12th Illinois Infantry Regiment, USV

[macwilkin]

While the 79th New York Infantry is certainly well-known on this forum for its adoption of Highland dress as part of it's pre and post-Civil War uniform, there was at least one other Federal unit that originally wore balmorals as part of its kit, the 12th Illinois Infantry, also known as the "1st Scotch Regiment". It's first officer commanding was Colonel John McArthur, who immigrated to the United States from Erskine, Scotland. He had served with the Chicago Highland Guards, a pre-war militia unit.

The noted artist Don Troiani featured an NCO from the 12th in his Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War.

Todd