1986. Prucha is erudite and an excellent writer. His foot notes to the chapter are extensive and list all his sources, including Black Hawk’s autobiography.

Francis Heitman’s “Biographical Dictionary of the U. S. Army (reprint; Gaithersburg: Olde Soldiers Books, 1988); Volume 2 lists all battles of the war in which troops of the Regular Army participated.

K. Jack Bauer published “Zachary Taylor, Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest (Baton Rouge: LSU, 1985). Taylor commanded the 1st Infantry during the war.There are also good biographies of Winfield Scott and Henry Dodge available.

Company of Military Historians Plate 277; ILLINOIS MILITIA, BLACKHAWK WAR 1832 and the works of the American illustrators H. A. Ogden and Randy Steffen can also help you with uniform and equipment details.

Assistance may also be provided from the Illinois National Guard Museum (http://www.ilng-history.org/) and the US Army Heritage and Education Center (http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec/index.cfm).

From the Forum, Company of Military Historians Website. U. S. Army; Mounted Artillery Bands, 1907-1910

U. S. Mounted Band at Ft. Sheridan, IL.

Q:   I have a postcard of a photograph of the U.S. Artillery Mounted Band taken at about the turn of the twentieth century. Does anyone know anything about this group?

A: This photo was taken between 1907 and 1912 judging by the uniforms of the soldiers.  At this time the Artillery was organized as a corps; there were no regiments. The corps was authorized 10 bands consisting of about 30 men each. I think that when the individual batteries of the corps were grouped in larger units, they would be supported by a band. In the absence of this sort of duty, they could be assigned other, appropriate duties. On the reverse, the publisher of the card gives his location as Highland Park IL, quite close to Fort Sheridan, in the Chicago area. Although it was known as a cavalry post, in 1910 it became the site of the the first ROTC camp. Therefore, I think these musicians are at Fort Sheridan to support an ROTC camp.In addition to musical support, they may have provided instruction or demonstrators in stable duties and equitation.

 

Q: This information is very helpful. Would it have been rare for this band to be mounted?

 

A:I think not rare. In a horse battery (designed to follow the cavalry) all the soldiers were mounted. In a battery designed to support the infantry, some soldiers were mounted on vehicles (caissons, etc.) but there were still about 150 horses (?). A band would have to be horse mobile to keep up with an artillery brigade made up of such batteries. Later today will see if I can find an organizational manual on Google Books and get some exact number for you.

 

Subsequent Answer: I am chagrined to report that I did not know the US Artillery was re-regimented in 1907. Here’s a reference:http://books.google.com/books?id=iYtNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA216&dq=us+army+artillery+regimental+organization+1907&output=text#c_top
War Dept., USA Annual Reports,1907. Chief of Artillery

“The act of Congress approved January 25, 1907, marked an epoch in the history of field artillery in this country. This act, as above stated, provided for the permanent separation of the Field Artillery from the Coast Artillery and the organization of the former into six regiments, each regiment to comprise six batteries organized into two battalions of three batteries each.”

So that makes the gents in the photo members of a regiment. A breakdown of bands in the artillery is below in picture form. Heres the reference:

http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA546&dq=u%20s%20field%20artillery%20bands%201907&ei=R6XOTaOMOZGitgflhvyRDg&ct=result&id=bEwaAAAAMAAJ&output=text
US Army Register 1908.

Mounted Bands in the U. S. Artillery

None of this changes the theory of where they are or what they’re doing. And by the table all six regiments of artillery had bands that required horse transportation to keep up with the regiment.