Uniform Question

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

On the left is Sargent Austin Morris of the 26th Virginia Infantry Regiment.

The other guy's uniform has me scratching my head.

Any thoughts on what his uniform is?

 

[captaindrew]

They both look like similar patterns but obviously different colors. My guess would be early war privately made variations of type I Richmond jackets. Remember the first year of the war the commutation system was in place where the guys were given an allowance to supply their own uniforms so there was a lot of variation. The ANV took on a much more uniform appearance as the war went on and the depot systems got their act together, at least jacket wise.

 

[FedericoFCavada]

Could be a pre-war militia jacket, maybe? Certainly Louisiana militia often had blue outfits when "war were declared." Ohio, Indiana, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts militia in gray, Georgia and Louisiana militia in blue, that kind of thing?

Of course, it is a black and white ambrotype or early photography, so maybe it is "cadet gray" versus one or another shade, and just looks darker in the picture? Interesting photo... Sergeant vs. Sergeant major? Any evidence that officers and or senior NCOs had a different color until the multiform became more uniform?

 

[captaindrew]

Could be a pre-war militia jacket, maybe? Certainly Louisiana militia often had blue outfits when "war were declared." Ohio, Indiana, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts militia in gray, Georgia and Louisiana militia in blue, that kind of thing?

Of course, it is a black and white ambrotype or early photography, so maybe it is "cadet gray" versus one or another shade, and just looks darker in the picture? Interesting photo... Sergeant vs. Sergeant major? Any evidence that officers and or senior NCOs had a different color until the multiform became more uniform?

Being that the man on the left is identified from a Virginia regiment I'd say they are either both from the same regiment or possibly family, brothers maybe. The man on the right is a 1st sergeant, not a sergeant major, that would be three stripes in an arc over the lower three if it were a sergeant major. There was no color difference in the regs for different NCOs.

 

[major bill]

Are we certain this being Sergeant Morris? If so, can we find when he was made a sergeant? Knowing when he was promoted to sergeant could help nail down a earliest time of the photo.

 

[captaindrew]

Are we certain this being Sergeant Morris? If so, can we find when he was made a sergeant? Knowing when he was promoted to sergeant could help nail down a earliest time of the photo.

Good idea, I did a quick search on him but didn't get too much help on dates. He was in Co. H of the 26th, mustered in as a sergeant and mustered out as a sergeant, the only cards I found were dated 64 so maybe not an early war photo. Still can't rule out privately made uniforms resembling the Richmond Depot style which I'm sticking with as my guess for whatever that's worth.

 

[captaindrew]

If it's late war the 1st sergeant's jacket could've been made with imported British cloth which would be a much darker color than domestic jean.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

Are we certain this being Sergeant Morris? If so, can we find when he was made a sergeant? Knowing when he was promoted to sergeant could help nail down a earliest time of the photo.

Here's his record from Civil War Data.

Austin S. Morris

Residence Walkertown VA; Enlisted on 6/2/1861 at Centerville, VA as a 5th Sergt. On 6/2/1861 he mustered into "H" Co. VA 26th Infantry (date and method of discharge not given) He was listed as: * Wounded 5/18/1864 (place not stated) (Right arm, thumb amputated) * Returned 1/15/1865 (place not stated) (For light duty at Corps HQ) * Oath Allegiance 4/20/1865 Richmond, VA Promotions: * 4th Sergt 5/31/1862 * 1st Sergt 10/1/1863 That would put this photo from May 31st 1862 to October 1st 1863.​

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

Apparently the man wearing the uniform in question is Richard Williams and he belonged to the state militia.