Tremendous work here. I'd never seen a recreated depiction of the 1861 militia uniform before. It was like the old photo from 162 years ago come to life.

Proud to be from Wisconsin and very proud of all the wonderful and brave Wisconsin soldiers that served in the civil war

It would be interesting to see the evolution of other "frontier units" like the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment, starting off the war as volunteers with a mix of frontiersman clothing for their uniforms at Bull Run and being armed initially with flintlock conversions and mustering with Mississippi 1841 rifles (exchanged). They ended the Gettysburg campaign with a mix of 1855's, 1842's and 1861's. Very cool presentation of a Midwest unit. Their volunteer uniforms, like many other states were very odd, blue and red lumberjack work shirts with black trousers and mix of accoutrements and hats.

That was a pretty special (and beat-up) regiment. According to a letter written by Col. Rufus Dawes on July 9, 1863 the 2nd Wisconsin couldn't muster even 50 men fit for duty. That was six days after Gettysburg.

I enjoyed this video. I recently learned that 4 members of my family and Great Great Grandfather O. Soule were in this regiment. Co. H and F. My GGGrandfather enlisted at 43 and his son a GG Uncle at 15. Both served starting in 1861 though my GG Uncle was discharged the same year. My GG Grandfather made it through Gettysburg later re-enlisted joining an Indiana regiment until the end of the war.

I bought the book called, "Those Damned Black Hats"! by Lance J. Herdegen. I have yet to read it all but this movie was very cool. I love finding out more of the Iron Brig. I know the 19 Indiana was part of the Iron Brig. I am a Hoosier.

Speaking of the grey uniforms; I held an original coat, with bullet hole. This wasn’t fake, wasn’t at a tourist trap, wasn’t a reproduction. It was about 1956. I was 7 years old. My grandma & grandpa took me to see one of their friends at their house on the North side of Capital drive about half way between Milwaukee and Pewaukee Wisconsin. I had been out East with my mom & dad visiting several Civil War battle fields in ‘55 or ‘56. These people we visited, had a grandfather who had been at Bull Run. Now we know it as the ‘first battle of Bull Run’. They wanted me to see their Grandfather’s coat he wore in that battle. He had been in the Wisconsin unit who had these grey uniforms. It was simply hanging in their closet. It was grey, it was VERY small! I remember holding it as they showed me the bullet hole. I can’t remember where on the coat the hole was but I’m pretty sure it was on the body , not arm or ? As a young boy, I was struck by fact there was no blood or stains. Obviously there would be. Likely it been washed more than once. I got the impression he had come home after the battle and still had the coat. It was grey, which horrified me because I knew the confederates were grey. You won’t believe this; but, it was so small, it would’ve probably fit ME at 7 or 8 years old. This video presentation is the first time I ever heard that grey uniforms were given some early Militia from Wisconsin. Seeing those photos of Wisconsin soldiers in those uniforms brought back seeing and holding that original uniform from their grandfather who had been wounded at Bull Run. There were buttons but I can’t remember anything else of ‘design’ or braid or anything other than very simple. And small! The bullet hole wasn’t big at all.

The "Raggedy-Assed" uniforms were not the wool ones worn at Bull Run. The wool ones had been replaced by cottonade uniforms on July 5, 1861. These new gray uniforms had red stripes on the trouser seams, and red mountings on roundabout jackets. The material was the epitome of "shoddy", and wore out in a hurry.

loved this episode and sub series I'm hoping for a wheats tiger battalion or any Texas unit when you get to cs units

As always an incredible post, a smashing success. You've done the Iron Brigade proud. Thank you for this amazing post. Badass soldiers indeed!!

An excellent video, thank you. And congratulations on recognizing the Burton bullet and not falling into the common error of calling them "Minié" balls.

Wow! Very enlightening! Thank you from Singapore 😊🇸🇬

"I'm looking for those scoundrels who put those damned white gaiters on my horse!" ~John Gibbon

"while resting on the roadside for coffee, the 1st corps came along with the "full moon" on its banners, and as the great Western or Iron Brigade passed, looking like giants with their tall black hats, they were greeted with hearty cheers by the Sharpshooters." p. 277 Berdans US SS in the AoP 1sr Lt. Charles A Stevens, Co G (WI)

MY FAVORITE REGIMENT! Thank you guys for this, always a pleasure to watch

Three of my Uncles served in WW II and if you got them going could talk for hours about Uniforms, their own, those of other Regiments they'd seen or fought. Its the sort of thing you either find interesting or you don't, but from an early age it fascinated me.

Very well done! Especially enjoyed seeing my fellow 73 OVI Band musician, John Conners.

The regiment I portray, 139th PVI Regiment, Co. F, was actually one of the few regiments in the army to still have their Frock Coats.

Great video!! Im really exited Right now, as i have found out my great great great grandfather was a veteran on the union side!!!

The Two Companies were G (A Co) and H (B Co). You had a Total of 77 Officers and Men left that served a long time with the Iron Brigade. The reason I know this is because I go through these rosters and try to see if I can recreat their exact numbers with minitures. I even copy down the rosters and by this point it has become an addiction.

Wow, this was an awesome way to examine both the arms and equipment of the 2nd WI and the unit's history. Bravo!

I am so glad to have found your channel . I love history especially the war for Independence and the Civil War . I live in Jersey close to where some major battles of the Revolutionary war were fought . I was also in a NSSA for a few years . We disbanded it was a blast although no matter how much i shot i never could hit anything

I love the attention to detail and authenticity.

Outstanding!

Great Presentation. I have always been interested in how uniforms, weapons and accoutrements changed over the life of regiments.

You have earn a subscriber with this wonderful presentation, I also will be sharing this with the war of rights gaming community if permission to do so is granted.

This is another useful video for me, thank you.

Great video, l recommend reading the book Ten Years in the Ranks, U.S. Army by Augustus Meyers. He was a U.S. Army Regular prior and during the war. He gives a good account on the issue of the trousers and the Uniforms in general. 😌

really great show

Our Militia unit still wears grey for our dress uniform that shacko is really cool too bad they went out of style.

What’s interesting is being a Wisconsin unit, most of the men were volunteers from out west,very few Wisconsin people in this unit When I tell people this they get irritated but it’s the truth

This was amazing - thank you for making this video for us!

Great video as always. The only pity is that the development of the drill used by the regiment is not mentioned, as it clearly shows some difference (at least on the shoulder arms position) between the years 61 to 63 and 64.

Excellent video. I wish you could do one on the 52nd Illinois also known as Lincoln's Rangers. This was the regiment 2 of my ancestors were in.

Love the content. Keep up the great work!!¡¡

Uniforms from the Civil War are elegant　That's why it's so cool

Nice Job!!!

Who hoo!!! Number 2!

Very cool

I love these style of videos!! Would love maybe a regiment south of the mason Dixon 😂 either love the channel

How many Iron Brigades were there? Michigan had one too I think.

I'm an hour away from viewing the 24th Michigan's battle flag, I'm sure they were turned out similarly?

Weren’t a great number of Austrian Lorenz rifles converted to .58 caliber by the North?, making them compatible with the supply chain?

I am partial to the 19th Indiana.

I see infantry Hardee hats in museums with either side pinned up , authentic ?

I have a question: the solider modeling the Enfield era has a unblued rifle. I have a repro rifle in deep blue. In the movie Glory it shows them being issued blued Enfields. Were the Enfields blue or raw metal?

Question: would that bit about the dark blue trousers apply to other Iron Brigade units? In particular the 24th Michigan.

I hate to be one of those people and I understand that this song goes well for this intro but... Garryowen is IRISH!