Nearly All US Wars Represented in Uniform Collection

Bob Wilson, local historian, has been collecting military uniforms for several years. Bob and his wife Patti sat down for an interview about his collection. He said it all started with a cannon.

The TEAL grant he talked about is the Transportation Enhancement Activities – Local (TEAL) which is through the Wyoming Department of Transportation. and can be used for, but is not limited to, such projects as: Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites (including historic battlefields); Landscaping and other scenic beautification; Historic preservation. Archaeological planning and research and the Establishment of transportation museums.

He said they purchased a cannon and then they had to get uniforms to give authentic programs with the cannon. He said they started Kearny’s Frontier Regulars when they bought the cannon.

They did programs around the Sheridan area and at Casper. One year personnel from Maryland State Parks were at a program and invited them to come out to the dedication of the Stone Mountain Battlefield at the anniversary of the Antietam battle. He said they had the Civil War uniforms for that, and Wilson said he kept adding to his collection.

Today, Bob has around 54 uniforms,

The uniforms that are older than those used in the Spanish American War are reproductions, but a lot of the accouterments are original, but the uniforms are too fragile and very expensive. There are many stores that specialize in these reproductions not only in the united states but also in England and Australia. Patti said a lot of individuals also make and sell these uniforms.

Bob said he wanted to make sure the weapons are authentic, and they all fire, which is one of his requirements when he purchases a weapon. Most of the weapons are black powder, up until the Spanish American war when the soldiers began using Mauser Rifles with smokeless powder.

For uniforms from the Spanish American war he concentrated on the Philippines rather than Cuba, as the Wyoming National Guard was called out to fight in the Philippines.

They talked about where they find the uniforms, there are many outlets for the reproductions, and Bob said that many have two different uniforms, the museum quality and the less expensive ones for the reenactments. He said that much of the bead work on the Native American costumes was made in Czechoslovakia, and they actually made some of the beads that were used as trade beads.

Bob has worked at Fort Phil Kearny off and on for many years. He did many of the early exhibits at the fort and still gives many of the history programs there. He gives the talk on the Fetterman Fight each year.

He talked about the Kearny’s Frontier Regulars, and some of the places they have traveled. They have attended and/or presented programs at places such as Antietam and Shiloh National Battlefields; Fort Phil Kearny; Fort Fetterman; Fort Abraham Lincoln; Fort Casper; DA Russell; Little Big Horn Battlefield; South Mountain Battlefield, and a number of area parades and ceremonies.

New events are always considered and new members are always welcome.

For more information please call or e-mail Bob & Patti Wilson (307) 684-7136 or rcwilson@vcn.com