"7th Minnesota Iron Hat Symbols" Topic

Hello all.

Please cut me a little slack if this is a dumb question, or should be easy to find. I have spent hours trying to find an answer and I am not sure how I am failing in my searches. I come from Napoleonics so I am used to hard to find, but this seems like it *should* be simple.

Is there a method to hat symbols in Iron Brigade units? I am new to ACW and am wanting Iron Brigade. 7th and Minnesota. I see plenty of pictures of Iron Brigade of varities. Pretty sure all of this unit should have the red dot. I have read up on what makes their uniforms unique. I understand they would likely be sky blue slacks. I simply can't find anything on the methods to symbology on the Hardee for that or, any unit really. I am starting to think these images must be of mixed units or something.

Anyway I am rambling a bit but thank you for your time.

Devout look at any images done on the Iron Brigade by Don Troiani. He is normally very accurate uniform and equipment wise.
For example:

"Don Troiani Black Hats- 19th Indiana Iron Brigade"

Look up any images Iron Brigade Don Troiani

From the "Iron Brigade" Wikipedia

The uniform of the Iron brigade differed some what to the standard uniform of the Union army at the time. It was designed to be more of a dress uniform that resembled a suit rather than the more common infantry men's kit. It consisted of:

A Hardee black hat: A tall blocked, brimmed black hat, featuring a brass infantry bugle, a red I Corps circle patch and brass numbers/letters of the front to indicate units and companies. A brass eagle badge on the side used to hold the brim up in a slouch, and finally an ostrich feather plume.

Union Frock coat.: A long, dark blue coat that came down to the mid thighs, resembling that of an officers coat. Fitted with a single breasted row of nine brass buttons, each with the federal eagle on them. The cuffs and collars had light blue trimming and two smaller brass buttons on the cuffs. The inside of the coat was lined with cotton to make a better fit.

Light/dark blue trousers: depending on the period of the war and unit, trousers versed from light, sky blue to a dark blue the same colour as the coat. The trouser extended from the mid waist down to the ankles and had a pocket on either side.

White canvas gaiter: white canvas leggings with leather straps to prevent stones and dirt getting into the shoes whilst in the field.

All other equipment not mentioned included standard field equipment of the Union army consisting of canteens, belts, cartridge box, bayonet and scabbard, haversack and other various items of kit.

I do believe as the war progressed and the frocks warring out and sacks being easier to obtain, the regiments had a mix of both coats. Possibly even some shells thrown in. I think Troiani's Gettysburg print shows that.

I am not sure what you are referring to when you mention a red dot. Perhaps the red circle of the first brigade of the first division in the Army of the Potomac?
Can you post a picture.

The Hardee hat had an Eagle pin holding up one side, and a bugle device on the front. I do not know what you are referring to when you mention multiple types of hat pins.

Welcome to ACW gaming.

A think he is talking about the 1st Corp Badge. Than color by division

Division badges were colored as follows: Red — First division of corps. White — Second division of corps. Blue — Third division of corps.

Iron Brigade was 1st Corp in 1863

Also, I don't think any regiments from Minnesota were in the Iron Brigade.

Five regiments:
2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
19th Indiana Infantry Regiment
24th Michigan Infantry Regiment

Subject: The Iron Brigade & the Black Hat – Wisconsin Veterans Museum


link

Subject: Sash & Saber Miniatures – My First Iron Brigade Battalion – Elite Miniatures Australia


link

I think he means 7th Wisconsin.

link

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies.

First, yeah I have been all over the place researching units and Minnesota should be *Wisconsin*…. I apologize.

I am talking about the brass bugle pins. Sometimes they are also an H that I can see. Sometimes I see nothing, just the red dot.

For the commenter asking for an image, and the other commenter mentioning Don Troiani, yes this is mostly what I have been looking at, plus reenactors.

Maybe I was just flustered with my detail perfectionism, and in a cooler moment, this is a cleaner way of asking my questions.

1. Why do some not have a bugle?
2. Why do some have an H instead? What is the H

In essence my original flailing question was why am I seeing a mix of bugles, H, and nothing for the hat pins below the red dot.

Thanks again for all the responses. It is greatly appreciated.

Union soldiers were not "uniform". 🙂 some would wear the bugle (infantry badge), some not. Some would carry packs, some blanket rolls. Some wear sack coats, some frocks, some a shell jacket. It could depend on supply, officers, personal preferences, basically a host of reasons.

The "H" could be the company pin. Would have to see a picture. Each company had a pin A, B, C .. etc. but again they may not always wear one.

This variation could be all through a regiment. The East would "normally" be more uniform than western theatre. But that is only to a point. I think the Troiani Gettysburg iron Brigade print shows some of the variation in the Iron Brigade.

As above, I imagine the "H" is the company designation.

In some respects you will find that ACW uniforms are less uniform than Napoleonic troops where you know that plumes, sword knots, piping, etc., was more "uniform" and almost universally worn by the specific troop type of a specific country such as, here is a French line battalion. This is the light company. This is the grenadier company.

You should find these links helpful.

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As a Wisconsinite with long time interest in the Iron Brigade, apology accepted, lol! The 24th Michigan joined just before Fredericksburg, and if IIRC, weren't (ever?) issued the federal regulars' "black hat" but instead wore kepis. As noted, red circle=1st Corps badge; "H" pin=company H designation.

Another thing to remember is that Corp badges did not appear until the time of Hooker taking over in 1863, and then only in the Army of the Potomac. The Corp badges moved to other Corp later. One reason you did not see them in many photos. Also, soldiers had a tendency to have photos taken early after enlisting and another reason photos may have lacked a lot of identification. Just like GI's in WW2. Fortunately with WW2 we have a lot of combat footage. This is not the case with the Civil War.

The history of the Corp badge started (in my reading) with Phil Kearny's Division patch. The history of it all is interesting if one wants to delve into them. Also as to why some corp badge designs were chosen. The same is true of the later Division patches which the corp badge inspired.

Next issue, supply.

Supply the further away from the Army of the Potomac you were, got more sporadic. So what you wore would depend on what showed up when you may or may not have needed it. Wool pants ware out and tear. Patching would have to have been common. I know I have patched with mine in reeenacting. Brogan soles fall apart. They were pegged. I had the whole tongue come off one shoe and holes wear through the leather with marching. So barefoot soldiers would not be that uncommon. You lose hats and soldiers would replace with what was available at the time. My point, there was fluidity in the Union soldiers uniform. (Way more for the Confederates).

Also, the natural tendency of a soldier is to not want to be a unique target. So gold emblems on a sunny day might make you stand out as opposed to the soldiers next to you with less. Might be another reason for less in photos. This of course is only my opinion.

Now a fact, pins break on regimental letters, buttons tear off and pins fall off. Also sewing skills varied with the soldier. So pins and bugles would, did and do fall off often.

I painted Army of the Cumberland, which during the war was considered a Western army. I painted a variation of hats, coats, packs and blanket rolls for all my Union regiments. Even if doing Army of the Potomac you can use some variation. I have original tintypes and ambrotypes of some eastern troops with slouch hats.

But if you want to paint everyone uniform, you can do that and be as authentic.