3rd Missouri Infantry

Early-war Missouri State Guard 

 Van Dorn's Army of the West

1861 

The early-war Missouri State Guard / Van Dorn's Army of the West impression is that of a civilian solider.  Most of these men came straight off the farm, or right out of the city with little to no military experience.  These men of the Missouri State Guard did not officially join the regular Confererate Army until 1862 and as such arrived ready to enlist in the Guard dressed in what they wore from day to day as Missouri citizens and civilians.  Without the resources of the Confederate Government these citizen soldiers served in the Missouri State Guard without standardized uniforms or regular military equipment.  It is thought that around 30% of the men had some uniformity on a company level even if it was motley and not regular army issued uniforms.  Many of these men would have taken advantage of captured uniforms and equipment from federal forces and to see some of these men dressed in blue would not be uncommon. In general this early-war Missouri State Guard / Van Dorn's Army of the West impression is a mixed bag of civilian clothing, pre-war militia uniforms, captured federal uniforms, and company level coordinated dress.  Arms and equipment would be again a mixed bag of civilian hunting / game rifles and shotguns, pre-war militia weapons, captured federal arms and equipment, farm tools, pikes, and pistols. 

 Mid-war Confederate Missouri Brigade

Army of the West

1862-1863

The mid-war Confederate Missouri Brigade / Army of the West impression is that of the Western Thearter Confederate Infantryman.  The men of the early war Missouri State Guard are organized into the First Missouri Confederate Brigade in Osceola, MO December 1861.  In April 1862 following the March 7-8 battle of Elk Horn Tavern ( Pea Ridge, AK ) the Brigade is transferred east of the Mississippi River.  In Sept. of 1862 the Brigade is reorganized and Gen. Cockrell takes command after the death of Gen. Little during the battle of Iuka.  The men of Cockrell's Missouri Brigade go on to fight in the battles of Corinth, Port Gibson, Champions Hill, Big Black, and finally the Seige of Vicksburg in May 16-July 3, 1863.  There are 2 seperate uniform options and impressions for this Mid-war Confederate Missouri Brigade/Army of the West 1862-1863 Impression.  The first is that of the uniforms issued to the Missouri Brigade in Arkansas on March 1-2, 1862 just prior to the battle of Elk Horn Tavern.  This uniform impression is that of the undied white sheeps wool, or ice cream suit.  Here is what Pvt. Ephraim Anderson writes about these uniforms "Our regiment was uniformed here; the cloth was of rough coarse texture, and the cutting and style would have produced a sensation in the fashionable circles: the stuff was white, never having been colored, with a goodly supply of grease - the wool had not been purified by any application of water since it had been taken from the back of the sheep"  The second impression is that of uniforms issued to the Missouri Brigade in Mississippi late 1862, what is know as the Columbus Depot jacket with grey jean wool and blue cuff and collar.  The Missouri Brigade would be in this Columbus Depot uniform up to the siege and finally the surrender at Vicksburg, MS 1863.  

Late-war Confederate Missouri Brigade

Army of Tennesse

1864-1865 

The late-war Confederate Missouri Brigade / Army of Tennessee impression.