Uniforms Uniforms of 8th NY Heavy Artillery

Peter Stines

Sergeant
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Location
Gulf Coast of Texas
I may have posted this already but CRS. What uniforms were issued; frocks or shells or sack coats ? Hardee or kepi/bummer ? Sabers, revolvers, muskets, cornstalks, custard pies, rubber chickens or what ??? Images appreciated. Adelbert Comstock was in this unit and was killed at Cold Harbor.
 
I may have posted this already but CRS. What uniforms were issued; frocks or shells or sack coats ? Hardee or kepi/bummer ? Sabers, revolvers, muskets, cornstalks, custard pies, rubber chickens or what ??? Images appreciated. Adelbert Comstock was in this unit and was killed at Cold Harbor.
This will be of no help to you, but I have an interest in the unit since I bought personal items from the descendants of Lt. Col. Joseph Holmes who was the commander following the death of the colonel at either Spotsylvania or Cold Harbor. I saw but do not own a hand-colored wartime photograph of Holmes and as I recall, he was wearing a frock coat, though that would be appropriate for officers despite what the enlisted ranks wore.
 
Every New York Heavy Artillery regiment's pictures that I know of shows enlisted men with frock coats.

Ryan
 
When the heavies were used as infantry they were issued the same as an infantryman, muskets and bayonets for the enlisted men, swords for officers. I searched for photos of the 8th NY and found a few of the officers in typical officer's frock coats. I found some photos of some of the other heavy artillery units enlisted men and saw frocks, fatigue blouses, and shell jackets so nothing conclusive to which specifically was worn by the 8th. Enlisted men would be issued Hardee hats for dress and forage caps for field duty so you would see both. Officers bought their own uniforms so it would be their preference, usually a kepi or civilian style slouch hat. Here is a photo of the 9th NY Heavy Artillery which might give you an idea of what the 8th may have looked like.
9th-new-york-heavy-artillery.jpg
 
I'm currently reading a book on the 9th NYHA. My great great great uncle, I think its that many, was in company F. The book is writen by a veteran and he makes mention of the attention they garnished shortly after leaving the forts and marching to the front. Many of the veteran infantrymen in decimated regiments threw shots at them asking what brigade they were as the regiment was so large.
 
Adelbert Comstock was in the 8th. His service record indicates he was only 5' 4". But this doesn't surprise me. That side of the family tends to be shorter. Adelbert was killed at Cold Harbor
 
Many of the heavies were also very large regiments, fielding around 1200 men. They were often broken into 2 or 3 battalions and employed basically as their own brigades.
The heavies were actually authorized at 12 oversized companies of 150 men each, versus the infantry regiments 10 companies of 100 men each. When they were pulled from the forts around Washington for the Overland Campaign, veteran men from infantry regiments, many of which were fielding 600 due to losses, jokingly asked whose division was passing when they marched by.
 
The heavies were actually authorized at 12 oversized companies of 150 men each, versus the infantry regiments 10 companies of 100 men each. When they were pulled from the forts around Washington for the Overland Campaign, veteran men from infantry regiments, many of which were fielding 600 due to losses, jokingly asked whose division was passing when they marched by.
Confederates watching thought each HA regiment was a brigade, since by that time that (or even less!) was the size of most veteran brigades. It probably also accounts for why there were no intermediate units within what was officially Tyler's "brigade", though it was the size of a division or more.
 
My profile picture is of the 5 officers of Company I, 12 USCT Heavy Artillery. Formed in September 1864 at Camp Nelson, Kentucky. My great great grandfather is back row, right. These uniforms appear to be the standard issue for the Regiment - the original tintype was passed to me by my grandfather. His grandfather lived until my grandad was nine, and my granddad told me a few stories about him.
 
Frock coats issued to heavy artillery on garrison duty had red trim. While on campaigns as Infantry, would the government made any effort to replace the worn out red trimmed frock coats with red trimmed frock coats, or would the heavy artillery men on campaigns just get light blue trimmed Infantry frock coats?
 
Frock coats issued to heavy artillery on garrison duty had red trim. While on campaigns as Infantry, would the government made any effort to replace the worn out red trimmed frock coats with red trimmed frock coats, or would the heavy artillery men on campaigns just get light blue trimmed Infantry frock coats?
No matter what role they were fulfilling they were technically still artillery, so no need for infantry frocks. On campaign I imagine sack coats would be the likely replacement, if any.
 
My profile picture is of the 5 officers of Company I, 12 USCT Heavy Artillery. Formed in September 1864 at Camp Nelson, Kentucky. My great great grandfather is back row, right. These uniforms appear to be the standard issue for the Regiment - the original tintype was passed to me by my grandfather. His grandfather lived until my grandad was nine, and my granddad told me a few stories about him.
This is a great picture and you should be proud to have it! Unfortunately officer’s purchased their own uniforms and as such are not indicative of the rank and file. HA enlisted had two uniforms, dress, which included the std HA frock and fatigue, which would be the std sack coat.
 
Back
Top