Greg,

Maybe you can shed some light on an Illinois (Oglesby's brigade) issue.

When the 25th Ky. Inf. (US) was coming up to the line they accidentally fired on some Illinois units, including the 8th Ill. Inf. I believe the 8th was coming 'off' the line at the time. I've always believed that the 25th was a 'green' unit. It may not help that the 8th was probably clad in state-issue gray uniforms dating back to late summer 1861. Do you have any info/insight on this friendly fire incident? Light searching has failed to turn up any published 25th Ky. diaries/memoirs.

Also, I have two diary accounts from 8th (James Jessee and G.D. Molineaux) saying they received new (blue) uniforms in March 13, 1862. Plus, the colonel (Oglesby) wrote in early March that his men were poorly clothed, having only the uniforms they were issued 6 months earlier. He said new uniforms had arrived but they needed time to issue them and requested a delay in transporting the regiment.

I guess I'm hoping for some 'smoking gun' letter/account from the 25th saying they fired into the 8th by mistake because they were wearing gray uniforms.

Thanks for your time,
John Pillers