More 2nd Minnesota - Mill Springs Uniform Data
17 April 2007At Mill Springs, the WB ‘battalion’ will be representing the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Well trained under the leadership of Col. Horatio Van Cleve, the unit was made up of frontiersmen from all over southern & central Minnesota. Though it was their first battle, they performed with great ‘coolness’ and would go on to be one of the hardest-fighting units in the George Thomas’ command.
We keep doing more research on the Second Regt. during this formative period at the archives of the Minnesota Historical Society. If you’ve ever done this kind of work, you know it can be slow going (the letters are all hand written & many are faded - or worse), and only occasionally does a real jem show up!
The most recent ‘pearl’ was a letter from Private John Sherborne, Co. D, Second Minnesota. It is dated 31 December 1861 (3 weeks before Mill Springs). John clearly describes what he was NOT taking on the upcoming campaign:
“Lebanon, Kentucky
December 31, 1861
Dear Mother,
We move tomorrow morning for Somerset…
I have boxed up some of my clothing, two shirts, one pair drawers, etc. The rest of the boys have also left some. We leave them here with the company goods until we return. Also leave our dress coats. So I can now carry my knapsack without any trouble.
We have now got some new Sibley tents. They are made so that a fire can be built in the center. Each company is allowed five, which will make about eighteen in a tent in our company. So we shall get along nicely…”
For what it’s worth, all the boxes were looted before the boys returned, and they never saw their belongings again!
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You don’t NEED a frock coat! Sack coats would have been the standard of wear.
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Previous research shows that DARK BLUE TROUSERS should be worn - if you don’t have a pair order some now. Most Federal units got dark blue trousers as their first issue, so you should be able to use them again at other early war events.
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Sibley Tents are certainly the correct item - you don’t need too many with a mere 18 men per tent!
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Forage caps should be the preferred ‘cover,’ though some hats (model 1858 most common) may well have been worn.
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Knapsacks had been issued to the regiment.
We rarely have the opportunity to accurately reproduce an early war impression with this level of research and detail.
I look forward to serving with you at Mill Springs.
Jim Moffet
Lieut. Colonel
Western Brigade
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