Destroy the felt hats?

[major bill]

Regimental book 39th N.Y.Inf
H.Q.1st Division 2nd Army Corps
January 4, 1865

The General commanding is again obliged to call the attention of Brigade Commanders to irregularities quite prevalent throughout the command... officer will wear the uniform prescribed with the. Insignia of rank... upon the shoulder... noncommissioned officers will wear proper chevrons... also have stripe on the pantaloons.

Every soldier must have a cartridge box belt and plate thereon. It will be properly adjusted and always worn with his equipment. The Cartridge box will not be supported by the waist belt. he must also have and wear a cap with bugle and the number and number of his regiment securely fastened and with the red trefoil well sewed on. The felt hats so numerous in the Division will be destroyed. No soldier will be permitted to put on his equipment without first buttoning his coat. This is often done.

Bvt. Maj. General Miles/

 

[JOHN42768]

I guess that went over like a lead balloon.

 

[captaindrew]

Yeah I bet he was popular in the ranks, one of those always by the book guys.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Somehow I get the feeling "Bvt. General Miles" was hated by his troops, and if he such a dictator to his lowers, I now wonder if he sucked up to his uppers.

 

[Pat Young]

Garibaldi Guard

 

[UCVRelics]

Gen Miles was a by the book general and he wasn't even a graduate of Hudson High or a "Ring Knocker" He had a storied career and the CW wasn't his only rodeo. He was awarded a the MOH but his treatment of Jefferson Davis always haunted his career. He was the last CG of the US Army before that position was abolished.

 

[major bill]

Miles seems to have had a dislike for hats. Here he makes the officers stop wearing thier rank on their coat collars.

145th Penn. Regt. Letter & order Book
1st Division, 2nd Corps Sept. 3, 1864
General Orders no. 215

It has been observed that in many instances the clothing of the men is neglected, and they are allowed to wear hats and other clothing different from the prescribed blouse, trousers and cap... Every man will ... be supplied with the badge of the Division, number of regiment, and letter of company... and he will be required to wear them. Anyone taking off either letter, number or badge will be punished by his Regimental commander.

Many officers have accustomed themselves to wearing the marks of their rank upon their coat collars. This is prohibited, and in the future every officer will be required to wear the regulation shoulder straps.

By order; Brig. Gen. Miles

 

[UCVRelics]

Many officers have accustomed themselves to wearing the marks of their rank upon their coat collars. This is prohibited, and in the future every officer will be required to wear the regulation shoulder straps.

Officers wore them on their collar for a reason. The shoulder boards were a BIG OLE TARGET. Little did Miles know that the collar insignia would be adopted thru out the US Military establishment.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I knew Miles was strongly disliked by his juniors in the Indian Wars, and Spanish-American War, but I had no idea he was just as bad, even maybe worse during the CW. Him issuing such orders in the CW, I'm surprised an "accident" didn't happen to him, heck considering his conduct against the Apache's and other tribes during peace negotiations, and during the CW it may have been a good thing if an accident.

I wonder if he issued orders for his men to wear those ridiculous "Look I'm a target!" cross-belt plates when he stopped soldiers from just carrying there cartridge boxes on their belt. A good officer isn't one who was religiously by the book, but rather one who could throw it away and have good results. I already had a dislike for Miles, and seeing these orders has driven it downward, he could get results and win, but not in a way where everyone was happy, especially with his enthusiasm for himself. In 1902, or 03 he was so put out that people said he was too old, that he ordered horses for himself at ten mile intervals and he rode some 10 hours from one fort to another over a long distance, (its been a while since I've read it, can't remember all the details). He was tough, but all for himself in my book.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

"The general commanding is again obliged to call..."

I think one thing this demonstrates is that General Orders were not as effective as some people nowadays think they were. I often see on this site and elsewhere people refer to GO as a sort of default "proof" that soldiers did X, Y or Z. I think the inclusion of "again" insinuates that this was a recurring problem. My guess is it was followed after the order with the same zeal as before.

 

[Package4]

Regimental book 39th N.Y.Inf
H.Q.1st Division 2nd Army Corps
January 4, 1865

The General commanding is again obliged to call the attention of Brigade Commanders to irregularities quite prevalent throughout the command... officer will wear the uniform prescribed with the. Insignia of rank... upon the shoulder... noncommissioned officers will wear proper chevrons... also have stripe on the pantaloons.

Every soldier must have a cartridge box belt and plate thereon. It will be properly adjusted and always worn with his equipment. The Cartridge box will not be supported by the waist belt. he must also have and wear a cap with bugle and the number and number of his regiment securely fastened and with the red trefoil well sewed on. The felt hats so numerous in the Division will be destroyed. No soldier will be permitted to put on his equipment without first buttoning his coat. This is often done.

Bvt. Maj. General Miles/

I seem to remember somewhere, that Hancock was also of this thinking, when he had the 2nd Corps. I was researching the prevalence of forage caps Vs slouch in the 2nd Corps and IIRC came upon a missive from Hancock to this effect. I was building a 2nd Corps impression many moons ago when I was a member of the 2nd DE. I will see if I can find it in my research...…..this may be the reason Miles had this view, he was under Hancock in the 2nd Corps for some time.

 

[mofederal]

I sure that many soldiers if they could went back to their old habits as soon as they could. I see such orders never seemed to effect the people who wrote them.

 

[frontrank2]

Garibaldi Guard

My gr-gr grandfather's regiment.

 

[frontrank2]

I sure that many soldiers if they could went back to their old habits as soon as they could. I see such orders never seemed to effect the people who wrote them.

Remember Patton in WW2, any soldier in his 3rd Army without a necktie faced a $25 penalty.

 

[Mrs. V]

Regimental book 39th N.Y.Inf
H.Q.1st Division 2nd Army Corps
January 4, 1865

The General commanding is again obliged to call the attention of Brigade Commanders to irregularities quite prevalent throughout the command... officer will wear the uniform prescribed with the. Insignia of rank... upon the shoulder... noncommissioned officers will wear proper chevrons... also have stripe on the pantaloons.

Every soldier must have a cartridge box belt and plate thereon. It will be properly adjusted and always worn with his equipment. The Cartridge box will not be supported by the waist belt. he must also have and wear a cap with bugle and the number and number of his regiment securely fastened and with the red trefoil well sewed on. The felt hats so numerous in the Division will be destroyed. No soldier will be permitted to put on his equipment without first buttoning his coat. This is often done.

Bvt. Maj. General Miles/

A Stickler...I imagine he was not well liked. Too bad someone could not have taken him aside and reminded that this is war, and people are dying..rank insignia placement not withstanding..and sometimes a target.."ooh, see that feller with the big shoulder confetti...go ahead an pop him one"

 

[zburkett]

Not to defend Miles but he was successful. Patton was often hated but by the end of WW II troops were proud to serve under him.