CSA Marines

[vmicraig]

From 1861 through 1865, the CSA Marines was authorized by the Confederate Congress to recruit 44 officers and 944 enlisted, later raised to 1,026 men. Comprised of some former US Marines, they were founded in Montgomery, AL but Headquartered at Richmond, Virginia.

Initially assigned to provide guard detachments at Confederate Naval Station, they saw far less combat compared to the common soldier, but were still engaged in various battles throughout the war. However, the Confederate Marines first went into combat during the March of 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads on board the ironclad CSS Virginia. Throughout the war, the CSA Marines were involved in various duties on-shore and aboard ship, including capturing Union warships and even evacuating Confederate troops. Confederate Marines were also present at the Battle of Saylor Creek.

One of the enduring mysteries of the CSA Marines is their uniform. Many of the official records of the CSA Marines were destroyed and it is believe that their official uniform came from British sources with some debate on the actual look, design, and fashion elements of the uniform; but was based around the Royal Marine uniform of the time.

Shown below are an Ordnance Sgt. and a Corporal in Chickamauga. They are from Company D of the Confederate Marines, Mobile, AL. The ranks varied slightly from the standard USMC ranks of the day as compared to the USMC ranks of the time period.

Confederate Chevrons

 

[WJC]

the Royal Marine uniform of the time.

Interesting. Are there any surviving examples, photos or other likenesses of contemporary Royal Marine uniforms to get an idea of what the rebel Marine uniform might have looked like?

 

[vmicraig]

Interesting. Are there any surviving examples, photos or other likenesses of contemporary Royal Marine uniforms to get an idea of what the rebel Marine uniform might have looked like?

This is a uniform plate of Royal Marine uniforms that would've been in existence at the time of the ACW. It's hard to see a similarity between the BRM and the CSA Marine uniforms, especially if you can't see past the color differences. But when compared to the US Marine uniforms of the day, perhaps they were of closer resemblance.

 

[vmicraig]

Interesting. Are there any surviving examples, photos or other likenesses of contemporary Royal Marine uniforms to get an idea of what the rebel Marine uniform might have looked like?

Here is an actual photo of US Marines, circa 1861, which does indeed help show that there is a far greater similarity between CSA Marines and the shorter Royal Marine uniforms than when compared to longer frocked US Marine Uniforms

 

[WJC]

Thanks for posting images of the Royal Marines uniform and US Marine corps uniforms of the time.

 

[major bill]

I do not believe I have ever seen any photographs of enlisted CSA marines. However, several artists have done uniform plates of CSA marines. To get a better concept of what CSA marines looked like one need to study the uniform plates and read the sources. For example one should read the invoices of what cloth and what uniforms were issued.

 

[major bill]

I did a bit more research and found that a single photograph of an enlisted CSA marine does exist. David M. Sullivan use the photograph and a description of an existing CSA enlisted marine to prepare Plate # 832 in the Military Uniforms in America series of uniform plates publish by the Company of Military Historians. Mr. Sullivan had Peter Copland do the color uniform plate.

Sullivan is a leading expert on Civil War marine uniforms and his text to the plate is excellent.

The Company of Military Historians have published 3 uniform plates about CSA marine uniforms. In total 5 CSA marine officers are depicted and 5 CSA enlisted marines are shown. (Plates #643, #644, and # 832). These would be a good place to start. The Company of Military Historians have published several articles in thier Journal (magazines) that show C.S. quartermaster invoices for CSA marine uniforms (sorry I would have to look up the Journals they are in).

There is also a period drawing of a CSA marine in the 15 Nov. 1862 issue of the London Illustrated Times.

 

[major bill]

I bumped an older thread that has some uniform plates and such of CSA marines so we could compare the CSA marine uniforms with the royal marine uniforms.

 

[Borderruffian]

Here is an actual photo of US Marines, circa 1861, which does indeed help show that there is a far greater similarity between CSA Marines and the shorter Royal Marine uniforms than when compared to longer frocked US Marine Uniforms

View attachment 200937

Not a field uniform a parade or dress/service enlisted uniform. Field uniforms had kepis and some enlisted had shell or sack coats, they did however retain white leather . CSMC uniform regs were based on USMC uniform regs due a heavy USMC influence from officers who went south.

 

[major bill]

This image is done from a photograph and a surviving uniform. It is considered an authoritative study on this style of CSA Marine uniform. Other styles of uniforms are shown in other works. The book comes with a text that I can not read. I assume Rene Chartrand use the Uniforms in America uniform plate that the image came from as a basis for the text.

 

[major bill]

I probably should have posted the name of the magazine/book the above image came from. This is the magazine.

 

[Delhi Rangers]

CSA Marines by Don Troiani