Volunteer regiments
The US volunteer regiments of 1812 mustered into service in all states of preparedness. Many regiments had long histories of militia service and turned out well drilled, completely equipped and uniformed. Many, as was the case of the Kentucky volunteers at New Orleans, turned out with nothing but the civilian clothes on their backs. As the war progressed states began negotiating with the federal government to completely uniform and equip their regiments from federal stores, much like states did later in the Civil War.
Of the uniformed units, the uniforms varied a great deal depending on the funds available to the state or local community. The Napoleonic Wars, which had been on going since 1798, had a great deal of influence on clothing taste and equipment adopted by the fledgling U.S. military. The United States military founded on a British tradition and equipped with French arms and uniforms began a long history of copying the uniform style of the most recent victorious armies. Before the War of 1812, the uniforms of state troops and regulars were decidedly French in style. However, the Russian campaign of 1812 changed the status of the victorious French armies and uniforms of the regular army began to take on the appearance of those worn by the British Army.
The 1st Regiment of Infantry is portraying a prewar standing state regiment. The Unit's goal is to represent the typical volunteer unit as they could have looked in the swamps of Ohio and Michigan, the Niagara peninsula and the East Coast. In general we will be wearing civilian trousers, shirts, cravats and vests. The coats will be blue faced red uniform tailed regimentals, gray wool or white linen/cotton drill roundabout jackets or linen/Linsey woolsey fatigue/hunting frock coats. Black round hats with black leather goods, uniform state backpacks, haversacks, canteens and gaiters will complete the soldierly appearance. This impression is very typical of state troops throughout the war.
