The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-26
COATS OF BRILLIANT HUE
THEY WE'RE WORN BY MILITIAMEN
IN EARLY DAYS OF CENTURY.
A Coat in the State Museum That
Was Made for James HOIIings-
worth in 1897.

Through the kindness of a Wayne county
man State Librarian Henry has on exhibit
ton in his office in the Statehouse a relic
of some historical significance. 1t is a
gayly colored military coat of the kind
worn by privates of the Indiana militia in
the days before the Mexican war There has
been less written, perhaps, about that par
ticular period of the States history-the
period of musters-than about any other,
and the few papers and mementoes bearing
on the early history of the Indiana citi-
zen-soldiers are highly priced by students
and investigators.
The coat alluded to is made of close
woven fabric, as good to-day though it
had been just put together. Its remark
able preservation seems to bear out the
assertion that clothes were made in those
days with more regard for wear than for
looks. Nearly seventy years has made little
impression on the garment. The material
is blue in color, with faclngS on the collar
and cuffs of bright red. Red stripes on the
breast, running between the double row
of shining brass buttons, adds to the gor-
geousneSS. The buttons are much the same
as are worn now on military coats, and the
eagle, with an 81 in the center of the
shield he clutches is similar to the eagle
worn by Uncle Sans men to-day. The his
tory of ii is concisely stated by slip of
paper pinned TO the breast:
This coat was made for James Holdings
worth in the year 1887, and was worn by
him when on muster duty in Greene town
ship, Wayne county, under the captaincy
of Thomas Way, who commanded the COM
pany."
help thinking what brilliant appearance
these old Indiana militiamen made and how
their chests must have swelled and their
backs stiffened as. on muster duty, dress
parade or drilling on the village common,
they filed past their admiring women folk.
The old garment has an odor of something
more than the tobacco and the camphOr
which have repealed the gnawing moth;
it gives off an aroma Of the Woodworking,
hard-fghting days when Indiana was being
nodded and when life in the West was more
picturesque and not so practical, perhaps.
ANOTHER RELIC.
Another relic of those days, cherished by
Mr.. Henry. is letter written TO his grand
father. Amos Chapman. in the year 1892,
by John b Nees, of Liberty Chapman
a lieutenant in the old Brownsville
Guards and took active interest in the
militia. The letter is an invitation from
Nees and a citizens committee of Liberty
Ind, for Champman and his company of
guards TO take part in the Fourth of July
celebration of that year-lS32. The time
stained, discolored letter is a model of
formal courtesy and exactness in phrase
ology:
AT meeting of the committee recently
appointed by the citizens Of the town OF
making arrangements celebrate the
Fourth of July next ii was resolved by said
committee that the marshal of the day be
instructed TO invite the attendance of the
several light companies of the Sixteenth
Regiment, Indiana Militia.
Therefore, in obedience to the wishes Of
the citizens Of the town OF Liberty and vi
cinity and in compliance with the order
of the committee and 10 the entire gratifi-
cation of our humble servant, you and each
OF you, individually and collectively, are
invited and solicited 10 participate with
your fellow-citizens of the town of Liberty
in celebrating the approaching anniversary
of the Declaration OF Independence.
Should you consent TO crafty your
licitors, the officers and soldiers will each
appear in the uniform OF their respective
company. equipped as on other occasions
OF training, in the town OF Liberty, on
Thursday. July 4. next. at the hour OF 10
o'clock a. a. OF said day. at which time
the procession will be formed. II is hoped
by the committee. as well as myself. that
the procession will be graced by the mill
tary appearance and presence of your COM
pany. We also invite the citizens generally
Of the town OF Brownsville and vicinity