Submitted by: David Herron
CHILLICOTHE MEN
in the
CIVIL WAR

THE SOLDIER DURING THE CIVIL WAR WHEN NOT MARCHING OR FIGHTING WAS IN TOTAL BOREDOM FROM CAMP LIFE. DURING WINTER QUARTERS MOST CAMP STRUCTURES BECAME PERMANENT, USING LOGS OR LOOSE BOARDS TO BUILD SIDES ONTO THEIR TENTS. IT WAS WHILE IN CAMP THAT THE SOLDIER WROTE MOST OF HIS LETTERS HOME AND OCCUPIED HIMSELF WITH CARD PLAYING AND CAMP CRAFTS. THEY WOULD USE ANYTHING AT HAND TO CARVE OR CONSTRUCT DICE ,CHESS PIECES, PIPES, MIRROR FRAMES AND DOMINOES. SOME OF THE MATERIALS USED WERE WOOD, BONE AND BULLETS.
THIS WAR WAS FOUGHT BY THE YOUNG AND BRAVE OF BOTH THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE STATES. THE MEN OF THE UNION TO PRESERVE THE UNION AND THE MEN OF THE CONFEDERACY TO PROTECT THEIR WAY OF LIFE. THE ONLY THING WORST THAN THE AWFUL SLAUGHTER ON THE BATTLEFIELD WAS THAT WE WERE KILLING AMERICANS.



Muster List
Small Arms Usage of Chillicothe Civil War Units




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SMALL ARMS USAGE of CHILLICOTHE CIVIL WAR UNITS

1th REGIMENT ILLINOIS CAVALRY
HALL CARBINE MODEL 1843 PERCUSSION CAP
Lth: 40" BREECH LOADED
Wt: 8 ¼ lbs
Cal: .52
SMITH CARBINE PERCUSSION CAP
Lth: 39" BREECH LOADED
Wt: 7 ½ lbs
Cal: .50

8TH & 15TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS CAVALRY
SHARPS CARBINE PERCUSSION CAP
Lth: 39" BREECH LOADED
Wt: 7 ¾ lbs
Cal: .52
COLT ARMY REVOLVER MODEL 1860
Lth: 14"
Wt: 2 lbs 11 oz
Cal: .44

53RD REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY
U.S. MODEL 1855 or 1861 RIFLE MUSKET
FIRST RIFLE MUSKET PRODUCED IN THE U.S. 1855 HAD HAMMER FED CAP ROLL MODEL AND BUTT PATCH BOX. MODEL 1861 WENT TO PERCUSSION CAP. BOTH MUZZLE LOADED.
Lth: 56"
Wt: 9 lbs
Cal: .58
Bayonet: angular

86TH & 77TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY
BRITISH PATTERN 1853 "ENFIELD RIFLE MUSKET" SECOND MOST WIDELY USED INFANTRY WEAPON.
900,000 WERE IMPORTED FROM ENG. BETWEEN 1861-65. WELL MADE AND DEADLY ACCURATE. PERCUSSION CAP AND MUZZLE LOADED.
Lth: 55.3" .
Wt: 9 lbs
Cal: .577
Bayonet: angular

47TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY
AUSTRIAN "LORENZ" RIFLE MUSKET
PERCUSSION CAP MUZZLE LOADED
Lth: 52.75"
Wt: 8 lbs
Cal: .54-.59
Bayonet: angular

14TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS CAVALRY
BURNSIDE CARBINE PERCUSSION CAP
LTH: 39.5" BREECH LOADED
Wt: 7 lbs
Cal: .54

NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING:
17TH CAVALRY
67TH, 139TH AND 151ST
ILLINOIS INFANTRY


ACCOUTERMENTS

CARTRIDGE BOX:
MADE OF BLACK LEATHER WITH TWO INTERIOR TINS FOR HOLDING FORTY CARTRIDGES.

CARTRIDGE BOX PLATE:
A STAMPED BRASS OVAL EMBOSSED WITH "US" ATTACHED TO THE LID OF THE BOX.

CARTRIDGE BOX BELT:
MADE OF BLACK LEATHER IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE CARTRIDGE BOX TO PROVIDE A SHOULDER SLING.

CARTRIDGE BOX BELT PLATE:
A CIRCULAR STAMPED BRASS DECORATION EMBOSSED WITH AN "EAGLE" DESIGN.

CAP POUCH:
MADE OF BLACK, LEATHER WOOL LINED TO HOLD PERCUSSION CAPS.

BAYONET SCABBARD:
MADE OF BLACK LEATHER WITH BRASS TIP TO HOLD BAYONET.

WAIST BELT:
MADE OF BLACK LEATHER FOR CARRYING THE CAP POUCH AND BAYONET SCABBARD.

WAIST BELT PLATE:
A BRASS OVAL EMBOSSED WITH "US" FILLED WITH LEAD FOR WEIGHT AND TO HOLD HOOKS IMBEDDED IN BACK FOR SECURING BELT.

GUN SLING:
MADE OF BROWN LEATHER, TO ATTACH TO WEAPON FOR CARRYING.
SOLDIERS, BESIDES THEIR UNIFORMS, WERE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH TOOLS FOR REPAIRING THEIR WEAPONS, KNAPSACKS, BLANKETS, CANTEENS, HAVERSACKS AND MESS UTENSILS.


THIS PAGES PREPARED BY DAVID HERRON
A MEMBER OF THE CHILLICOTHE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
IF YOU FIND ERRORS PLEASE CONTACT ME OR THE SOCIETY
Pages maintain by Candi H., IL Genealogy Trails
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