Sharpshooters in green?

[major bill]

At first the 1st US Sharpshooters wore green uniforms, but it was not too long before they were wearing standard blue uniforms. The US government certainly had the ability to keep them supplied with green uniforms but did not seem to want to do so. Was this because green was not all that effective or did the Union simply not want to go through the bother even if the use of green was effective?

 

[thomas aagaard]

I believe it was a simple question of priority. When a factory is making ordinary uniforms having them stop to make 2000 green one and then back to blue would have been a waste.

Also late in the war they did actually have green uniforms in stock. One late war ordinary infantry regiment got the green uniforms.

And I really don't think the color mattered that much in regard to effectiveness.

 

[Package4]

At first the 1st US Sharpshooters wore green uniforms, but it was not too long before they were wearing standard blue uniforms. The US government certainly had the ability to keep them supplied with green uniforms but did not seem to want to do so. Was this because green was not all that effective or did the Union simply not want to go through the bother even if the use of green was effective?

Not sure if this is correct, of the surviving uniforms and I know of only three, Sgt. William F Tilson's shows use via sweat stains; he was not promoted Sgt. until Jan of '63, so that frock was in service at least until then. Does that mean that he wore it exclusively, no, but it is evidence of the green uniform in use into '63. The uniforms were created by taking existing blue cloth (Schuylkill Arsenal) and re-dying to the desired color. I will note that Tilson's coat has the standard high collar, which with field use would have been tailored down to a manageable height. All three remaining frocks are in very good shape, possibly indicating use for dress instead of active campaigning or fatigue.

I would submit that they were continually issued green frocks, but preferred standard sack coats for field use. I would imagine clothing returns would bear this out, or not.

I am not aware of any sack coats existing in green, other than commercial coats that have faded to a greenish hue.

 

[Package4]

From a letter Jan 1863-"The S.S. are now armed with Sharpe's improved set-lock rifles, the best in the service and put them where the please they will never be found wanting. They are now dressed in their new uniforms, green dress coats, pants and caps. We never had any before but the coat and cap, and they present a very respectable appearance on dress parade"

So the issues were still being made in green into '63

 

[50thNY]

Also late in the war they did actually have green uniforms in stock. One late war ordinary infantry regiment got the green uniforms.

Anyone know which regiment this was?

 

[major bill]

The 203rd Pennsylvania Infantry received the same green coats as the 1st US sharpshooters.

 

[50thNY]

The 203rd Pennsylvania Infantry received the same green coats as the 1st US sharpshooters.

Yeah I was aware of the 203rd PA but were there other regiments? Also does anyone know which rifle the 203rd were issued with?

 

[Package4]

Yeah I was aware of the 203rd PA but were there other regiments? Also does anyone know which rifle the 203rd were issued with?

According to Todd: 203rd Regiment (Barny's Sharpshooters)
Issued US sharpshooter green uniforms; some companies had green trousers with dark blue frock coats with green trim. Regiment was issued Springfield rifled muskets in 1864.

 

[Billy Yank]

Always heard them referred to as, "Berdan's Sharpshooters."

 

[thomas aagaard]

Always heard them referred to as, "Berdan's Sharpshooters."

It was the USSS that was called that... The PA regiment was an ordinary infantry regiment

 

[Billy Yank]

My im

It was the USSS that was called that... The PA regiment was an ordinary infantry regiment

It was the USSS that was called that... The PA regiment was an ordinary infantry regiment

My impression was Berdan's boys were the ones who wore green.

 

[thomas aagaard]

All Bredans boys whore green (at least during part of their service)
But not all who where green was Bredan's boys.

 

[major bill]

Here is a bit about green uniforms from my data base. I will warn you it is rather rough and I have not clean it up at all. Regardless some might find some information in it.


Use of Green Uniforms in the Civil War

Union
USA, 1st U.S. Sharpshooters, Berdan's; green frock with green trousers and possibly green sack coat
Pennsylvania 203rd Infantry green frock same as Berdan's SS
New York 41st Infantry, De Kalb Rgt, 2nd Yaeger Rgt green German style jacket
New York Rgt 63rd the commander in a green velvet frock
New York 5th Rgt rifle companies wore green frock coat
New York 9th Rgt until 1859 wore an emerald green tail coat.
New York 69th Rgt ca.1859 green coatee
New York Troy Citizen's Corps wore dark green coatees and trousers
New York Washington Rifles wore uniforms trimmed with green
New York ca.1854 wore green coatee
New York ca. 1855 green coatees and trousers
Maine Portland Rifle Corps green double-breasted coatees and dark green trousers
Michigan Detroit Yager Guard green coats
Indiana 35th wore a emerald-green kepi.

CSA
Virginia Alexandria Rifles, 6th Bn Virginia Volunteers green frock
Virginia Hunter Woodis, 54th Virginia Militia, 3rd Bn (6th Virginia Rgt) green frock
Virginia, Beauregard Rifles a.k..a.. Lynchburg Beauregards (Moorman's company Virginia Horse Artillery) grey shirt with green plastron
Virginia, Montgomery Guard, Co C, 1st Virginia Volunteers, green coatee.
Virginia, Emmitt Guards,17th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Rgt, Company G, green shell jacket.
Virginia, Kanawah Riflemen dark green frock and trousers
Virginia, Beauregard Rifles a.k.a. The Zouaves, Gray shirt with green plastron and trim
Georgia 5th Infantry Rgt, officers wore green frock
Georgia, Muscogee Rifles green frock and trousers
Georgia, Clinch rifles double breasted dark green frock and shell jackets and hat
Alabama, Emerald Guards, green frock
Alabama, Mobile Rifles dark green coatee and trousers
Alabama, Montgomery Rifles green kersey uniforms
Alabama, The 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment was commanded by a Mexican-American War vet to start named Colonel John J. Seibels. He made all of the officers of the regiment wear double-breasted green frock coats with Federal eagle buttons on them. General (then Captain) John B. Gordon said they wore these for the first 12 months of their enlistment.
Louisiana, Pelican Rifles, 1860,dark green coat and pants. Also said to wear later in 1860 green dress frock or hunter shirt
Louisiana, Jefferson Rifles blue frock with green trim.
Louisiana, Delta Rifles, wore green hunting shirts with fringe to include the sleeves
South Carolina Charlotte Light Dragoons, green coatee early in war.
South Carolina The Gist Riflemen (Williamston), Green frock and ttrousers or green hunter shirt
South Carolina, Rhett Guard (Newberry), 1st South Carolina green hunting frock
South Carolina Montgomery Guard dark green coatee
Kentucky Lexington Rifles of wore rifle-green frock coats, caps and trousers
Mississippi, Mississippi Rifles, dark green frock and trousers
Florida green uniforms
Texas, Tom Green Rifles gray with green trim.
Tennessee, Memphis Light Dragoons (Co A, 6th Tennessee Cav. Bn.) a green jacket
Tennessee, Tennessee Cadets (Memphis) wore a dark green coat.

Many rifle companies, both north and south, wore green facing color.ome NY volunteer cavalry wore green trim

 

[CheathamHill]

All Bredans boys whore green (at least during part of their service)
But not all who where green was Bredan's boys.

Like all Bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon

BTW had no clue the PA regts had gotten up in to the 200's by the end of the war. Wow.

 

[major bill]

Emmett Guards 17th Virginia in green uniform.

 

[Package4]

Always heard them referred to as, "Berdan's Sharpshooters."

The 203 PA was nicknamed Barny's Sharpshooters, not to be confused with Berdan; they were raised as a Pennsylvania Sharpshooter regiment, but were used as regular infantry.

 

[Package4]

From a CDV that the Horse Soldier recently sold:

The 203rd Pa. Inf. was raised as The Pennsylvania Sharpshooters but served as regular infantry. The image we offer here shows a young soldier wearing a "round a bout" style jacket with a ten button front, bow tie and light trousers. He has his hand resting on a chair back. On the seat is his forage cap. Visible on the cap is his "K 203 P.V.S.S." for Pennsylvania Volunteer Sharp Shooters. Image is clear and the contrast is good. Mount has clipped corners. Back mark is S. L. Dellinger, Marietta, Pa. Back also has blue revenue stamp, an old glue spot an old, but not period, ink inscription "Lou Leader." along with collector information in pencil. The ID is from the album that originally housed the image.

Lewis Leader was born in Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on January 20, 1842. He first served in Co. K, 15th Pennsylvania Infantry for three months from April 24, 1861 to August 8, 1861. While with the 15th he served under General Patterson in the Shenandoah Valley and missed the 1st Battle of Bull Run.

Leader's next service was with Co. H, 135th Pennsylvania for nine months. Leader enlisted as a Corporal on August 12, 1862. The regiment was present at the battle of Chancellorsville but not heavily engaged losing 3 men wounded. Leader made Sergeant on April 18, 1863 and was mustered out May 24, 1863 at Harrisburg, PA.

We next find Lewis in Co. K of the 203rd Pennsylvania. He enlisted September 3, 1864 for one year. He was promoted to Corporal and then Sergeant on September 15th. The regiment saw action at Petersburg and was heavily engaged at the capture of Fort Fisher in January of 1865. The 203rd served with the 24th Corps till the end of the war. Sergeant Leader was mustered out on June 29, 1865. He lived in the city of Lancaster after the war and died there June 19, 1915, and is buried in Lancaster Cemetery.

 

[Package4]

Another item from the Horse Soldier:

IDENTIFIED BRIDESBURG CONTRACT .58 CALIBER MODEL 1863 RIFLE-MUSKET – 1ST SGT. EPHRAIM POTTS, 203RD PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY


Here is an identified, "Bridesburg Contract" Model 1863 Type 1 percussion rifle-musket in good original condition, with its original sling. The .58 caliber long arm is identified to 1st Sergeant Ephraim Potts of the 203rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Just cursory research has been done on Potts as yet but he enlisted as a 1st Sergeant in the 203rd PA regiment, a one-year unit, on August 17, 1864. The regiment was recruited from the counties of Lycoming, Lancaster, Chester, Delaware and the city of Philadelphia in late August 1864. Organized to serve as sharpshooters, the regiment, whose field and staff were all veteran officers, was soon turned over to regular infantry. Potts served in Company "A" and was later commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on Feb 15, 1865, just weeks after the regiment's participation in the bloody fighting at Fort Fisher, N.C. in January. Originally attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the 10th Corps, the 203rd in December 1864 was moved to the 2nd Bde of Colonel Pennypacker's division of Ames 24th Army Corps.

This rifled musket was a product of the Philadelphia firm of Alfred Jenks & Son, owners and operators of the Bridesburg Machine Works. Jenks received five Army contracts for .58 caliber rifle-muskets from July 1861 through February 1865. The single-shot muzzleloader retains a pleasing, been there appearance and appears never to have been cleaned. Barrel exhibits minor rust oxidation over its surface and wears a mottled light gray patina. In complete condition, this musket retains its original stock, iron nipple, "S-shaped" beveled hammer, straight-shank ramrod, all barrel bands, no band springs, swivel hooks, its original leather rifle sling. Breech area near the nipple and bolster area shows moderate pitting. Mechanics are strong and crisp.

Black walnut stock is in good condition overall with rounded edges and just normal dings and nicks from use and storage. Identification appears hand-carved on the left side of stock and reads "203 REG. CO A. / P V / 2D BRIGADE / 2D DIV / 10TH A. CORPS". The stock left flat also exhibits the ID "E. POTTS" while the right side of shoulder stock has "Fort Fisher / DEC 24, 1864 / JAN 14, 15 65." Flat of the stock opposite the hammer exhibits no government cartouche. Face of the lockplate is thinly stamped with "U.S. / BRIDESBURG" under the bolster and "1864" clearly stamped behind the hammer. Date on the barrel breech is pitted away but the government proof marks "V / P / eagle head" show on the left breech facet. Original tulip-head, steel ramrod rests in the groove in the forend of the stock. Buttstrap stamped with a strong "US". Light brown leather sling is strong with moderate surface cracking and flaking. Inside of triggerguard has a previous owner's inventory number etched into the metal.