Uniforms Uniforms worn by the Maryland Naval Harbor Marine in April 1861.

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The Maryland Naval Harbor Marines in April of 1861 supported the secessionists. If we should view them as "Confederate Marines" or as sailors is an open question.

These 75 men manned four gunboats. Their uniforms remain unknown and I am interested in hearing if anyone knows what uniforms they wore. It is possible that they were dressed like the secession surporting local Infantry units, gray Garibaldi shirts, black pants, and glazed caps. However, the Maryland Naval Harbor Marines may have worn different attire. Some kind of naval uniform? I would love to hear from anyone who knows what the wore.
 
The Maryland Naval Harbor Marines in April of 1861 supported the secessionists. If we should view them as "Confederate Marines" or as sailors is an open question.

These 75 men manned four gunboats. Their uniforms remain unknown and I am interested in hearing if anyone knows what uniforms they wore. It is possible that they were dressed like the secession surporting local Infantry units, gray Garibaldi shirts, black pants, and glazed caps. However, the Maryland Naval Harbor Marines may have worn different attire. Some kind of naval uniform? I would love to hear from anyone who knows what the wore.
Not sure about the supporting infantry units dressed in gray shirts and black pants, it is well documented that Maryland militia were very nattily attired, in fact would visit other major cities and participate in drills, parades and other ceremonies. The 53rd was composed of various militia companies and had 4 different combination of uniforms:

CLASS A
  • FULL CHASSEUR UNIFORM
  • WITHOUT OVERCOAT
  • WHITE BELTS
  • KNAPSACK
CLASS B
  • FATIGUE JACKETS
  • CHASSEUR PANTS
  • OVERCOAT WITHOUT CAPE
  • KNAPSACK
  • WHITE BELTS
CLASS C
  • FATIGUE JACKET
  • CHASSEUR PANTS
  • OVERCOAT WITH CAPE
CLASS D
  • FATIGUE JACKET
  • DARK PANTS
  • BLACK BELTS
1563406469197.png


In addition to the 53rd, were the 1st Rifle Regiment Maryland Militia (MM), The 1st Regiment Artillery and Cavalry MM, 5th Infantry Regiment MM, all of these were very well uniformed as well, though not quite as nicely as the wealthy 53rd.
 
The regular Maryland milita were well dressed. Those in gray shits and black pants were the militias formed as emergency militias in or around April of 1861 and were outside of the normal Maryland pre war militia companies. I am still looking for information about the Maryland Naval Harbor Marines who formed to arm 4 small gunboats. I assume they may have worn civilian clothing or very simple uniforms, perhapsin line qirh the local exergency militia companies. Once the Union took over Baltimore they would have probably been disbanded because of their secessionist leanings, so they existed for a very short time.
 
The regular Maryland milita were well dressed. Those in gray shits and black pants were the militias formed as emergency militias in or around April of 1861 and were outside of the normal Maryland pre war militia companies. I am still looking for information about the Maryland Naval Harbor Marines who formed to arm 4 small gunboats. I assume they may have worn civilian clothing or very simple uniforms, perhapsin line qirh the local exergency militia companies. Once the Union took over Baltimore they would have probably been disbanded because of their secessionist leanings, so they existed for a very short time.
What is the source for these groups and I’ll see if I can run them down
 
Ron Field The Confederate Army 1862-1865 (6). I had retead Ross M. Kimmels two part articles Enlisted Uniforms of the Maryland Confederate Infantry: A Case Study printed in the Journal of the Company of Military Historians in the fall and winter of 1989 issues. This peaked my interest and I looked at other sources for Maryland Confederate uniforms and found Field's discription of the Maryland emergency militia interesting.
 
Ron Field The Confederate Army 1862-1865 (6). I had retead Ross M. Kimmels two part articles Enlisted Uniforms of the Maryland Confederate Infantry: A Case Study printed in the Journal of the Company of Military Historians in the fall and winter of 1989 issues. This peaked my interest and I looked at other sources for Maryland Confederate uniforms and found Field's discription of the Maryland emergency militia interesting.
I am not sure Ron is correct in this instance, but will research, as this is the arena I am most interested in, Maryland CS. I leave it to good friend Dan Toomey to continue his excellent research on all things Maryland US. I'm on the way to Richmond for the NS Trader's Show and will bring this up with Les and see what insights he might have.
 
Ron Field was here on CWT a few months back. One of the problems with Osprey books is the do not allow end notes so we have to trust the author. Ron Field may have excellent sources for his statement in the book, but without end notes we can not be sure of his sources.
 
Ron Field was here on CWT a few months back. One of the problems with Osprey books is the do not allow end notes so we have to trust the author. Ron Field may have excellent sources for his statement in the book, but without end notes we can not be sure of his sources.
The reason I feel this is doubtful, is that, until April 19, 1861 there was no need for emergency militia, on May 13th Butler entered the city and fortified Federal Hill. In those intervening three weeks, I find it doubtful that an organized effort was made to clothe the individuals coming into the city, but who knows, I'd love to know the source.
 
I found out where Ron obtained his information, it is from Hartzler's Band of Brothers 1992 ppgs 18-22. He references The Naval Harbor Marines as under the "Maryland Line" Militia regiment; 75 men under Capt. J.P. Levy and Engineer Capt. WH Jackson. Their uniforms were to be the same as the balance of the group as referenced above.

I'll see if Dan can remember where this info came from, I don't think he'll be in Richmond, but Les may still know.
 
Part of my interest is there are many references of forming units and home guard units. The newspaper and other source say some of these wore Garibaldi shirts, or red Garibaldi shirt, or gray Garibaldi shirts, I have even see the term Garibaldi cloth shirts but were unsure if "cloth" meant some type of cloth or simply cloth shirts made in the Garibaldi style. To better understand what these troops wore I need to look at additional references to Garibaldi shirts.
 
I spoke to Les at the show and he had not heard this, but said that Dave Marks would be the authority. I just missed Dave at the show and will contact him later this week.
 
Interesting and thank you for your help. I was putting all the information on the uniforms worn by the various Marine type units. If we knew all the answers, what fun would it be to research uniforms?
 
Interesting and thank you for your help. I was putting all the information on the uniforms worn by the various Marine type units. If we knew all the answers, what fun would it be to research uniforms?
I finally got ahold of Dave Marks at the Gettysburg show this past weekend and well let's say that the information that Ron got from Hartzler is exceptionally suspect. I confirmed with Fred Gaede, who had not heard of anything remotely like that. All said to contact Dan H to get the source.

The trouble with using an unattributable source, is that if incorrect, it just perpetuates the falsehood. I'll see Dan at the Baltimore show in a few months and ask him about this.
 
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I finally got ahold of Dave Marks at the Gettysburg show this past weekend and well let's say that the information that Ron got from Hartzler is exceptionally suspect. I confirmed with Fred Gaede, who had not heard of anything remotely like that. All said to contact Dan H to get the source.

Interesting. I have often thought that state marine forces uniforms would make an interesting uniform study. Probably not enough information for an entire chapter in a Naval uniform book.
 
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