Fannin and the Georgia Militia

[mustanggray]

I'm not sure if this is the right folder for this but does anyone have any information on Fannin's service with the Georgia Militia in the late 20's? I'm not sure which brigade he was with but Gary Brown cites Davenport as having Fannin serve as an inspector of the Georgia Militia in 1828. I've always wondered if the uniform in the supposed portrait of Fannin was that of the militia.

I also plan on posting this over in the CMH forums but does anyone know what the uniform regs were for the Georgia Militia in the late 20's?

[stuart]

Can't help you on the Georgia Militia, but even if the portrait is correctly attributed the uniform looks like that of the army of the Republic of Texas - posthumous portraits were quite common and if he was to be depicted as Colonel Fannin, a Texas colonel's uniform would have conveyed the message even if he never wore it in life.

[TRK]

Scott:

Have a look at the Digest of the Laws of the State of Georgia on Google Books; it's a searchable document and covers the period you're interested in. Have a look at p. 588, which describes militia officers' uniforms in 1818 as similar to those of the U.S. Army, but could be of homespun. Also, if you search for the term "uniform," there's an act from Dec. 1828 that reiterates that "homespun, deep blue cotton and wool" was permissible for uniforms for company officers of militia as long as the uniforms conformed to the prescribed design. It also mentioned that "plated bullet buttons" were to be used.

books.google.com/books?id=z10NAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22digest+of+the+laws+of+the+state+of+georgia%22

There's a recent book, History of the Georgia Militia, 1783-1861 by Gordon Burns Smith (Boyd Pub, 2000)
ISBN 9781890307332, which, according to the table of contents, contains a description of pre-Civil War militia uniforms and info on James Walker Fannin's role in the state militia.

factorswalk.com/militia/toc2.htm

There's probably more to be found on Georgia militia uniforms, but it may take looking at the state adjutant general's records; I'm not sure if those were published.

Tom

[mustanggray]

Stuart,

I don't think that's a ROT uniform. I do not believe ROT officers were wearing US eagle belt plates and a very good friend of mine who knows the cuts of the period has said there looks to be 1820's elements in the uniform along with 30's elements which works if you look at Fannin's serviec with the Georgia militia... this is all going on the fact that this really is Fannin. There is also an American flag in the background and it almost looks as if the buttons sport eagles rather than stars. I believe this is either Fannin or some other militia officer of the period.

Tom,

Thanks! That's some great stuff to go through and the newer book on the GA militia is one I'll have to dig up through interlibrary loan!

Thanks to both of you!!!

Sincerely,
Scott McMahon

[tmdreb]

In that first link, it's interesting to note how Georgia militia riflemen were to wear a green coat rather than a gray one. Looking at some other states whose militia regulations show up on Google Books, it's interesting to note how many parrot the US 1814 uniform regulations up through the 1830's. I'm sure not too many regulation militia uniforms were worn in the Texas Revolution, but if they were, they might resemble those used in the War of 1812.