Need help identifying a uniform

[lelliott19]

However, they weren't limited strictly to Confederate use; here's a photo of Brig. Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher of the Union's famed Irish Brigade wearing a similar garment:

Great photo James N. Thanks for posting it. Not only had I never seen a Union soldier wearing a pleated blouse, I don't believe Ive ever seen a picture of a Union General with his pants rolled up before!

 

[CBHunt]

From my research about SC uniforms, your ancestor appears to be wearing the fatigue uniform of Gregg's 1st South Carolina Volunteers Co. A, the Richland Rifle Volunteers. Originally, the Rifles were a militia unit founded in 1830 in Columbia, SC. They were mustered into state service in January 1861 for 6 months duty. Upon transfer to Virginia on April 22, 1861 only 54 of 115 men listed on their muster roll volunteered for active duty out of state. Since they enlisted for state service they could not be forced to go to Virginia. Most likely your ancestor elected to go home and enlist at home since North Carolina was soon to enter the Confederacy in May.

The Richland Rifle Volunteers were issued dark grey Rock Island mills fabric from outside Charlotte to make these uniforms in January of 1861. The patterns were cut into a fatigue hunting blouse as is shown here in your picture. They had 3 pleats on either side of the chest and wore the standard 1851 Militia Brass belt buckle as shown with black leather. The Rhett Guard 1st SCV Co. L from Newberry used a similar pattern but wore Green wool fabric and had 5 pleats on either side of the chest. The Darlington Guards, 1st SCV Co. B who became the Pee Dee Rifles, 1st SCV Co. D also adopted this form of fatigue dress in what appears a cassimere or English Plains wool with black cuffs and collar in the summer of 1861 as their January Militia uniform was Dark Blue with Gilt trim. For further research you can look up Ron Field's book, South Carolina Volunteers Regimental Series, Gregg's 1st South Carolina, as he has pretty detailed information. Also look up James Hunt Taylor's photo on the internet, which is dark but is of the same uniform as your GGG Grandfather. Finally, here is another picture of a member of the RRV Reserves which were in Columbia and older in age for home service but wore the same uniform. I believe Radcliffe's jacket was made in 1860 based on a group photo of the Rifles from 1860. It had Green Velvet striping on their skirts which was part of their Militia uniform and fatigues before 1861. Capt. Thomas Radcliffe, pictured ,was Captain of the Richland Rifle Volunteers in 1852 and former partner of William Glaze of the Palmetto Armory. Good luck and hope this helps as your photo is pretty amazing.

 

[Andersonh1]

CBHunt, a sincere thanks for posting that information. I don't know if William Owen was in Gregg's 1st SC Volunteers, but then I know so little about his life that it's entirely possible. He certainly got that uniform from somewhere! You've given me some more avenues to research.

 

[CBHunt]

CBHunt, a sincere thanks for posting that information. I don't know if William Owen was in Gregg's 1st SC Volunteers, but then I know so little about his life that it's entirely possible. He certainly got that uniform from somewhere! You've given me some more avenues to research.

Obviously, the best thing to do would be to start looking for any muster roles of the 1st SCV Gregg's during the Spring of 1861 and see if you come across him. If you don't find it on Fold3.com you can always contact the South Carolina Archives, Caroliniana Library and/or Confederate Relic Room in Columbia and the South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston. You never know. Best.

 

[Andersonh1]

That's an early South Carolina Belt Plate. Here is a reproduction:

I went to the Battle of Aiken reenactment a few weeks ago and bought one of these from one of the vendors. It's a nice hefty belt buckle, and it's nice to own a replica of the one from the old photo.

 

[Andersonh1]

Since I last updated this thread, I've learned that William Owen was in the 42nd North Carolina. But he's definitely wearing a SC uniform, exactly as CB Hunt posted. From the book "The Confederate Army 1861-65, South Carolina & Mississippi" by Ron Field comes the following image and description:

Page 10 of the book offers this information "dark grey goods, manufactured at Salem, North Carolina." There are two Salems, and a Winston-Salem, so I'm not sure which one the book is referring to. I'm still trying to figure out how a NC Confederate ended up with a SC uniform, and it's possible that the manufacturing location meant some of those uniforms ended up in NC. It's a mystery.

 

[AUG]

Here's an illustration from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Feb. 23, 1861, of the Richland Volunteer Rifles and Rhett Guards being inspected by Governor Francis W. Pickens with his wife and daughter. (See above post by @CBHunt.) They were originally companies A and L, respectively, of Gregg's 1st South Carolina Volunteers, but later reorganized as companies C and B after the regiment's original term of service expired in summer of 1861 and was then reorganized.

Also ran across this image of an unidentified soldier, possibly from either company.

 

[Trooper "D"]

These type of coats were used in limited numbers in the Post War of Secession US Army. Soldiers hated them because the pleats could easily "blow out" and have to be pressed and because those nooks and crannys made perfect hiding places for lice and chiggers. Horrible coat for field service unless one had an aide or orderly attatched to one's self. Like an officer might have that luxury.

 

[Trooper "D"]

These type of coats were used in limited numbers in the Post War of Secession US Army. Soldiers hated them because the pleats could easily "blow out" and have to be pressed and because those nooks and crannys made perfect hiding places for lice and chiggers. Horrible coat for field service unless one had an aide or orderly attatched to one's self. Like an officer might have that luxury.

I think the troopers issued those types of coats actually sewed the pleats down to keep them from "blowing out".