8th U.S. Regular Infantry

[Pennsylvania]

Hello, so I've been researching the U.S. regular infantry regiments lately particularly the 8th regiment and was wondering about their uniforms. since they were regulars was their uniform any different then that of the volunteer regiments? Such as things like fully dressed Hardee hats, dress coats and shoulder boards?

The main reason for my questions is because I have an ancestors that was transferred in October of 1862 from the 51st P.V.I. Co.E. to the 8th U.S. Infantry Co.A after the battle of Antietam. Thanks

 

[ErnieMac]

Photo of a part the 8th U.S. Infantry in June 1863 from the LOC collection. It appears they are wearing the dark blue frock coats and light blue pants typical of the volunteer units.

https://dotcw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/June-8th-U.S.-Infantry-at-Headquarters-Army-of-Potomac-near-Fairfax-Court-House-Va.jpg

 

[Pennsylvania]

Interesting it appears they are wearing a mix of forage caps, civilian hats and possibly some hardee hats.

 

[Dan Kohli]

They would be uniformed in a similar manner with minor differences in details. They were subject to the same supply pipeline as the Volunteers. They may have been more likely to have the dreaded leather neck stock.

 

[RedRover]

They would be uniformed in a similar manner with minor differences in details. They were subject to the same supply pipeline as the Volunteers. They may have been more likely to have the dreaded leather neck stock.

NOOOO!!! Not the neck stock!

Yes, the regulars were issued them. But they were for wear with the uniform, and not necessarily in fatigue dress. You can see in the image linked above of the 8th Infantrymen they are not wearing them (you can see their bare necks, and some shirt collars)...

Here's some men of Battery B, 1st US Artillery near Charleston in 1863 in fatigue dress, without the neck stocks...

The stock was worn with the uniform, particularly as the coat collars were cut at a slight angle. the stock covered the neck and shirt, etc.

Some volunteer units drew the neck stocks from the quartermasters, but as Mr. Gaede notes in this web article, they were not useful for active service in the field...

Gaede: the leather neck stock: military images...

 

[Dan Kohli]

I was under the impression that they were more likely to be issued and carried them, and not necessarily constantly wearing them, or during fatigue detail. But I can be wrong.

 

[Pennsylvania]

That's interesting I never heard of a neck stock before were they common?

 

[RedRover]

That's interesting I never heard of a neck stock before were they common?

The regulars were issued them, and wore them in full uniform. Many of the volunteer units never bothered to purchase them from the quartermaster's department, though their cost was included in the clothing allowance ($$$) for each volunteer soldier.

 

[Dan Kohli]

I'm fairly certain that the Marine Corp were issued them quite consistently. The Regular Army came in second. And then the volunteer service came in last.

The thread from the forum does also cover this.

Uniforms - US Regular Uniforms | Ranks, Uniforms, Clothing, & Gear

Hi there, A friend of mine who is also Civil War inclined was curious about the regulars. Obviously, the Iron Brigade was famous at least in part for their dress, in particular their regular army uniform and Hardee hats that made them distinctive from the rest of the generally kepi-wearing Army...

civilwartalk.com

 

[GELongstreet]

Shoulder scales would be another example.

 

[Dan Kohli]

For the uninitiated the neckstock was a piece of formalwear that was popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The leather version used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps was used manly for dress occasions, but also posture correction, and possibly offered some protection against sword blows.

If I can find the reproduction that I have, I'd share a picture of an example.

 

[RedRover]

I'm fairly certain that the Marine Corp were issued them quite consistently. The Regular Army came in second. And then the volunteer service came in last.

The thread from the forum does also cover this.

Uniforms - US Regular Uniforms | Ranks, Uniforms, Clothing, & Gear

Hi there, A friend of mine who is also Civil War inclined was curious about the regulars. Obviously, the Iron Brigade was famous at least in part for their dress, in particular their regular army uniform and Hardee hats that made them distinctive from the rest of the generally kepi-wearing Army...

civilwartalk.com

The Marines were provided with the leather neck stock too, but like the Army, they did not ALWAYS wear them. Check out these Marines in full uniform at Washington.

Or in fatigue dress...

During the 1830s, veterans record that that the neck stock was almost ALWAYS worn. It was only a European military fashion, applied to American soldiers and Marines. It prevented the regular soldier from relaxing in ranks, or turning his head, etc. Viz. an aid in perfecting the drill and making "machine soldiers."

By the 1860s, however, they were less objectionable in design than previously, but still unpopular with the soldiers... From the British service.

The 1860s version were still issued to the regular troops after 1863:

 

[Dan Kohli]

The Marines were provided with the leather neck stock too, but like the Army, they did not ALWAYS wear them. Check out these Marines in full uniform at Washington.
View attachment 494875

Or in fatigue dress...
View attachment 494876

During the 1830s, veterans record that that the neck stock was almost ALWAYS worn. It was only a European military fashion, applied to American soldiers and Marines. It prevented the regular soldier from relaxing in ranks, or turning his head, etc. Viz. an aid in perfecting the drill and making "machine soldiers."

View attachment 494888

By the 1860s, however, they were less objectionable in design than previously, but still unpopular with the soldiers... From the British service.

View attachment 494878



The 1860s version were still issued to the regular troops after 1863:

View attachment 494877

I apologize if I made it sound like they wore them, or were supposed to wear consistently. That was not my intention. Thanks for the correction.

 

[RedRover]

I apologize if I made it sound like they wore them, or were supposed to wear consistently. That was not my intention. Thanks for the correction.

I was simply attempting to provide context from my notes to your correct observation.

 

[Pennsylvania]

They look like they would be very unpleasant to wear on a hot summer day.

 

[Pennsylvania]

Another question I have is Would soldiers be issued a fatigue uniform and a dress uniform or how did that work?

 

[RedRover]

They look like they would be very unpleasant to wear on a hot summer day.

They evidently were, and were intended to be, lest the soldier appear comfortable.

Here's some German recruits drilling with neck stocks about 1840...

and some British infantry in the 1860s...

American troops in the 1860s didn't bother with the neck stock in active service for a couple of reasons. Comfort being one, but the fact you can't turn your head makes it difficult to act as "riflemen and light infantry" in the manner of Hardee's and Casey's tactics, etc.

Col. Freemantle of the British Army, noted of US troops in 1863...

 

[RedRover]

Another question I have is Would soldiers be issued a fatigue uniform and a dress uniform or how did that work?

The Regular Army of the United States provided each soldier a uniform, and fatigue dress.

The uniform looked like this...

the fatigue dress was this, a forage cap in lieu of the uniform hat, and flannel blouse in lieu of the uniform coat etc.

Most US troops took the field in their fatigue dress...

The regulars were given an allowance of clothing, from the table shown in a previous post above. IF they had to draw more than what the table allowed, they were charged for it from their pay.

The Volunteer troops that composed the bulk of the Union army were not issued clothing like the regulars. They were allowed clothing money, at the same cost as the clothing allowance to a regular soldier. Most Volunteer units, after 1861, just purchased US Army clothing, particularly the fatigue dress. There were some units that insisted their men procure dress uniforms, but that was an exception rather than the rule. Any part of the clothing money not spent the soldier would evidently get in cash at the end of the year, etc.

Unlike the regular troops, who would be punished for discarding their clothing and equipment, the volunteer troops did so at will, as they technically paid for it, etc. But according to John D. Billings, the men and their officers were chock up the losses to "battle" and claim gratuitous replacements from the quartermasters...

The clothing money system did not survive the war.
A law of March 3, 1865 directed all volunteer troops in federal service would thereafter receive the same amount of clothing, in kind, as enlisted men of the same arm in the regular army.

 

[major bill]

Soldiers nickname these 'dog collars'. Marines were called "leather necks" because of they used of these. Some militia companies would have worn these but apparently most did not.

 

[Pennsylvania]

thanks for all the help guys I really appreciate it.