1830's USMC Uniform

[Manassas 1861]

Ah, the dated and rather farbtastic version of Breece's Co. of the New Orleans Greys image...? I have a tarred canvas strap/baldric holding a Model 1808 militia-type box [wooden block drilled out for 24 cartridges, above a metal tray holding turn-screw, tow-worm, a hank of tow, extra cartridge, extra gun-flints.

I had a brass "Texas" star, total fantasy piece, holding the chains for my vent pick and my pan brush. And then I've tossed a powder horn over it, for extra gun powder, I guess, although of course powder horns were more of the sort of thing a rifleman would have used.

The musket in that photo is a Frankenmusket I got off a French-and-Indian War reenactor, on the premise that it was a "bargain" ["ganga" in Spanish, LOL!] Not so. My wife will never let me buy things on the internet ever again after that whole conundrum... I did just get the lock repaired on that beast though, which is very nice...

I've since repurposed the shell jacket into the fatigue dress uniform of the Republic of Texas army: new Texas Army buttons, repairs, and black worsted-wool uniform lace... I really should get back to that project!

Thanks for the reply. That's a really cool uniform and kit that you have.

 

[Package4]

View attachment 501953
This is me in a dated and somewhat erroneous impression of Breece's Company New Orleans Greys wearing the M1825 "pin-wheel" type forage cap... The crown is just ever so slightly--like maybe an inch in diameter--too big.

It is now known more widely that at least some/ many of the Greys wore seal-skin hunting caps or traveller's caps...
QUESTION: Is there evidence of the folding leather forage cap, aka. Model 1833 leather cap in use by the USMC, particularly in the 2nd Seminole War, or just the flat-topped "wheel cap?" The army certainly used the Model 1833 (nick-named the "hog killer" although this is likely a "reenactorism" and not a common term of the period?) until 1839 when it was replaced by the dark blue M1839 wool wheel-type forage cap...

While attending the Baltimore Antique Arms Show this past weekend, the USMC Quantico Museum had a display of USMC uniforms from inception to today. Quite impressive and did include the folding leather cap.

 

[Package4]

Here is an extremely rare specimen

 

[Manassas 1861]

Here is an extremely rare specimen

View attachment 502087

WOW! That's awesome. I think they were using that kind of knapsack in the 1840's and 50's.

 

[Manassas 1861]

@FedericoFCavada. How long have you been reenacting the Texas revolution for? I think that's really cool that you reenact that time period.

 

[RedRover]

I noticed that marines at this time had gray uniforms with yellow trim. The US artillery uniform from 1821-32 was also gray with yellow trim. So the Marines in the 1820's and 30's basically had the same uniform as the US artillery.

The fatigue dress of the army and Marines was gray in the period. By 1814, the Army was supplying cheap gray jackets and trousers to the troops. Like General Winfield Scott's Brigade at the Battle of Chippewa in July, 1814.

the Army switched to sky blue trousers, and sky blue cloth jackets for fatigue in 1832. And the Marines did the same in 1839, though the latter were distinctive as they had no tape trim on them like the army jackets.

The full uniforms of the army artillery and the Marine corps were similar by 1840 especially from the Marines 1839 uniform.

Here's a Huddy and Duval plate from ca. 1840 of a USA artillery officer.

With the Marine's 1839 pattern uniform:

 

[Manassas 1861]

@RedRover. Thanks for the reply. The Marines and the artillery basically had the same fatigue uniform of the 1821-32 style. Both artillery and the corps had gray uniforms with yellow trim at this time, the only difference would be headgear.

US artillery jacket, 1821-32.

 

[FedericoFCavada]

@FedericoFCavada. How long have you been reenacting the Texas revolution for? I think that's really cool that you reenact that time period.

Many years... Arguably, I might be too old to do a very adequate "N.O. Grays" impression... Time to find a believable trade of some kind, methinks.

As for gray: I have it that the supply of indigo and other dyestuffs to make dark blue were in short supply during the War of 1812, hence the decision to authorize gray fatigue uniform jackets and so on.

Relevant to the Civil War: Over time, the regular army gravitated back to sky blue, and later dark blue, while many state troops and militia retained gray as a uniform color... The Republic of Texas used gray fatigue uniforms with black trim, and a crazy dark blue dress uniform. Many northern states had gray militia outfits: Ohio, New Hampshire, etc. etc. while some southern militia such as in Louisiana and Georgia actually had dark blue at the time the Civil War broke out. People had to make a switch, oftentimes, during the first year or so of the war. In the case of Texas, some CSA troops within the state had ex-U.S. Army dark blue uniforms, but had to be resupplied over the course of the conflict, particularly if they operated in a combat zone. For that reason, a lot of people interested in uniforms find the first couple of years of the Civil War particularly fascinating.

 

[RedRover]

@RedRover. Thanks for the reply. The Marines and the artillery basically had the same fatigue uniform of the 1821-32 style. Both artillery and the corps had gray uniforms with yellow trim at this time, the only difference would be headgear.View attachment 502124
US artillery jacket, 1821-32.

Evidently the buttons... and headgear apparently.


Evidently, from about 1831, the Marine fatigue jackets described as having the same trimming on the collar, etc. as on the uniform coat. In the Marine Corps Archives, written in the back of the Marine Corps Orders, 1822-1851, there is evidently an 1831 reference to the fatigue jackets:

"Fatigue Dress – Grey woolen cloth jackets and overalls. Jacket standing collar, single breasted, one row of Marine buttons, the collar and shoulder straps of grey cloth and laced similar to the coatee.
Music Fatigue dress – The same as above with the exception the collar of the jacket which shall be red.
Fatigue Caps – black leather"

However, I have not seen the original document, so assume it is as recorded.

The 1833/34 uniform regulations for the corps do not describe the gray fatigue jackets (the army regulations of the '30s don't describe their cloth jackets either) so presumably the same as already provided without any particular alteration...

My copy of the 1833 Uniform Regulations, is a copy of an original with evidently hand-written annotations altering and updating it to match the 1839 regulations. At the end, the notice is given of the changes to the fatigue dress, noting the collars and shoulder straps thereafter to no binding etc.

 

[RedRover]

Here's a transcription of the US Marine Corps Uniform regulations of 1833. These were to take effect on July 4, 1834. However, subsequent orders delayed full implementation until January 1, 1835.

Officers.

Coat: For Field Officers, Captains and Staff, grass green cloth, double breasted, two rows of buttons, ten in each row; standing collar, to be edged round with buff, to meet in front, with hooks and eyes, and to rise no higher than to permit the free turning of the chin over it, two loops, four and a half inches long, on each side of the collar, with small uniform buttons at each end of the loops; plain round cuff, three inches deep, slashed flap on the sleeve, six and a half inches long, and two and one fourth inches wide at the points, and one and nine-tenths of an inch at the narrowest part of the curve; loops and small buttons on the slashed flap on the sleeve, four for Field officers, and three for the Captains, the Staff, to be placed at equal distances, slashed flap on the skirt, with four loops and large buttons; the slashed flaps on the sleeves and skirt, to be edged with buff on the ends and indented edge; two large buttons at the waist; skirt to extend to the bend of the knee; turnbacks and linings, buff cloth or Kerseymere; gold embroidered shell and flame at the bottom of the skirt; loops on the collar and flaps to be of gold lace half an inch wide, and the entire loop not to exceed one inch and a quarter inches in breadth; the breast of the coat to be lined with buff.

The coats for Lieutenants, to be the same as those prescribed for Field officers, excepting that there shall be but two loops and buttons on the slashed flap of the sleeve, and the skirt to extend to within three and a half inches of the bend of the knee.

Hat: Cocked, without binding. It may be open or formed so as to shut like the hat which has been heretofore been designated Chapeaux de Bras.

Epaulettes: For Field Officers, gold, bright bullion, half an inch in diameter, three and a half inches long; plain strap, crescent solid. –
For Captains and Staff, same, except that the bullion be smaller, and but two and a half inches long. Lieutenants, same as Captains, with smaller bullion. All officers to wear one epaulette on each shoulder.

Buttons: Gilt, convex, with eagle, anchor and stars, raised border.

Trousers: From the 15th. October to the 30th. April, light grey cloth, with buff cloth stripe down the outer seam, one and a half inches wide and welted on the edges. From the 1st.of May to the 14th October, white linen drilling, without the stripe.

Sword: Brass scabbard sword, with a mameluke hilt of white ivory, extreme length of sword, three feet one and a half inch, curve of extreme length of sword, three feet one and a half inch, curve of blade half an inch only, to serve as cut or thrust; the hilt (which is included in the extreme length) of the sword, four inches and three quarters; width of scabbard, one inch and seven eights [sic]; width of blade one inch.

Sword-Knot: Crimson and gold, with bullion tassel.

Sword belt: White leather, two inches wide, with sliding frog, to be worn round the waist, over the coat, and clasped in front; clasp, according to a pattern to be furnished by the Quarter Masters Department.

Sash: Crimson silk net, with bullion fringe ends, to go twice round the waist and tie on the left hip; the pendant part to be one foot from the tie.

Stock: Black, bombasin.

Gloves: White.

Boots: Half boots, to be worn under the trousers.

Spurs: For Field Officers and Staff, yellow metal or gilt.

Staff: Officers of the Staff will be distinguished by gold eguillettes [sic], worn on the right shoulder under the Epaulette.

Frock Coat: Grass green cloth, single breasted, with ten large Marine buttons down the front, at equal distances, two small Marine buttons at the fastening of the cuff; plain stand up collar, buff lining: The frock coat to be worn on all other occasions than parades, guard duty and Courts Martial.
Fatigue Cap: Same pattern as at present worn by the men.

Non-Commissioned Officers, Musicians and Privates.

Coat: For Sergeant Major and Quarter Master Sergeant, the same as that established for Field Officers; excepting that prussia [sic] binding will be substituted for gold lace; the Epaulettes to be of the same pattern as those for Lieutenants, excepting that fringe of gold will be substituted for bullion; and the skirt of the Coat to extend within three and a half inches of the bend of the knee; eguillettes [sic] on the left shoulder, of yellow silk with gilt tags. Sash, crimson silk net, with plain fringe.
Coat: For drum Major and Fife Major, same as for Sergeant Major except that it shall be of red cloth with white linings, collar and turnbacks.

Sergeant's Coat: To be grass green cloth, single breasted, with one row of nine buttons, the skirt to extend within eight inches of the bend of the knee; to conform to the pattern of the Officers' coats in other respects, excepting that the cuff shall have three buttons and loops on the slash sleeve, like that designated for a Captain, the lace to be of yellow worsted; wings will be worn instead of epaulettes, with worsted fringe in imitation of bullion. Orderly Sergeants and others, whose situation entitle them to the highest pay of Sergeants, to wear a red worsted Sash. All Sergeants to wear the buff stripe on the light grey trousers as designated for officers, same for Non-Commissioned Staff.

Corporals: Same as Sergeants, excepting that there will be but two buttons on the slash sleeve, conforming to the pattern of the sleeve for Lieutenants, Trousers, same as Sergeants, without the stripe. Wings, same as those of the Sergeants.

Privates: Same as Corporals, excepting that their wings will be worn without fringe.
Music: Same, except that the color of the coat be red, with white lining, collar, and turnbacks.

Trousers: Light grey cloth, from the 15th of October to the 30th of April, and white linen or cotton from the 1st of May to the 14th of October; made plain.
Shoes:
Gaiters: Black cloth
Fatigue Caps: Same as at present worn.
Stock: Black leather.
Sergeants: When in fatigue dress, will be designated by wearing two plain stripes of worsted lace on each arm below the elbow placed diagonally on the upper side of the arm from one seam to the other, the outer points inclining towards the elbow.

Corporals: Will wear one stripe on each arm, in the manner designated for Sergeants.

Non-Commissioned Officers, Musicians, and Privates who have served faithfully for the term of four years shall be permitted, as a mark of distinction, to wear a chevron on the sleeve of their coats above the elbow, points up, and an additional chevron for every four years faithfully served.



*Hat: (Order for cocked hat revoked on November 4, 1834 and captains and lieutenants directed to wear caps similar to those now worn by the Non-commissioned officers, Musicians, and Privates of the Corps, (except of a superior quality,) which are: Bell crown, black leather varnished visor of the same, from two to two and a half inches wide, the inside of the visor painted green. Brass scales buckled in front, extending back as far as the back of the ear. Brass eagle in front, measuring from three to three and a half inches from one extremity of the wing to the other; black leather cockade above the eagle, with an anchor button in the center; yellow pompons, three and a half inches long with a brass ball at the bottom.

March 23, 1836 Orders:
In future the ranks of non-commissioned officers of the Corps when in fatigue dress will be designated by chevrons in lieu of the plain worsted stripe prescribed in orders approved by the Navy Department 3rd April, 1833, and promulgated in orders of the 10th April, 1833.
The noncommissioned staff of the Corps will wear on each arm, above the elbow, two angles of tinsel lace, pointing upwards,... The Sergeants will wear on each arm, above the elbow, and the corporals on each arm below the elbow, one angle of worsted lace similar to those prescribed for the non-commissioned staff of the Corps.
Lance Corporals will be designated by wearing one plain stripe of worsted lace on each arm below the elbow, placed diagonally on the upper side of the arm from one seam to the other, the outer points inclining towards the elbow.


The above regulations were replaced in 1839. Here's some photos of the 1839 pattern Marine Corps field officer's uniform of Major Levi Twiggs for comparison (which returned to blue).

 

[Manassas 1861]

Here's a transcription of the US Marine Corps Uniform regulations of 1833. These were to take effect on July 4, 1834. However, subsequent orders delayed full implementation until January 1, 1835.


View attachment 502225



Officers.

Coat: For Field Officers, Captains and Staff, grass green cloth, double breasted, two rows of buttons, ten in each row; standing collar, to be edged round with buff, to meet in front, with hooks and eyes, and to rise no higher than to permit the free turning of the chin over it, two loops, four and a half inches long, on each side of the collar, with small uniform buttons at each end of the loops; plain round cuff, three inches deep, slashed flap on the sleeve, six and a half inches long, and two and one fourth inches wide at the points, and one and nine-tenths of an inch at the narrowest part of the curve; loops and small buttons on the slashed flap on the sleeve, four for Field officers, and three for the Captains, the Staff, to be placed at equal distances, slashed flap on the skirt, with four loops and large buttons; the slashed flaps on the sleeves and skirt, to be edged with buff on the ends and indented edge; two large buttons at the waist; skirt to extend to the bend of the knee; turnbacks and linings, buff cloth or Kerseymere; gold embroidered shell and flame at the bottom of the skirt; loops on the collar and flaps to be of gold lace half an inch wide, and the entire loop not to exceed one inch and a quarter inches in breadth; the breast of the coat to be lined with buff.

The coats for Lieutenants, to be the same as those prescribed for Field officers, excepting that there shall be but two loops and buttons on the slashed flap of the sleeve, and the skirt to extend to within three and a half inches of the bend of the knee.

Hat: Cocked, without binding. It may be open or formed so as to shut like the hat which has been heretofore been designated Chapeaux de Bras.

Epaulettes: For Field Officers, gold, bright bullion, half an inch in diameter, three and a half inches long; plain strap, crescent solid. –
For Captains and Staff, same, except that the bullion be smaller, and but two and a half inches long. Lieutenants, same as Captains, with smaller bullion. All officers to wear one epaulette on each shoulder.

Buttons: Gilt, convex, with eagle, anchor and stars, raised border.

Trousers: From the 15th. October to the 30th. April, light grey cloth, with buff cloth stripe down the outer seam, one and a half inches wide and welted on the edges. From the 1st.of May to the 14th October, white linen drilling, without the stripe.

Sword: Brass scabbard sword, with a mameluke hilt of white ivory, extreme length of sword, three feet one and a half inch, curve of extreme length of sword, three feet one and a half inch, curve of blade half an inch only, to serve as cut or thrust; the hilt (which is included in the extreme length) of the sword, four inches and three quarters; width of scabbard, one inch and seven eights [sic]; width of blade one inch.

Sword-Knot: Crimson and gold, with bullion tassel.

Sword belt: White leather, two inches wide, with sliding frog, to be worn round the waist, over the coat, and clasped in front; clasp, according to a pattern to be furnished by the Quarter Masters Department.

Sash: Crimson silk net, with bullion fringe ends, to go twice round the waist and tie on the left hip; the pendant part to be one foot from the tie.

Stock: Black, bombasin.

Gloves: White.

Boots: Half boots, to be worn under the trousers.

Spurs: For Field Officers and Staff, yellow metal or gilt.

Staff: Officers of the Staff will be distinguished by gold eguillettes [sic], worn on the right shoulder under the Epaulette.

Frock Coat: Grass green cloth, single breasted, with ten large Marine buttons down the front, at equal distances, two small Marine buttons at the fastening of the cuff; plain stand up collar, buff lining: The frock coat to be worn on all other occasions than parades, guard duty and Courts Martial.
Fatigue Cap: Same pattern as at present worn by the men.

Non-Commissioned Officers, Musicians and Privates.

Coat: For Sergeant Major and Quarter Master Sergeant, the same as that established for Field Officers; excepting that prussia [sic] binding will be substituted for gold lace; the Epaulettes to be of the same pattern as those for Lieutenants, excepting that fringe of gold will be substituted for bullion; and the skirt of the Coat to extend within three and a half inches of the bend of the knee; eguillettes [sic] on the left shoulder, of yellow silk with gilt tags. Sash, crimson silk net, with plain fringe.
Coat: For drum Major and Fife Major, same as for Sergeant Major except that it shall be of red cloth with white linings, collar and turnbacks.

Sergeant's Coat: To be grass green cloth, single breasted, with one row of nine buttons, the skirt to extend within eight inches of the bend of the knee; to conform to the pattern of the Officers' coats in other respects, excepting that the cuff shall have three buttons and loops on the slash sleeve, like that designated for a Captain, the lace to be of yellow worsted; wings will be worn instead of epaulettes, with worsted fringe in imitation of bullion. Orderly Sergeants and others, whose situation entitle them to the highest pay of Sergeants, to wear a red worsted Sash. All Sergeants to wear the buff stripe on the light grey trousers as designated for officers, same for Non-Commissioned Staff.

Corporals: Same as Sergeants, excepting that there will be but two buttons on the slash sleeve, conforming to the pattern of the sleeve for Lieutenants, Trousers, same as Sergeants, without the stripe. Wings, same as those of the Sergeants.

Privates: Same as Corporals, excepting that their wings will be worn without fringe.
Music: Same, except that the color of the coat be red, with white lining, collar, and turnbacks.

Trousers: Light grey cloth, from the 15th of October to the 30th of April, and white linen or cotton from the 1st of May to the 14th of October; made plain.
Shoes:
Gaiters: Black cloth
Fatigue Caps: Same as at present worn.
Stock: Black leather.
Sergeants: When in fatigue dress, will be designated by wearing two plain stripes of worsted lace on each arm below the elbow placed diagonally on the upper side of the arm from one seam to the other, the outer points inclining towards the elbow.

Corporals: Will wear one stripe on each arm, in the manner designated for Sergeants.

Non-Commissioned Officers, Musicians, and Privates who have served faithfully for the term of four years shall be permitted, as a mark of distinction, to wear a chevron on the sleeve of their coats above the elbow, points up, and an additional chevron for every four years faithfully served.



*Hat: (Order for cocked hat revoked on November 4, 1834 and captains and lieutenants directed to wear caps similar to those now worn by the Non-commissioned officers, Musicians, and Privates of the Corps, (except of a superior quality,) which are: Bell crown, black leather varnished visor of the same, from two to two and a half inches wide, the inside of the visor painted green. Brass scales buckled in front, extending back as far as the back of the ear. Brass eagle in front, measuring from three to three and a half inches from one extremity of the wing to the other; black leather cockade above the eagle, with an anchor button in the center; yellow pompons, three and a half inches long with a brass ball at the bottom.

March 23, 1836 Orders:
In future the ranks of non-commissioned officers of the Corps when in fatigue dress will be designated by chevrons in lieu of the plain worsted stripe prescribed in orders approved by the Navy Department 3rd April, 1833, and promulgated in orders of the 10th April, 1833.
The noncommissioned staff of the Corps will wear on each arm, above the elbow, two angles of tinsel lace, pointing upwards,... The Sergeants will wear on each arm, above the elbow, and the corporals on each arm below the elbow, one angle of worsted lace similar to those prescribed for the non-commissioned staff of the Corps.
Lance Corporals will be designated by wearing one plain stripe of worsted lace on each arm below the elbow, placed diagonally on the upper side of the arm from one seam to the other, the outer points inclining towards the elbow.


The above regulations were replaced in 1839. Here's some photos of the 1839 pattern Marine Corps field officer's uniform of Major Levi Twiggs for comparison (which returned to blue).
View attachment 502226View attachment 502227

View attachment 502228View attachment 502229

Awesome, thanks so much

 

[Manassas 1861]

I found this 1832 quote by a British officer visiting the Philadelphia navy yard, posted by @RedRover last month.

"Their uniform, a shabby-looking french gray, gave them anything but a military appearance; their full-dress of dark blue is much neater, nor could I ever understand why it was not usually worn".

 

[RedRover]

I found this 1832 quote by a British officer visiting the Philadelphia navy yard, posted by @RedRover last month.

"Their uniform, a shabby-looking french gray, gave them anything but a military appearance; their full-dress of dark blue is much neater, nor could I ever understand why it was not usually worn".

That's from "Subaltern's Furlough" p. 47.

In the book "Army Life on the Western Frontier" based on inspections by George Croghan in the 1820s-40s, it notes the soldiers of the Army also habitually wore their fatigue dress when not on parade etc. (rather than JUST for fatigue details).

Here's the uniform of a Marine Corps Sergeant in the late 1820s through 1834 period, before the switch to the green uniform; in summer dress (with white instead of the gray trousers). Painting by E.C. Young of the USS Concord.

Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection: E.C. Young image of USMC.

 

[Manassas 1861]

I found this photo of a Marine in the 1839-59 uniform. I think it was taken in the 1850's, because it looks like he has an M1850 cap pouch on his right hip.

 

[Manassas 1861]

I've been looking at some artwork depicting the 1834 uniform, they seem to show the enlisted men with epulletes. Did they replace the shoulder wings for epulletes?

 

[RedRover]

I've been looking at some artwork depicting the 1834 uniform, they seem to show the enlisted men with epulletes. Did they replace the shoulder wings for epulletes?

The wings seem to have remained standard until the 1839 uniform.

The 1833 uniform adopted epaulettes for sergeant major and quartermaster sergeants. Sergeants and corporals wore "wings" with worsted fringes. the privates wings without the worsted fringes.

The 1839 uniform replaced the wings with epaulettes for all. Those of sergeants and corporals of yellow worsted wool...

 

[NFB22]

Going back to the green uniforms, here is a Continental Marine reproduction that I came across at the Indiana War Memorial Museum earlier this year.

 

[RedRover]

The wings seem to have remained standard until the 1839 uniform.

The 1833 uniform adopted epaulettes for sergeant major and quartermaster sergeants. Sergeants and corporals wore "wings" with worsted fringes. the privates wings without the worsted fringes.

The 1839 uniform replaced the wings with epaulettes for all. Those of sergeants and corporals of yellow worsted wool...

As a further historical notice, relative to the 1830s switch from wings to epualettes, the Army of the Republic of Mexico also dumped wings in the early 1830s for epaulettes.

From Claudio Linati, a Mexican infantryman in full dress, with wings, 1828.

ca. 1830.

Evidently switched from wings to epaulettes etc. about 1832-33. From a modern illustrations by Joseph Hefter.

 

[Manassas 1861]

Does anybody know when the March 23, 1836 orders regarding fatigue chevrons where put into affect?

March 23, 1836 Orders:
In future the ranks of non-commissioned officers of the Corps when in fatigue dress will be designated by chevrons in lieu of the plain worsted stripe prescribed in orders approved by the Navy Department 3rd April, 1833, and promulgated in orders of the 10th April, 1833.
The noncommissioned staff of the Corps will wear on each arm, above the elbow, two angles of tinsel lace, pointing upwards,... The Sergeants will wear on each arm, above the elbow, and the corporals on each arm below the elbow, one angle of worsted lace similar to those prescribed for the non-commissioned staff of the Corps.
Lance Corporals will be designated by wearing one plain stripe of worsted lace on each arm below the elbow, placed diagonally on the upper side of the arm from one seam to the other, the outer points inclining towards the elbow.

 

[RedRover]

Does anybody know when the March 23, 1836 orders regarding fatigue chevrons where put into affect?

March 23, 1836 Orders:
In future the ranks of non-commissioned officers of the Corps when in fatigue dress will be designated by chevrons in lieu of the plain worsted stripe prescribed in orders approved by the Navy Department 3rd April, 1833, and promulgated in orders of the 10th April, 1833.
The noncommissioned staff of the Corps will wear on each arm, above the elbow, two angles of tinsel lace, pointing upwards,... The Sergeants will wear on each arm, above the elbow, and the corporals on each arm below the elbow, one angle of worsted lace similar to those prescribed for the non-commissioned staff of the Corps.
Lance Corporals will be designated by wearing one plain stripe of worsted lace on each arm below the elbow, placed diagonally on the upper side of the arm from one seam to the other, the outer points inclining towards the elbow.

The orders would have been distributed from the Headquarters of the Marine Corps to the various naval stations, etc. Obviously barracks and detachments in easy communication would receive them first. Detachments at sea, however, might not have gotten notice for some time. Some cruises were over two years long.

Voyage of the United States Frigate Potomac, under the command of Commodore J. Downes, during the circumnavigation of the Globe, in 1831-34, etc

www.google.com

A Cruise on the Constitution

www.google.com