Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - May 26, 1985
By Peter Wynne
Vigo County Historical Society

Kepis marked militia from Indiana's 11th

This week's historical treasure is a kepis worn by a member of the Eleventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteers during the Civil War. It was donated to the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley by Betsy Ross Merrill and is believed to have been worn by Clifford Wentworth Ross, a relative.

The Eleventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteers was formed April 26, 1861, with Col. Lewis Wallace as commander. The regiment was in the mold of the Montgomery Guards of Crawfordsville, a company of 65 Wallace formed in 1856. The Montgomery Guards were fashioned after the Algerian Zouaves of France. The Zouaves were known for their colorful uniforms, consisting of kepis with red cloth hanging behind, red and blue Greek tunics, baggy gray breeches and gaiters.

With their exotic uniforms and elaborate drills, the Montgomery Guards were very popular with the public. Throughout the state companies were formed after Wallace Montgomery Guards, but none would accept Wallace's challenge to competitive drill.

The Montgomery Guards stayed as a unit until 1861 when all but two men enlisted in Wallace's new Eleventh Regiment.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday. The museum will be closed today and Monday in observance of Memorial Day.