Red Uniforms

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Although red uniforms were not unknown in pre war militia uniforms, the use of red uniforms was limited during the Civil War. One of the exceptions was that Marine Bandsmen wore long red frock coats and Marine musicians wore shorter red frock coats. The U.S. Army had ended the used of different colored uniforms for their musicians long before the Civil War, but the Marines continued the practice. The orignial reason for the different colored uniforms was for the commander could locate the musicians to have then play the proper calls.

 

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A red Militia uniform worn during the Civil War.

 

[Legion Para]

Pawtucket Light Guards, Rhode Island Militia.

 

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Not sure where this came form but it is said to be a Confederate red uniform.

 

[Legion Para]

Columbus Guards, Company G, 2nd Georgia.

http://www.warofrightsforum.com/showthread.php?874-2nd-Geogia-Company-G-quot-Columbus-Guards-quot

 

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One Michigan company was given red uniform jackets before they left for war. The Schoolcraft Light Guard (1861) was given red flannel jackets trimmed with blue, which could be worn over or under other clothes, and blue cotton pants. When the officers and noncommissioned officers left for the Camp of Instruction they wore gray frock coats with military buttons, the noncommissioned officers wore epaulets, gray pants trimmed with red, and gray caps. At the Camp of Instruction they were issued grey uniforms trimmed with black. It joined the 6th Michigan Infantry and it was issued blue uniforms prior to leaving Michigan.

 

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Here is a Michigan militia company who wore red coats.

The Sherlock Guards of Detroit (1857–1861) wore glazed caps, red coats, and black pants. It became Company A, 5th Michigan Infantry and it was issued blue uniforms prior to it leaving Michigan. .

 

[CBHunt]

The Abbeville Volunteers from Abbeville, SC sported a red flannel blouse/jacket apparently based on a Garibaldi jacket in January 1861. They also wore Black pants and black glazed kepi's with their uniforms per their personal anecdotes. These red flannel jackets were packed away upon receiving their gray wool frocks and pants in February or March as was made for the 1st SCV Regiment. Originally, they were formed from the Minute Men of Abbeville and became part of Maxcy Gregg's 1st SCV until they disbanded in April as most did not want to go to Virginia at the time. If I am not mistaken 6 or 7 colonels came out of this company during the war. There is a drawing of them in Charleston in uniform standing at parade dress and listening to a speech from Gen. McGowan in front of the Charleston Hotel. I have wondered whether or not the minute men that adopted these style blouses early on, pulled them out as part of the Red Shirts and used them symbolically in 1876 to restore Wade Hampton to end Reconstruction. Abbeville is near Edgefield where the Red Shirt movement began and where the Minute Men were called up again.

The Carolina Light Infantry Volunteers of Charleston also wore a Red Flannel Battle Shirt with Black pants in the Summer of 1861 at Manassas. A picture of one of them is coming out in Military Images soon.

 

[AndyHall]

Francis Maria Scala (1819-1903), Bandmaster of the United States Marine Band from 1855 to 1871. LoC image.