infomanpa
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2017
- Location
- Pennsylvania
I'm curious as to whether the regular U.S. Army Infantry wore uniforms that were any different from the volunteer infantry.
I'm curious as to whether the regular U.S. Army Infantry wore uniforms that were any different from the volunteer infantry.
I had been under the impression that the Regulars wore dark blue trousers, at least at the start of the war. I found one article that indicates dark blue trousers for Regular infantry. The second article I am including shows some nice pictures of a variety of uniforms and acoutrements, although you'll have to scroll down a bit to get to the Civil War period.
I wonder if the indigo dye just ran out? I did read an account from Bruce Catton that a regiment at Antietam had sack coats dyed darker than the usual, and looked almost black in the September sun. Curious to know about their quality control in uniform making.Interesting, because I was under the impression that the dark blue trousers were for officers only.
Dark blue trousers were the regulation from 1858-1861 when they reverted back to sky-blue; some US Regulars continued to wear the dark blue since the supplies needed to be exhausted.Interesting, because I was under the impression that the dark blue trousers were for officers only.
Thanks @Package4!! Helpful information!Dark blue trousers were the regulation from 1858-1861 when the reverted back to sky-blue; some US Regulars continued to wear the dark blue since the supplies needed to be exhausted.
Officer's uniforms were not issued and had to be purchased by the individual, so the quality of the uniform was dependent on the individual means, of that particular officer. You will see some very extravagant uniforms, while others evidenced pieces of enlisted issue cloth adapted to officer wear. I have seen issued 9 button enlisted frock coats with added straps and sky blue enlisted pants with the seams ripped open and a dark blue welt sewn in, in fact I own such a pair. Unfortunately the value of straight enlisted trousers due to rarity, is far greater than the hybrid officer adaptation.I wonder if the indigo dye just ran out? I did read an account from Bruce Catton that a regiment at Antietam had sack coats dyed darker than the usual, and looked almost black in the September sun. Curious to know about their quality control in uniform making.
On another note re: uniforms, my understanding (which is quite limited) is that the uniforms for enlisted men and officers differed in the weight and processing of the wool. According to this first link, sack coats were made of dyed wool about 9-11 oz. in weight. Apparently the custom tailored officers' frock coats were constructed from 15-16 oz. wool broadcloth, which (from what I could gather) was a higher quality of carded wool.
Please correct me if I get this wrong!!
Adam
http://www.cwquartermaster.com/construct.htm
The Philadelphia arsenal continued to produce and issue dark blue trousers throughout the war, in fact their inventory showed 22,000 pair on hand as late as October of '64. Most of these were issued alongside of sky-blue trousers to signal corps and ordinance troops. Pictorial evidence of enlisted wearing dark blue is seen throughout the war, but as stated, relegated to specialty branches.US Army uniform regulations from 1858 to 1861 required dark blue trousers for enlisted men. The "new" 1861 regulations came out just before the war in March of 1861 and still called for dark blue trousers. The Federal government issued dark blue, light blue, brown, and black trousers to volunteers in 1861. Basically the Federals were purchasing whatever they could find to buy.
I have read somewhere that regular units tried to wear dark blue trousers after the Federal government started buying light blue trousers by the end of 1861. However I have not seen any/much documentation that the Federal government was making dark blue trousers for the regulars during the war. I also have not seen footnotes for the "regulars attempted to keep their dark blue trousers" statements.
Hopefully some forum member can provide documented information that the Federal government continued to make dark blue trousers for regular soldiers after 1861. I have serious doubt that the Federal government made any real effort to send dark blue trousers to regular units and have a feeling the regulars once their trousers wore out were issued whatever the local warehouse had on hand.
Certainly would be something to get tossed away at the earliest opportunity!One example would be parade dress. The regulars had fancy shoulder scales to be worn on parades and sunday inspections etc. Comparably few volunteer units were issued scales at all though of course some former militia units might have used their old ones for some time. But they were cumbersome and their transport a burden when on campaign so they weren´t well liked.
I have to wonder about that site, which states, "On their shoulder boards major generals commanding armies wore 3 stars, the center star being larger than the others."
As far as I know, only U.S. Grant had 3 stars and his rank was lieutenant general.
The first site is so full of disinformation as to be subject to a skit on SNL; reference books are the best source for information on uniforms of the ACW period, or bonafide sites such as Frederick Adolophus etc.I had been under the impression that the Regulars wore dark blue trousers, at least at the start of the war. I found one article that indicates dark blue trousers for Regular infantry. The second article I am including shows some nice pictures of a variety of uniforms and acoutrements, although you'll have to scroll down a bit to get to the Civil War period.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/uniformsunion.html
https://history.army.mil/html/museums/uniforms/survey_uwa.pdf
The regulation was that THE Major-General commanding the US Army wore three stars. McClellan and Halleck both had 3 stars up, but reverted to two when they ceased to have that role.