J Please review the below impression guidelines VERY CAREFULLY.​ All gear is listed in order of K preference. All gear is to be made of correct period materials and construction.

Uniform
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Coat:

• Preferred - M1858 Sack Coat or M1858 Frock Coat (George Hitchcock from Company A mentions letting go of his sack coat and receiving a frock coat from his brother upon his brother's promotion to the commissioned ranks

• Accepted - Private Purchase Blouse

​Trousers:

• Preferred - M1861 Sky Blue Trousers

• Not Accepted - Dark Blue Trousers, Civilian Trousers​

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Hat: Company letters are encouraged. Other hat brass should be limited.

• Preferred - M1858 Type I Forage Cap, M1858 Type II Forage Cap, or dark civilian hats

• Accepted - Private Purchase Kepi, M1858 Dress Hat 

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Overcoat:

• Preferred - M1851 Enlisted Foot Overcoat - There is mention of packs and overcoats being thrown off  by some men on the march from Mt. Sterling to Camp Nelson. This gives us a clue that they were still carrying them during the summer. For an unknown reason, they were not turned in that spring by the 21st.c

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Shirt:

• Preferred - Issue of either domet flannel or wool

• Accepted - Civilian Shirt

Under drawers - No modern underwear is acceptable

• Preferred – Issue

• Accepted - Civilian

Socks:

• Preferred - Woolen Socks, issue or civilian make

Brogans:

• Preferred - M1851 Jefferson Bootees (Brogans).

• Accepted - Issue boots, Civilian Boots

Equipment:

​Rifle (with appropriate bayonet) - The 21st started the war with some form of smoothbore musket. It is not clear which. However, in December 1861, 8 companies received Enfield Muskets and the flank companies received Harper's Ferry rifles. The Enfield was considered a much better weapon than the previous by the men and there are mentions of engaging Confederates with smoothbores and having advantage of the rifle.

• Preferred - P1853 Enfield Rifle Musket

• Accepted - M1855/1861 Springfield Rifle Musket, M1863 Springfield Rifle Musket

• Reluctantly Accepted but Discouraged – M1842 Springfield Musket/Rifle Musket

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Bayonet Scabbard:

• Preferred - 2 Rivet bayonet scabbard

• Reluctantly Accepted - 7 Rivet bayonet scabbard

Cartridge Box :

• Preferred - M1857/61 Cartridge Box with sling, box and eagle plates

Cap Box:​

• Preferred - M1862 Cap Box

• Accepted - M1855 "Shield Front" Cap Box

Belt:

• Preferred - M1856 Waist Belt with puppy paw buckle and leather keeper or keeper cut off

Haversack:

• Preferred - Black tarred issue haversack

Canteen:​

• Preferred - M1862 "Bullseye" Canteen with leather strap

• Accepted - M1858 "Smoothside" Canteen with cotton strap

Knapsack:

• Preferred - M1855 Federal Double Bag Knapsack, Blanket Roll

Blanket:

• Preferred - Gray or Brown Issue Blanket with US chain stitched.

Ground Cloth:

• Preferred - Gum blanket

• Accepted - Painted ground cloth

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Tentage - On March 30, 1863, Hitchcock mentions the men using their shelter tents as hammocks on a train as they are moved that way. Given this, we will have our representation in shelter tents for the weekend.

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Preferred - Properly made shelter tent of any type. Better if you pair up with a comrade ahead of time so your halves match well enough to work together.

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