Ohio History Journal

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40 OHIO HISTORY

Philadelphia he bought 60 yards of plated vellum lace for $12. On Novem-

ber 6, he bought accessories, such as cotton headbands, silver braid, and

insignia at the "Military and Fancy Store" of Charles Libeau of Cincinnati.

The patriotic young ladies of Mount Vernon did the sewing and tailor-

ing, and in a few days' time, the Mount Vernon Blues were in uniform.

Captain Brown's books show the total cost of materials was $591.58.

In addition to this, he listed $41 for a musician's uniform. The last item

was $83 for Captain Brown's splendid uniform, which included cloak, sash,

sword, and extra plumes. The total cost of uniforms for the company

was $715.58.

In the company record book Captain Brown kept an account of the cost

of the material for each man's uniform, which varied between $12 and $14

per man. A notation of "paid in full" or "note taken" appears beside the

balance of each account.

When the Mount Vernon Blues mustered on the village square, they

were undoubtedly a very colorful sight. The plumes on their black shakos

were a bright red; their coats were red with blue fronts and white lace;

their trousers were white, trimmed with blue worsted braid.

The Mount Vernon Blues never fought in battle, because the Toledo War

was settled when congress gave Michigan its present Upper Peninsula in

return for Toledo. However, many of the members of the Mount Vernon

Blues did have other military service during their lifetimes. Some went to

Texas in 1836, as members of another Mount Vernon company to help that

republic in its fight for independence from Mexico. Others were members

of the Mount Vernon "Young Guard" company, which fought in the Mexi-

can War in 1846.

THE AUTHOR: Paul L. Massa is a re-

tired army captain living in Mount Ver-

non, Ohio.

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Captain Brown Outfits the Mount Vernon Blues

For the "Toledo War"

by PAUL L. MASSA

The "Mount Vernon Blues," a militia rifle company, was organized in 1835,

when Ohio mobilized its military forces in preparation for possible hostili-

ties with Michigan. This dispute between the state of Ohio and the territory

of Michigan over the location of their common boundary line, is known as

the Toledo War.

In Mount Vernon, Ohio, General William Bevans, a former Knox County

sheriff, authorized Benjamin L. Brown to organize an infantry company

for service in the Fifth Brigade of the Seventh Division of Ohio militia.

Young Captain Brown plunged wholeheartedly into the task, and he faith-

fully kept a complete set of records of its activities. The record of an

election of officers held on September 4, 1835, shows that he had enlisted

forty-six men in his company by that date.

Getting his men in uniform was Captain Brown's biggest project, and

his detailed records report every transaction. He spent $300 for 100 yards

of cloth in New York on October 10. At William H. Horstman's in