Tintype Tuesday #18

[Manassas 1861]

I might have posted this one already. But here's two soldiers wearing antebell militia uniforms. LOC.

 

[RedRover]

They are two chaps of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues evidently.

Those spotless white "plastron front" on the coats were a thing some volunteer militia companies adopted. Perhaps discouraged having a picnic at their musters!

These uniforms were not intended for field wear, but for common parades, etc. One of the Blues made this drawing, showing them employing common gray jackets and slouch hats in camp while in active service as Co. A, 46th Virginia Volunteers.

The Richmond Light Infantry Blues retained the same parade uniform for a long time. Here they are in President Truman's inaugural parade in the mid-20th Century.

By the 1970s the unit was running short on its parade uniforms, having only about 40 available for inaugural parade of 1970 after a great deal of effort to sew, repair, etc.

Some of the history:

By the late 1890s the R.L.I.B. was expanded to multiple companies.

During the War with Spain the R.L.I.B. served with the Army as Companies H and M, 4th Virginia Volunteers.
During World War I, they served with the Army as the horse battalion, of the 104th Ammunition Train, 29th Infantry Division.
By World War 2 the R.L.I.B. was incorporated into the Virginia Army National Guard, and activated as the 1st Battalion, 176th U.S. Infantry Regiment.
From 1946 continued as the 1st Battalion, 176th Infantry Regiment, Virginia Army National Guard.
In 1968, reorganized as Troop C, 23rd US Cavalry Regiment, Virginia Army National Guard. Later redesignated Troop C, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, etc.

By 1996, the R.L.I.B. was serving as the 1st Battalion, 183rd Cavalry when it was deactivated. The remaining personnel combined with the 276th US Engineer Battalion, VA Army National Guard, which continues the lineage of the unit.

The 276th Engineer Battalion was activated during the Iraq War etc. in 2003 to 2005.

Active State service in 2020 against civil disturbances, and federal service in 2021 after disturbances in Washington DC.