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Our Impression – The Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry

We will be portraying a company of the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment depicting their actions of the night of September 16th and the hard fought events at the Battle of Antietam on September 17th, 1862. In the month of August, the Sixth Wisconsin had completed the hardest campaign of summer including their first major battle at Gainesville and following up at Second Bull Run. They were on the march from September 7th to the Battle of South Mountain on September 14th, 1862 where their actions cleared the front at Turner’s Gap. Please wear your uniform & equipage bearing this in mind.

Uniform & Equipage for this impression:

• 75% Frock coats, 25% fatigue blouses. All those who plan on attending sporting a fatigue blouse must contact Steve Acker or Tom Klas prior to registration so we can maintain the percentage offered above.
• Light blue kersey pants
• Partially adorned Dress hat (the number 6 and at least one other item of the participants preference)
• 1861 Springfield as a primary weapon with the Enfield as an acceptable substitute
• Knapsacks primarily with blanket rolls an acceptable second
• Two rivet scabbard and shield front cap box
• Campaign impression with a good supply of soldier’s personal gear

Uniform & Equipage Standards for the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry

Taken from the Hard Head Mess/ONV uniform regulations and event specific needs

U.S. Pattern 1858 Dress Hat:

Made of black rabbit felt, with a 2.5 inch black leather sweatband, the hat has a 3 inch brim, 5.5 to 6.25 inch crown height, has double row brim stitching at 4 stitches per inch, a black silk grosgrain ribbon surrounding the base of the crown, and a black oilcloth or paper crown label. Each participant is expected to adorn the hat with the number 6 and a minimum on one other appropriate adornment such as an infantry horn, eagle plate, or enlisted infantry hat cord. This will be the only enlisted hat allowed for our living history.

Uniform Coat (Dress Coat):

The dress coat shall be made of an indigo dyed wool cloth (broadcloth or uniform cloth as documented in original garments), a standing collar, skirt with two rear pockets, 1/4 inch padded black or brown polished cotton chest lining, cotton muslin sleeve lining, handsewn sleeve gussets between the body of the coat and the sleeve lining, saxony blue/sky blue (not baby blue) piping or welting on collar, cuffs, and vertical piping or welting along the cuff split.

Eyes and hooks should be attached at the collar and corners of the skirt. There is no internal pocket in this coat, and there is no lining in the back of the coat body or the skirt.

Buttonholes should be all hand sewn using blue, black, or logwood faded (brown) linen or cotton thread. Uniform coats must have nine 3/4 inch general service eagle buttons on body front, two 3/4 inch general service eagle buttons in back (above the skirt tails), and two 5/8 inch general service eagle buttons on each functional cuff.

All documented arsenal and contract issue garments of correct construction, materials, and patterns are acceptable. This will be the preferred coat for our living history as the 6th Wisconsin only requisitioned uniform coats according to quartermaster reports, returns, and soldier correspondence. A minimum of 75% of the men in the company are expected to sport a uniform coat. 25% may be in fatigue blouses.

Fatigue Blouse:

Please note the use of fatigue blouses will only be allowed by contacting Steve Acker or Tom Klas prior to the event (contact information provided at the end of this document). We want to maintain the historic ratio of uniform coats to fatigue blouses as much as possible to those that the 6th Wisconsin did have on September 16th & 17th, 1862. This means only a few fatigue blouses will be allowed in the ranks, 25% of the total participants. The use of the fatigue blouse can be confirmed by the diary of Sergeant Levi B. Raymond of Company "G" of the 6th Wisconsin. On May 10th, 1862, Sergeant Raymond wrote about receiving his blouse while on leave in the hospital. However, research tends to show this was a minimal occurrence among the soldiers of the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

To be made of 5 ½ oz. indigo dyed wool flannel with a noticeable weave in the material. Correct square corner or kidney shaped breast pocket. Four ¾ inch general service eagle buttons attached by hand. Fatigue blouses can be either lined (preferred) or unlined. Wool flannel lining can be tan, gray, brown, or blue with corresponding cotton muslin sleeve lining sewn in by hand. Unlined coats should have hand flat felled seams.

All buttonholes shall be entirely hand sewn using blue, black, or logwood faded (brown) linen or cotton thread. Approved styles include Schuylkill Arsenal Pattern (entirely hand sewn), J.T. Martin contract pattern, New York Depot pattern, & other documented arsenal and contract patterns. 

Trowsers (Foot Pattern):

Some basic features include sky blue kersey wool with a diagonal weave, correct rise of trowsers in the seat (back yoke), right side watch pocket, narrow tapered waistband, four or six stamped paper backed tin suspender buttons, five small paper back tin fly buttons, side seam pockets, correct overlapping cuff vents with internal cuff facings, correct fly panels and facings, etc.

Buttonholes and tieback grommet holes should be hand sewn with dark blue or logwood-dyed cotton or linen thread.

Approved styles include Schuylkill Arsenal pattern (entirely hand sewn) preferred, J.T. Martin contract pattern, William Deering contract pattern & other documented arsenal and contract patterns.

U.S. Pattern Jefferson Bootees (Shoes):

Black dyed, semi rough out leather, squared front, one inch heels, four sets of shoelace holes with one in the vamp, accompanied with leather shoelaces. Leather soles can be either pegged or sewn. Heel rims, inlet heel rims, and hobnails are all acceptable.

Federal Issue Shirt:

Made of domet wool flannel, completely hand sewn, incorporating a rectangular body with square gussets. This is the preferred garment for our living history.

Also acceptable are the gray wool flannel issue shirts and contract variant issue shirts.

Civilian Shirt:

These will be grudgingly accepted for our living history. Must be of period fabric, pattern, and construction. The body of the shirt may be either hand or machine stitched, but entirely hand sewn civilian shirts (which were more common) are preferred. All buttons & buttonholes are to be entirely sewn by hand as per original specimens. Civilian shirt fabrics should be of 100% cotton.

Civilian shirt patterns should be comprised of two to three colored small plaids, checks, & stripes. The woven shirt patterns should be the same on the reverse side of the shirting fabric. Look for small folding or banded collars, and three or four button plackets. Civilian shirts can have square gussets as popular in the 1850’s, or the rounded sleeves, which became stylish during the 1860’s. Correct buttons are comprised of bone, shell, china, milk glass, hard rubber, or wood in two or four hole styles.

Drawers:

Either Federal Issue pattern (preferred) or civilian patterns acceptable. Federal issue drawers shall be made of cotton canton flannel, with cotton tape ties in the rear and the ankles. Hand sewn paperback tin buttons, buttonholes, and tieback grommet holes. These should wear high on the waist.

Civilian drawers should be made of fabrics such as cotton catton flannel, cotton osnaburg, or linen. Other features include hand-sewn buttonholes, buttons, and tieback grommet holes. Buttons may be bone, china, or other documented compositions. Civilian drawers should also ride rather high on the waist.

Socks:

U.S. Issue Stockings or wool hand knitted socks with period tops and side seams, available in varying lengths. Stick to dull colors such as gray, brown, cream, blue, dark green, tan, or dark red.

Suspenders:

Should be of documented style and construction. Since the Federal Army did not issue these, soldiers had to either purchase a pair from a merchant, have them sent from home, or simply went without them. They were made out of cotton drill or linen, with differing degrees of sophistication. Common styles ranged from simple straps with hand-sewn buttonholes (poorboys), to sewn straps with two or three tined brass adjustments & leather ends on each side.

Spectacles:

For those who need vision correction, you must either purchase a set of period eyeglasses filled with your prescription, wear contact lenses, or go with out any which is very accurate! This is not negotiable.

Cartridge Box:

U.S. Pattern of 1857 & 1861 .58 caliber cartridge boxes are acceptable. Cartridge boxes shall be sewn by hand using waxed linen thread, comprised of tanned leather, dyed black, with tins, and cartridge box plate attached with a small piece of leather.

Cartridge Box Belt (Sling):

Made of bridle leather, dyed black, 2.25 inches wide, and 55.5 inches long clear of billets. Billets (two narrow four hole adjustment strips) should be 4.25 inches in length at each end of the belt. The total length of the cartridge box belt is 64 inches. The cartridge box belt should be shortened so the top of the cartridge box is no lower than the bottom of the waistbelt. The round eagle cartridge box belt plate (breastplate) should be attached using a small piece of leather.

U.S. Pattern 1856 Waistbelt:

Made of bridle leather, dyed black, 1.9 inches wide, 38.5 inches long with leather belt keeper (preferred) and lead backed pattern 1856 belt plate attached. The leather loop keeper can be cut-off as documented among several original issued waistbelts.

U.S. Pattern 1850 Cap Box:

Made of bridle leather, dyed black, has a outer flap with latching tab, wool strip hand sewn to the back of the inner flap, cone pick loop, riveted brass finial, and two waistbelt loops which were hand sewn to the back of the cap box along with small copper rivet supports. Shield front cap boxes are desired as well.

U.S. Pattern Bayonet Scabbard:

Must be the U.S. Pattern “Gaylord” two rivet sewn issue bayonet scabbard. These bayonet scabbards were made of black dyed bridle leather and featured attached frogs of either bridle or buff leather. All bayonet scabbards must have a secure brass tip.

U.S. Pattern 1851 Haversack:

Some basic features include machine sewn construction, black tarred exterior coating that seeps into the interior, cotton or linen inner bag attached by three hand sewn 5/8 inch tin buttons, hand sewn inner bag button holes, black 5/8 inch roller buckle, and a one piece shoulder strap of 40 to 45 inches in length.

Haversacks must ride at the small of the back, with the top of the haversack no lower than the waistbelt.

U.S. Pattern 1858 Smoothside Canteen:

Must be an U.S. Pattern 1858 Smoothside Canteen, with pewter spout, jack chain (New York Depot) or string stopper attachment. If string is used, then the tin strap brackets should not have a punched in hole. The leather sling is highly appropriate for this time period and is preferred.
Correct brownish/gray jean wool cover is highly recommended.
The canteen must ride at the small of the back.

U.S. Pattern 1855 Doublebag Knapsack:

Hand or machine sewn linen body tarred black with a glossy appearance, black dyed shoulder straps, blackened buckles, hand sewn buckles & keepers, reinforcements of split leather, and overcoat straps. Wartime documented contract versions are also acceptable. Blanket Rolls are also an acceptable substitution. There are two accounts of wounded Wisconsin men having their heads propped up their knapsacks thus showing a use of said item at Antietam.

U.S. Issue Rubber Blanket:

Rubber or Gum Blankets were the primary ground cloth of the infantry during the war. Made of rubber with a white linen backing, small brass grommets, with dimensions of 46” x 71”.

U.S. Issue Blanket:

Should be of a documented pattern. Can be either the gray issue wool blanket with black woven end stripes & 4 to 4.5 inch US letters stitched in the middle of the blanket, or the brown issue blanket with woven brown end stripes & 4 to 4.5 inch US letters stitched in the middle of the blanket. All blankets should have a noticeable diagonal weave, especially visible in the end stripes. Dimensions should be close to 7 feet x 5 feet, six inches, weighting about five pounds.

Rifle-Musket:

Model of 1861 Springfield rifle-musket is the preferred rifle-musket as documented by Quartermaster reports and returns among the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer infantry starting in February of 1862. We also require that all modern makers’ marks are removed, and any necessary modifications are made to ensure the accuracy of your rifle-musket. Original rifle muskets may not be used for any reason.

Bayonet:

You also need a corresponding pattern of 1855 bayonet for your rifle-musket without any modern markings. Original bayonets look even better!

Mess Furniture:

We recommend as a minimum that all soldiers carry their own mess furniture to some degree. This may include a tin cup or fruit can boiler, knife, fork, & spoon or combination set, and a plate/canteen half. Remember less is more appropriate! No stainless steel mess furniture or crimped bottom boilers or dippers allowed.

U.S. Issue Shelter Half:

The shelter half must be of a documented three-panel issue pattern, construction, and materials as compared to original shelter halves. In Fred Gaede’s typology, this would be a Type II shelter half and is preferred for our living history. Shelter halves should be carried in each soldier’s knapsack.

U.S. Issue Leather Loop Leggings:

The Sixth Wisconsin was issued in early May of 1862 leggings by the order of Brigadier General John Gibbon. From quartermaster accounts, this was a one-time issue for the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. These were a disliked clothing issue among many of Gibbon’s Western Brigade. However an account by Rufus Dawes on October 27th, 1862 did prove that their use did last for a portion of the men in the 6th Wisconsin well into the fall of 1862. Dawes states, “Our brigade had entered the Pope campaign overloaded with clothing and abundantly supplied with everything needed, but the feathers in our hats were drooping and the white leggings which, as a protection to the feet and ankles, were now more useful than ornamental, had become badly soiled” (Service with The Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers 104). The issue leggings were primarily used for parade and guard duty functions by the “Boss Soldier” as the men of the Old Northwest commonly referred to General John Gibbon as.
Must be of the correct leather looped thong pattern documented to the Army of the Potomac, and made of white linen or canvas. No other patterns are acceptable.   The leggings leather loops are attached to the inside of each legging.  Each successive leather thong, beginning from the bottom, was looped through the upper one until the top of the leather strap. 
Additionally, all leggings should have a correct buckle closure at the top leather strap, and a bottom leather strap, which passes underneath a soldier's shoes and attaches via two copper rivets. Correct maker's marks are also appropriate. 
These will be severely inspected for accuracy and are strictly an optional item.  Only one merchant currently makes an accurate pair of leggings for our 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry impression. 

Personal Items:

Since this a public event and part of what we do will be educating the public it is requested the participants bring their personal gear appropriate to the historical time period and the campaign impression we are striving for.

Uniform & Equipage Suppliers

If you have any questions on where to purchase correct uniform and equipage for the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Antietam National Battlefield Park Living History, please feel free to give us a call or e-mail. Ask early so you’re not in a bind when the date of the event comes.

We have the honor to be, your obedient servants,