Illinois Issued Uniform
In the late summer of 1861, a uniform provided by the
citizens of Chicago was finally received by the men. Pvt. Jeremiah
Sherman of Battery "A" has a ledger entry that states,
"Received my uniform of artillery close [sic] which are a grey suit throuht
[sic] except the red trimmings:'' Enoch Colby wrote to his family,
"It consists of one pair of gray pants, lined all wool and of good
material, also a coat out of the same trimmed with red. A cap of the same
cut after the souave [sic] pattern. It is a gay looking uniform and when our
company's out on dress parade, they make a splendid appearance. Our overcoats
will be of heavy blue with a cape and will come down almost to the ankle."
A
full length portrait of William Pitt Follansbee,
reproduced in Kimball's "History
of Battery A", corroborates these descriptions and provides details of
the cap insignia and the Brandenburg
cuff of the jacket. It is difficult to determine how long this gray uniform was
worn. Kimball states that "the boys (of battery "A") received
their first regulation uniforms at Paducah, December 22,1861.” However, Jeremiah
Sherman, in recounting his experiences at