36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Portraying the men of the 36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment as they would have appeared during the 1861 Houston Campaign.
The 36th Illinois Volunteers were officially mustered in as a Regiment on September 23, 1861, but had began forming in early August at Camp Hammond near Aurora, Illinois. They would take part in action at Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone’s River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, Franklin, and Nashville.
After leaving Camp Hammond, the 36th took a paddle boat down the Mississippi to St. Louis. It is very probable that they stopped in Grafton and picked up a few more men as several members of Co. H. came from nearby Jersey County, even though nearly the entire regiment was raised near Aurora, IL and was mainly northern Illinois men.
The men of the 36th Illinois were issued Army dress hats, which included hat brass. These were pinned up on the wrong side, according to the manual. However, all the tintypes showing this headgear in the 36th snow it pinned up incorrectly. The regiment was also issued state jackets, which featured a standing collar, shoulder epaulettes, and nine-button front.
Prior to the campaign the men had come down by ferry to St. Louis where they picked up their arms and equipment. During this period the St. Louis Depot was allowed to omit cartridge box slings, so the 36th was not issued them.
Co. A was issued 1853 Enfields, Co. B. was issued 1855 Mississippi Rifles and the rest of the companies were issued a mix batch of 1816 conversions, 1842 Springfields and Belgian muskets. Co. H was issued a mix of 1816 Springfields and 1842 Springfields. Later on in the war the entire Regiment was re-equipped with Enfields.
The 36th Illinois Volunteers were officially mustered in as a Regiment on September 23, 1861, but had began forming in early August at Camp Hammond near Aurora, Illinois. They would take part in action at Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone’s River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, Franklin, and Nashville.
After leaving Camp Hammond, the 36th took a paddle boat down the Mississippi to St. Louis. It is very probable that they stopped in Grafton and picked up a few more men as several members of Co. H. came from nearby Jersey County, even though nearly the entire regiment was raised near Aurora, IL and was mainly northern Illinois men.
The men of the 36th Illinois were issued Army dress hats, which included hat brass. These were pinned up on the wrong side, according to the manual. However, all the tintypes showing this headgear in the 36th snow it pinned up incorrectly. The regiment was also issued state jackets, which featured a standing collar, shoulder epaulettes, and nine-button front.
Prior to the campaign the men had come down by ferry to St. Louis where they picked up their arms and equipment. During this period the St. Louis Depot was allowed to omit cartridge box slings, so the 36th was not issued them.
Co. A was issued 1853 Enfields, Co. B. was issued 1855 Mississippi Rifles and the rest of the companies were issued a mix batch of 1816 conversions, 1842 Springfields and Belgian muskets. Co. H was issued a mix of 1816 Springfields and 1842 Springfields. Later on in the war the entire Regiment was re-equipped with Enfields.
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This Corporal from the 36th Illinois Volunteers wears the Army regulation dress hat, complete with: bugle, company letter, Jefferson Davis eagle, and ostrich plume, though the hat is pinned up incorrectly per regulations as was done by the 36th.
He wears a flannel Federal Issue shirt underneath a state issued jacket, which featured a nine button front, epaulets, and two buttons on each sleeve cuff. Some variants featured trim, a chest pocket, and/or a belt loop, though these variants were not the most common. His trousers feature a 1/2 inch stripe designating his rank as a Corporal. He wears standard Issue brogans.
His accouterments; a bayonet and scabbard, cap pouch, and cartridge box, are all worn on his belt. He does not have a shoulder strap for his cartridge box, as these were at the time, omitted from issue at the St. Louis Depot.
He wears full marching order, including a Federal Issue painted haversack and canteen with leather strap. He also carries a full double bag knapsack, with his blanket rolled on top, and a mucket for cooking hanging off the blanket strap. Inside his knapsack he carries extra socks, an extra shirt, a gum blanket folded in the middle, a fatigue blouse, forage cap, and any additional personal items he can fit.
He wears a flannel Federal Issue shirt underneath a state issued jacket, which featured a nine button front, epaulets, and two buttons on each sleeve cuff. Some variants featured trim, a chest pocket, and/or a belt loop, though these variants were not the most common. His trousers feature a 1/2 inch stripe designating his rank as a Corporal. He wears standard Issue brogans.
His accouterments; a bayonet and scabbard, cap pouch, and cartridge box, are all worn on his belt. He does not have a shoulder strap for his cartridge box, as these were at the time, omitted from issue at the St. Louis Depot.
He wears full marching order, including a Federal Issue painted haversack and canteen with leather strap. He also carries a full double bag knapsack, with his blanket rolled on top, and a mucket for cooking hanging off the blanket strap. Inside his knapsack he carries extra socks, an extra shirt, a gum blanket folded in the middle, a fatigue blouse, forage cap, and any additional personal items he can fit.
