I am interested in militia uniforms, so my information follows that subject. This company is often in the Detroit Newspapers from that era. Several letters were printed from this company and you name seems familiar to me, perhaps one of the letters was from him. I am sure they were also in Chicago newspapers. Anyway, this is what I have.

The Jackson Guards a.k.a. Detroit Jackson Guards (Detroit, Wayne County) which was formed in 1860 by a group of Detroit patriotic Irish-American citizens, decided that they would wear gray uniforms with buff facings and some appropriate color trim befitting their name (green?). Captain Mark M. Graw was the first commander. In 1860 they were known to carry Minnie rifles.
They were unable to secure a position in any of the state regiments forming, they traveled to Chicago to join the Irish-American Regiment currently forming there. They became Company A of the 1st Illinois Infantry Regiment (Mulligan’s Irish Brigade a.k.a. 1st Irish Brigade a.k.a. Irish Brigade of the West). Just prior to departing from Detroit Captain Graw was preparing to issue new “suits of clothing”, but if these uniforms were of the same style as their original uniforms or a new style is not known.

The Mulligan’s Irish Brigade a.k.a. 23rd Illinois Infantry Regiment issued different uniforms to different companies. They were issued M1855 rifled muskets by Illinois. When the Jackson Guards departed Chicago for the seat of war with the 23rd Illinois, a local newspaper stated that the 23rd Illinois Infantry Regiment wore dirty worn-out ‘country suits’ (this might indicate that the Jackson
Guards had not received new uniforms from Illinois prior to departing the state).
In July of 1861 The 23rd Illinois Infantry Regiment had received “dark blue jackets with green facing, dark blue kepis, grey shirts, and gray pants with green stripes” . The jacket had green trim around the collar, around the epaulettes and a green lower sleeve chevron. Rank was shown by green inverted chevrons that mirrored the standard federal style. The jacket appeared to have nine buttons.

Most of the 23rd Illinois was captured on September 20 1861. After being paroled in early 1862 the reorganized 23rd received Illinois issued fatigue dress which included 9-button dark blue jackets, sky blue trousers and dark blue kepis. In June of 1862 the regiment began to replace the Illinois uniforms with uniforms from the federal government.

Bill Carr