"Fremont's Bodyguard cavalry? Uniform info sought." Topic

Hi
Like the title says, does anyone have some pictures of Fremont's bodyguard cavalry?
I'm aware each troops was dressed differently.
Cheers

To be honest, I'd be quite surprised if they wore anything other than either the federal issue cavalry jacket or the Ohio State jacket. Maybe even the sack coat.

The Guard was a 3-month regiment and mustered out November 30, 1861. Considering their length of service, date of muster in, location, and the difficulties already in place in uniforming the new armies, I'd seriously consider that they wore Ohio State jackets.

These jackets were produced for the Ohio militia and were a blue jacket similar to the cavalry jacket, but without any piping. Thus they could be worn by any branch. The jackets had a straight-cut bottom, rather than pointed and were lined with a single breadt pocket inside the body.

However, absent any firm images, and with some of the troopers coming from Kentucky, going with the standard cavalry jacket would also be appropriate. Being early in the war as well, you might add brass shoulder scales to the jackets too.

That's my 2-cent's worth. I'm not familiar with any period images of the unit, though some may still be out there. Consider it was only about 150 men, I'd say it's going to be hard to find anything other than anecdotal evidence at this date.

At the bottom of this page is a uniform plate of private of the Benton Hussars, which was one element of Fremont's escort battalion:

link

The Benton Hussars (Joseph Nemitt's Cavalry Battalion) was raised in St Louis, Missouri, in late 1861, and wore a most distinctive costume, the usual colours being reversed in the light blue jacket and dark blue trousers. The black braiding on the jacket confirmed the 'Hussar' title, as did the 1851 pattern cloth shako, which latter item no doubt gave way to the képi once active service was commenced. Incorporating Von Deutsch's Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Cavalry Company (Company 'D', afterwards 'G') and Fremont's Bodyguard (Company 'G'), the Benton Hussars served with the Army of the West and the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of South-west Missouri until February 1862, when it was incorporated with the Hollan Horse into the 5th Missouri Cavalry, eventually passing into the 4th Missouri, which united both the Benton and Fremont Hussars.

Plate and text from Haythorthwaite's Uniforms of the American Civil War.

This page describes a different uniform for the Fremont Bodyguard. I don't know the original source:

link

The hussars never caught on to any similar degree in the U.S. Army. Some
state militia units like the 3rd New York Hussars affected the uniform while
drilling at home but almost never wore it in battle. Curiously, the closest thing
to the European original at the start of the Civil War appeared in the western
border state of Missouri. The Benton Hussars, also known as Joseph Nemitt's
Cavalry Battalion, were raised in St. Louis in late 1861. Their uniforms
reversed the standard Union Army colors, with light-blue jackets and dark-blue
trousers. Black braids were arrayed across the jacket in hussar fashion, but
unlike the genuine article, in which ornate frogging across the breast was
fastened to buttons on one side or the other, the Benton Hussar jacket
buttoned in the middle, the same as any other U.S. Army jacket. An 1851
pattern cloth shako served as headgear until it was eventually phased out in
favor of the standard Union kepi.

Another hussar unit was formed in St. Louis by Karoly Zagonyi, a veteran of
Hungary's ill-fated war of independence in 1848-49. Zagonyi had spent two
years in an Austrian prison before being released and immigrating to the
United States in 1851. In July 1861, he came to Missouri and became
instructor of cavalry for the commander of the Department of the West, Maj.
Gen. John C. Fremont. Zagonyi trained a cavalry force in European tactics
and equipped it with German sabers, Colt Navy and Beale revolvers, and
dark-blue jackets, trousers and caps of the finest quality. Dubbed "Fremont's
Bodyguard," the gaudy troopers were looked at askance by Missourians, but
the role that Major Zagonyi and his troopers played in the Union victory at
Springfield on October 25, 1861, did much to silence their critics.

At the bottom of this page is a photograph (!) of the colonel of the Fremont Hussars. I don't think this outfit (squadron? battallion?) served in the Fremont Escort Battalion, seems to have been a different organization.

link

From a contemporary newspaper account:

link

The best regiment of cavalry will undoubtedly be the Fremont Hussars, now organizing under Major WARING, the officers of which are all appointed by Gen. FREMONT, and only selected from those who have seen service.

But the finest body of cavalry is FREMONT's Body Guard, which is sure to be associated with his renown in the history of the present campaign. The Body Guard consists of 150 young men, as much as possible of the same size and age, the flower of the city. The horses are all of the same color, dark chesnut, and of equal height and appearance. The uniform of the Body Guard, which has been chiefly furnished by the General himself, consists of black jackets and pants, with yellow stripes, of the finest woolen cloth. Capt. ZAGONYI, who is commander of the Body Guard, is a Hungarian, and was in former years commander of Gen. BEM's Body Guard, with which he went out into the wars, 250 strong and bold fellows, of whom only 17 returned with him. Capt. ZAGONYI is a fine-looking soldier, and regarded with the deepest affection by all the men under his command.

You can, IMHO, eliminate from any further consideration anything from Haythorthwaite's Uniforms of the American Civil War. It is as much a work of fiction as anything from the fanciful early-war steel-engravings to the Currier & Ives colorized prints.

Of course, the two articles contradict themselves, the one saying Zagonyi's troops had dark blue uniforms, the latter saying black. This is one problem with early war contemporary sources, inthat standards of accuracy for reporters were something to be nodded at whilst composing script which will attract the greatest number of readers.

It's a neat little unit, but only had one engagement of note and lasted 3 months in service. They seemed well-received by their peers, and certainly got some good press. But, in the greater scheme of things, they are an aberration, not representing the plain, everyday, common troops that made up the majority of both sides.

V/R

I'm well aware they were a short term unit of little experience and 'unusual'.
My question was purely about their appearance

Thanks Zippyfusenet
Very useful info.
Cheers
Scott

Well, harrumph back at you, Tim! And a humph, humph!

I'm aware of the limitations of Civil War newspaper accounts and of centennial-era uniform handbooks, but often they're all we have, and they are not so entirely false as you present them. Using what we have seems to me the better choice than a lot of barking about Ohio State jackets without a single link or cite to back it up, harrumph! Humph, humph!

It's true that the various Missouri Hussar outfits were 90-day volunteers, whose fancy uniforms were replaced long before the serious campaigning started. But why shouldn't some of us who like to, build Bull Run or Wilson's Creek armies based on the 90-day volunteers? They were such colorful, foolish amateurs and so much like ourselves, not to press the point.

trailape, the vague and contradictory descriptions of the Fremont Bodyguard uniforms could all be true, or partly true, or somewhat evocative of the truth. The squadron may have been military haberdashers, hauling around wardrobes full of different uniforms. If you're not too obsessed with sourcing every detail of how you paint your toy soldiers, these various accounts give you a certain freedom as well as inspiration.

It does seem that the several 'Missouri Hussar' units formed under Fremont were all influenced in their names and uniforms by the large German and Hungarian (relatively large) immigrant communities then resident in St. Louis, many of whom were fervent Republicans and given to joining paramilitary groups like the Wide Awakes and the Turnverein. A few of the immigrants, like Zagonyi, Asboth and Siegel had actual military command experience, and were instrumental in forming early military units for the Union armies.

The cavalry units were small (individual troops grouped into squadrons and battalions) and some wore fancy uniforms with European features that seemed ludicrous or even sinister to American Know Nothings.

Both accounts of the Fremont Bodyguard uniform specify jackets, trousers and caps. 'Jackets' would be waist-length cavalry shell jackets, trim not specified. 'Caps' would be fatigue caps of some sort, possibly tall model 1851s like the Benton Hussars, or lower, rounder versions like the Fremont Hussar colonel wears.

One account I read (but couldn't locate just now) states that the Fremont Bodyguard wore a uniform of the same cut and trim as the Benton Hussars but in reciprocal colors: dark blue jacket, light blue cap and trousers.

That would be a colorful uniform. Or the all-black uniform would look good with yellow lace ('tape') across the chest of the jacket, and at the seams of the collar, cuffs and trousers, perhaps with a tall black M1851 cap.

Or just go nuts. Have fun.

Pretty much what my line of thought was.
I'm building forces for very early ACW.
Consequently I was keen to see some images of the early militia types.