Uniforms worn in the Thirty-third Wisconsin.

[Robert Braun]

Most of us are aware of the initial issue of the Thirty-third Wisconsin at Camp Utley, Racine:

Gray issue shirts, flannel drawers, socks, shoes or "bootees", sky-blue kersey foot-pattern trowsers, dress coats, and P. of 1859 dress hats trimmed with the brass infantry horn insignia, blue worsted hat cord, black feather, and brass eagle pin for "looping up" the right side of the hat.

However, the following additions and modifications to this initial issue are noted:

A. Fatigue blouses were issued to the regiment after arrival in memphis, in mid-November, 1862;

B. Sergeant William H. Coburn went to war wearing boots and aforage cap complete with a brass letter "H";

C. Private William Truman of "E" drew boots and a cavalry jacket in November, 1863. By November 20, he had "bought a hat of[f] a sutler."

D. Numerous early war and later war images of Thirty-third soldiers show them wearing dark-colored military style vests of the period;

E. A war-time (meaning not Camp Utley!) image of Orderly Sergeant James Delaware of "D" shows him wearing foot pattern trowsers and a commercial sack coat;

F. Images of at least two Thirty-third soldiers taken during the time of the regiments quartering at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO in November, 1864 show them wearing dress coats and forage caps;

G. A recently proffered image of Private Joseph Brookens of "D" shows him wearing foot pattern trowsers and a commercial infantry jacket. (Note: the painted backdrop is the same as Delaware's image in Item "E" above);

H. An inventory of effects for Sergeant Ira Tracy of "D" (died May 2, 1865) lists a "uniform jacket."

Other images and invetory of effects of deceased soldiers show a predominance of blouses, dress coats, and hats... along with an occasional fatigue cap.

It should be noted that these observations cover the span of the regiments 30+ months of service, not one particular campaign, or even one particular year!

[Tad Salyards]

Bob,

Would you say that dress coats are not represented enough at our 33d events or would the fatigue blouse have been the predominant jacket after its issue?

-Tad

[Robert Braun]

Tad... let me answer your question this way:

We know that fatigue blouses were pretty standard wear in the Thirty-third, once they were issued at "Camp Moore" outside Memphis in November, 1862.

However, with subsequent uniform re-issues, specifically when the unit was stationed for a time at Jefferson Barracks in November, 1864... we see a return of the dress coats in the images. This may be because of the cooler weather.

I would say that for active summer campaigning, the fatugue blouse was the garment of choice in the regiment.

Bob.

[Tad Salyards]

The evidence that you have provided us with would also seem to indicate that when portraying the 33d, we should probably be trimming our dress hats to one degree or another.  

While I personally don't like the aesthetics of hat brass (a bias from my 2nd Wis days), it seems that I really should get some.  My personal preference is not relevant in light of these facts.

My question is this:  Should 33d members trim out their hats with cord, eagle, horn and company letter or is selective decoration of the hat permisable?  I have always been troubled by arguments that hat brass would simply "fall off" or be taken off during the course of an active campaign.  

I am curious to hear others opinions on this topic.  What is the appropriate level of hat decoration during different times of the war?

-Tad

[Robert Braun]

Speaking just of the Thirty-third Wisconsin, my findings are thus---

Camp Utley period (Oct. - Nov. 1862) P. of 1858 dress hats trimmed with blue worsted cord with tassels, brass infantry horn, brass eagle side pin and single balack feather. Hat looped up on the RIGHT side, contrary to Revised U. S. Army Regulations.

Yacona Campaign (Nov. 1862 - Jan 1863) Same.

Moscow, Tennessee and Coldwater Campaign (Jan. 1863 - April, 1863) Same.

Vicksburg Campaign (May-July 1863) Some "hats with trimmings" reissued in May, befor leaving Memphis for Young's Point, and on the Vicksburg.

Second Jackson Campaign (July, 1863) No reissues known.

Hebron Plantation and Natchez Garrison (August, 1863 - Jan. 1864) Significant change in hats as a result of the previous campaigns. Soldiers now wearing light colored and other private purchase hats, as evidenced by soldier diaries, and Moore's order in January, 1864 telling them to stop wearing light colored hats when on parade.

Meridian Campaign (Jan. - March, 1864) Short time at Hebron Planation leaves little time for reissues. Meridian Campaign is a difficult march in rainy, snowy weather across Mississippi and back.

Red River Campaign (March - May 1864) Only three days at Hebron Plantation, so no time for reissue of army hats or other uniform items. Men of the Thirty-third as ragged as their other comrades in the XVII Corps detachment.

Tupelo Campaign (July, 1864) Some time for reissue, but unknown if actually happened.

White River Campaign and the "Missouri Races" (August - Nov. 1864 Thirty-third literally marches out of much of its footwear; men are barefoot marching into Missouri. Resupply of some uniform items including shoes, while on steamer docked at St. Louis.

Jefferson Barracks (mid-late November, 1864) Uniform re-issue from St. Louis Depot. Hats, caps, dress coats, overcoats, shoes.

Nashville Campaign (Nov. - Dec. 1864) No known uniform re-issue.

Winter Camp and Mobile Bay Campaign (Jan. - April 1865) No known issues at Chalmette, Louisiana, but may have occured. No uniform issue while on active campaign for Spanish Fort.

Unlike conventional reenactor wearings, hats on active campaign take quite a beating. Brass hat trimmings are a common archaeological find in soldier camps... most with broken solder points where the wire loops once attached to the insignia. (This speaks to the so-called "perishibility" of hat trimmings... the feather being the least durable.)

I would opine that hat trimmings in the Thirty-third were a common sight... until after the Vicksburg Campaign. This seige seems to be a defining moment in the regiments history. The veteranization of the regiment in a practical sense occured as a result of this campaign. And I believe the clothing and haberdash of the regiment reflected this new attitude. It shows in the images!

Other thoughts?

Bob.