Artillery Red

[Manassas 1861]

When did the US change artillery jackets to red? I've seen depictions of artillery men in the Mexican war wearing yellow, and others wearing red jackets. Why did they wear yellow, and when did they're jackets change to red?

 

[RedRover]

In 1832, at the behest of President Jackson, the Army re-adopted something of the revolutionary war facings. Consequently, Artillery uniforms were faced red, and trimmed with yellow, and yellow buttons.

Here's the regulation artillery uniform at the close of the Revolution:

After 1813, and through the 1820s, the artillery uniform was blue, with yellow buttons and trim.

The artillery fatigue jacket was gray, with the same yellow trim and buttons as the coat, from 1821-32.

So the 1832 artilleryman's coat adopted was this one...

This late 19th Century illustration by Ogden shows an artillery sergeant sitting (fringed yellow epaulettes, and red striped trousers), etc. The infantry uniforms were trimmed white from 1832-51.

The commonly worn fatigues included a sky-blue cloth jacket, with the same yellow trim and buttons (vest size) as the uniform for artillerymen (white for infantry).

After 1838, the Army equipped a few companies as field artillery batteries (prior all were armed and equipped as infantry, and served as fortress troops, or heavy artillery, in garrison). These were particularly equipped and trained, and for the extra trouble of handling the horses, etc., it was allowed that these companies dress somewhat distinctly, beyond the established regulations.

Here's a uniform coat of the horse artillery companies by 1846. Essentially just a modified dragoon uniform coat (short tails, double bredasted, but faced in red instead of yellow).

They also wore a distinctive cap, as I recollect, more like the dragoon cap than the common artillery cap, viz. with red horsehair plume instead of the simple red pom-pom of the regulations.

This horse artillery uniform was not regulation, but it was noted by the historian of the US artillery William Birkhimer, that being assigned to these batteries was in fact unpopular, given there were no more pay for the trouble than among the artillery generally (fortress garrisons).

So evidently the fancier uniforms were a nod to encouraging the officers and men. This distinct light or horse artillery battery uniform is not regulation, and is not described in the 1841 or 1847 uniform regulations.

It appears these horse and field artillery batteries frequently had some distinctions in dress, in both uniform and fatigue.

Mexican War dragoon veteran Sam Chamberlain depicted in his watercolors the light artillerymen in their distinctive uniform, as here in the plaza at San Antonio...

And at Buena Vista, in 1847, Chamberlain shows the light artillery in fatigues, but yet in some distinction of dress, including red trimmed jackets, sabers, etc.

Besides those artillery companies equipped as field artillery, the majority which partook in the war did so as infantry.


In 1851 the simple branch colors of light blue for infantry, yellow for cavalry, red for artillery, green for mounted riflemen, and orange for dragoons was adopted.

The regulation uniform for artillery was the dark blue frock coat with red facings, and later simpler red cord trimmings.

Old pattern sky-blue jackets were still provided for fatigue dress to artillery into the 1850s, but now with red cord added.

though by the mid-1850s, the light artillery was provided with a uniform jacket for wear in lieu of the uniform coat or fatigue jacket.

By 1862, here is the regulation uniform of the artillery, still with a frock coat.

and the light artillery... with a jacket in lieu of a frock coat...

 

[Manassas 1861]

In 1832, at the behest of President Jackson, the Army re-adopted something of the revolutionary war facings. Consequently, Artillery uniforms were faced red, and trimmed with yellow, and yellow buttons.

Here's the regulation artillery uniform at the close of the Revolution:

View attachment 500273

After 1813, and through the 1820s, the artillery uniform was blue, with yellow buttons and trim.

View attachment 500292
The artillery fatigue jacket was gray, with the same yellow trim and buttons as the coat, from 1821-32.
View attachment 500291


So the 1832 artilleryman's coat adopted was this one...

View attachment 500274


This late 19th Century illustration by Ogden shows an artillery sergeant sitting (fringed yellow epaulettes, and red striped trousers), etc. The infantry uniforms were trimmed white from 1832-51.

View attachment 500279


The commonly worn fatigues included a sky-blue cloth jacket, with the same yellow trim and buttons (vest size) as the uniform for artillerymen (white for infantry).

View attachment 500275



After 1838, the Army equipped a few companies as field artillery batteries (prior all were armed and equipped as infantry, and served as fortress troops, or heavy artillery, in garrison). These were particularly equipped and trained, and for the extra trouble of handling the horses, etc., it was allowed that these companies dress somewhat distinctly, beyond the established regulations.

Here's a uniform coat of the horse artillery companies by 1846. Essentially just a modified dragoon uniform coat (short tails, double bredasted, but faced in red instead of yellow).

View attachment 500278

They also wore a distinctive cap, as I recollect, more like the dragoon cap than the common artillery cap, viz. with red horsehair plume instead of the simple red pom-pom of the regulations.

This horse artillery uniform was not regulation, but it was noted by the historian of the US artillery William Birkhimer, that being assigned to these batteries was in fact unpopular, given there were no more pay for the trouble than among the artillery generally (fortress garrisons).

View attachment 500283

So evidently the fancier uniforms were a nod to encouraging the officers and men. This distinct light or horse artillery battery uniform is not regulation, and is not described in the 1841 or 1847 uniform regulations.

It appears these horse and field artillery batteries frequently had some distinctions in dress, in both uniform and fatigue.

Mexican War dragoon veteran Sam Chamberlain depicted in his watercolors the light artillerymen in their distinctive uniform, as here in the plaza at San Antonio...

View attachment 500276


And at Buena Vista, in 1847, Chamberlain shows the light artillery in fatigues, but yet in some distinction of dress, including red trimmed jackets, sabers, etc.
View attachment 500277


Besides those artillery companies equipped as field artillery, the majority which partook in the war did so as infantry.


In 1851 the simple branch colors of light blue for infantry, yellow for cavalry, red for artillery, green for mounted riflemen, and orange for dragoons was adopted.

The regulation uniform for artillery was the dark blue frock coat with red facings, and later simpler red cord trimmings.

Old pattern sky-blue jackets were still provided for fatigue dress to artillery into the 1850s, but now with red cord added.

View attachment 500285

though by the mid-1850s, the light artillery was provided with a uniform jacket for wear in lieu of the uniform coat or fatigue jacket.

View attachment 500286


By 1862, here is the regulation uniform of the artillery, still with a frock coat.

View attachment 500288

and the light artillery... with a jacket in lieu of a frock coat...
View attachment 500287

Thanks for the reply. I noticed that you said some infantry wore yellow artillery jackets. Is there a reason for that?

 

[RedRover]

Thanks for the reply. I noticed that you said some infantry wore yellow artillery jackets. Is there a reason for that?

In the 1813-1851 period The infantry uniform had white trim. The artillery yellow trim and buttons, to distinguish the branches of service.

The US Army's artillery units were customarily were armed, equipped, and trained like the infantry, with muskets, etc., and served as fortress heavy artillery in garrison (later called "heavy artillery" generally), and when sent into the field served principally as "infantry" in a general sense, except for detachments given the charge of field artillery.

To give one example, in the American attack on Fort George in May, 1813, Lt. Col. Winfield Scott of the 2nd Artillery commanded his regiment in the amphibious attack and storming of the fort, acting as infantry... (supported by Macomb's 3rd Artillery, also acting as infantry)...

From 1821 through the War with Mexico, there were four regular US Army artillery regiments. Until 1838 all were armed and equipped as infantry, with muskets, etc., and served in the field as infantry in the Black Hawk War, Seminole and Second Creek Indian wars. In the Indian campaigns, the artillery generally acted as "light infantry" as required for frontier service. For example, the 1st Artillery Regiment noted they had been acting as "light infantry" in Florida when one of its companies was finally permanently equipped as a battery...

Initially only one company per regiment was equipped as a battery after 1838. A few more were added during the war with Mexico, but Most of the artillery companies in the 1840s in the Mexican War served as infantry in the field.

For example, the 4th Artillery at the Battle of Cerro Gordo...

And by the close of the war with Mexico, four companies of the 3rd Artillery Regiment were equipped as field batteries, the balance serving as infantry.

....


Some "heavy" artillery units in the 1860s served in the field as infantry too. Like the 7th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment at Cold Harbor in 1864...

 

[Dan Kohli]

The impression I got was that the infantry got a silver insignia and coloring, where most other most other arms had gold. The specific arm also had the additional color for their individual corps.

 

[major bill]

The impression I got was that the infantry got a silver insignia and coloring, where most other most other arms had gold. The specific arm also had the additional color for their individual corps.

At least during the Civil War I believe infantry had brass hunting horn insignia. Infantry used light blue piping on jackets and dark blue stripes on NCO trousers. Well after the Civil War infantry use white trim and stripes.

 

[Bentonville]

Thanks for the reply. I noticed that you said some infantry wore yellow artillery jackets. Is there a reason for that?

I have a book my mother gave to my grandfather. In it it says that the unit, I believe 51st/52nd Tenn. Inf., began the war with uniforms made by locals and the facings were yellow.

Might have been the 47th. (EDIT)

 

[Dan Kohli]

At least during the Civil War I believe infantry had brass hunting horn insignia. Infantry used light blue piping on jackets and dark blue stripes on NCO trousers. Well after the Civil War infantry use white trim and stripes.

I think the major insignia color transition was within a few years after the war with Mexico.

 

[RedRover]

I think the major insignia color transition was within a few years after the war with Mexico.

1851.

 

[DixieRifles]

I've seen depictions of artillery men in the Mexican war wearing yellow, and others wearing red jackets. Why did they wear yellow, and when did they're jackets change to red?

I thought Artillery always wore red. When I saw previews of Nicholas Cage dressed as an Italian artillery office in "Captain Corelli's Mandolin", I was sure Hollywood got it wrong.
A few years later, I finally owned my own Italian officer's tunic and visor cap.

The Italians used Red for their elite troops such as tankers and Bersaglieri.

 

[RedRover]

The "Army of Georgia" uniform adopted by the State in February, 1861 included "orange" for artillery.

"For a Sergeant Major or Quartermaster Sergeant of Artillery or Infantry -- one row of nine buttons on the breast, placed at equal distances; stand up collar, to rise no higher than to permit the chin to turn freely over it, to hook in front at the bottom, and slope thence up and backward at an angle of thirty degrees at each side; cuffs pointed and to button with two small buttons at the under seam; collar and cuffs edged, for Artillery with a cord or welt of orange cloth; for Infantry of black cloth on both sides of the collar, near the front, the number of the regiment in yellow metal one inch long -- narrow lining for skirt of coat of same material and color as the coat; pockets in the folds of the skirts, with one button at the hip, to range with the lowest buttons of the breast; no buttons at the end of the pockets."

The State of Mississippi evidently also initially adopted orange for artillery...

"For a Captain, the same as for Colonel, except that the collar and cuffs shall be crimson for Infantry or Riflemen, yellow for Cavalry, and orange for Artillery. The coat single breasted, with one row of nine buttons, and with silk braid of the same color as the facings of the corps, running each side from the buttons, the top braid extending five inches, and the bottom one two inches, and the intermediate braids graduated from the one to the other, according to pattern in the Quarter-Master's Department."

Though by mid-March, 1861 this was modified:
Infantry and Light infantry.............................................Green
Artillery...............................................................Red
Cavalry.................................................................Yellow or Orange[/center]

And by May 1861 a further copy of that State's regulations published in the "Southern Military Manual" the facing colors were given as blue for infantry or rifles, orange for cavalry and red for artillery. etc.