Questions on the US Regulars

[BritReenactor]

Dear all,

My current unit reenacts the 4th US Infantry's Company K, and while I have been trying to improve my impression for a while a few questions stand out still, for which I have not been able to find answers.

First of these is the suggestion that the US Regulars did not wear civilian shirts, only the white US-issue shirts. Has anybody encountered any evidence to support this? Is it appropriate to wear my civilian shirts, which are of better overall quality, when in the field as a Regular?

Second, I have heard it suggested that Regulars were held to higher standards of appearance even when in the field, and expected on the march to keep their brass polished and kit if not parade-ready then certainly at a much higher standard than Volunteer units would have been, a level much beyond the traditional 'clean weapon and functioning soldier' standard. Does anybody know any more on this point, or could point me towards a good description of the real requirements to which they were bound?

Third is a suggestion I find myself continually debuffing, that as a Regular unit, and the regimental Colour Guard at that, that they would not have carried knapsacks or blanket rolls either on the field or on the march, but rather would have had wagons to place them on. While I believe this is what one might technically term as hocum, has anybody in fact found evidence to the contrary for a Regular unit?

Finally, while I have a fair library of Civil War books and accounts from a variety of sources on both sides, all of these are from Volunteers, and I was wondering if anybody could recommend some good accounts of life in a Regular regiment that I could use to improve my research and impression further from an attitude point of view? I have not found a really good one yet, hence there are doubtless quite a few problems with my impression I still need to address, but it's a good place to start.

Many thanks,

Ollie Marks.
Corporal, 4th US Infantry, Co. K.

[Jeremy Bevard]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

I would recommend the books below.

That Body of Brave Men - Mark Johnson

Ten Years in the Ranks - Augustus Meyers

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

I heartily second the recommendation on Meyers. It's one of the best books on the war by a participant and also has fantastic details on the pre-war army.

Among the details you'll find is his actual service on the regimental color guard during an engagement. Not only was he saddled with the same baggage as anyone else, but contrary to the manual he freely blazed away with his Springfield.

You'll find similar information addressing your other questions. By the time the army got to the Peninsula, general orders severely limited the number of wagons, so carrying knapsacks no longer happened (though he mentioned wagons carrying personal baggage during a march on the plains before the war). As a young musician in his off hours in Carlisle he wore a "boiled" shirt, not an issue one and, as a general rule, Regulars had the same freedom to spend money on clothing as any soldier, though their system of issue differed from volunteers -- in kind rather than money, but with the same costs and benefits if you over or under drew.

As a side note, the issue shirt varied during the war. Many of the domet flannel shirts provided in the first year were blue, not white, and gray wool flannel seems to have become increasingly common as the war went on and cotton became more expensive or harder to get. Knit shirts became an option by 1864, though I don't know that anyone has ever reproduced them in the correct wool.

Another side note -- whatever sumptuary standards they might have imposed on their men, regular officers before the war were sometimes extraordinarily casual in attire. I suppose it might have been from their service on the frontier, assigned to outposts from Walla Walla to Fort Huachuca.

Read Meyers by all means: you'll find a free version here, and you might enjoy it enough to get a hard copy: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4594...-h/45949-h.htm

[BritReenactor]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

Thank you both for your literary recommendations, I have purchased copies of both and hope to make a respectable start on them before my next event.

I had thought that it seemed off to suggest they would not have carried baggage, but there's no better rebuttal than hard evidence! The questions on attire probably bear more looking into, and of course I shall read around on what they would likely have worn, but again it is useful to hear what their general attire would have been. It also fits my view that by 1863, the period most of our events are based on, the Regulars had been so worn down and seen so much turnover that they would have little differed from a Volunteer Regiment - though I would want to hear a contemporary opinion on that. Thus, I could certainly see standards they might have been held to in a pre-war garrison slipping off on campaign.

Thank you both again for the information, and for the guidance on advancing my own research.

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

Thank you both for your literary recommendations, I have purchased copies of both and hope to make a respectable start on them before my next event.

I had thought that it seemed off to suggest they would not have carried baggage, but there's no better rebuttal than hard evidence! The questions on attire probably bear more looking into, and of course I shall read around on what they would likely have worn, but again it is useful to hear what their general attire would have been. It also fits my view that by 1863, the period most of our events are based on, the Regulars had been so worn down and seen so much turnover that they would have little differed from a Volunteer Regiment - though I would want to hear a contemporary opinion on that. Thus, I could certainly see standards they might have been held to in a pre-war garrison slipping off on campaign.

Thank you both again for the information, and for the guidance on advancing my own research.

I think you may be right about the mid-war appearance, but I have to share this passage from Meyers that underscores the early war difference between regulars and volunteers -- and then I'll stop, because your copy's on the way... :)

The neatness of the uniforms, the polished buttons and the
bright looking arms of the regular soldiers was often a matter
of interest to the volunteer officers. One day while on guard
an elderly captain, who unquestionably hailed from one of the
New England states, said to me, "Where be you men from?
I see you all got brand new guns !" I explained to him that we
were regular soldiers and had used these guns on the frontiers
for years. He exclaimed, "Dew tell ! Our boys got new guns
but they're all rusty. What do you clean yours with?"

[jake.koch]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

Diary of a Dead Man is a good book on a young man that enlists in the Regulars and eventually dies in Andersonville.

[Silas]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

We do prewar Co. A of the 4th US at Ft. Steilacoom, Wa.

In late August, 2019, we'll be on San Juan Island at American Camp portraying Co. A for 160th Pig War. You might consider coming out. Nothing like portraying troops at the same place and time of year as they were stationed. If you haven't heard of the Pig War, it was that time in 1859 when the US and Great Britain nearly went to war over a free range Hudson's Bay Company pig...

[Dreamer42]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

Diary of a Dead Man is a good book on a young man that enlists in the Regulars and eventually dies in Andersonville.

Ira Petit's book (letters) does an excellent job describing the early days of the 11th US and how guard details were formed and relieved when in a fort, as well. Great read. I have the discharge papers for a Pvt. Christopher Clintsman, also of NY, 1865, who was in Co. D. I've always wondered if they knew each other.

[Strawfoot]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

"First of these is the suggestion that the US Regulars did not wear civilian shirts, only the white US-issue shirts. Has anybody encountered any evidence to support this? Is it appropriate to wear my civilian shirts, which are of better overall quality, when in the field as a Regular?"


The issued muslin shirts are more cream than white, though by the time I was done with mine it had more of a tan hue. I would beg to differ on your claim of quality. My issued shirt was FAR greater in the field than any cotton shirt I ever wore. It wicked sweat and kept me warm. I almost cried when after 15 years it finally shrank to the point of my being unable to wear it anymore.

Silas is right, go to that event.

[John McPherson]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

The Regular Army during the ACW was issued arms, uniforms, and equipment via the same supply system as that of the Volunteers. The 1861 Revised Regulations make clear the items issued and the schedule by which they were issued in a "perfect world". Another great book to read is the collection of diary entries and letters written by Charles Bowen of the 12th U.S. Infantry. I believe that it is titled "Dear Friends . . . ". It also includes one war-time photo of Sgt. Bowen taken in the spring of 1863 at Falmouth Camp in Virginia. Bowen is pictured wearing an enlisted frock coat, sky blue trousers, a forage cap, and a pair of privately-issued boots that he described in his letters as possessing an extra tap on bottom and a red leather trim at the top. On the other hand, I've also seen EOG: Union a gathering of a guard detail of troops from the 8th U.S. infantry dressed in sack coats. As for shirts, Regular troops would have worn the same mismatch of shirts as would have been seen on any soldier of the ACW. But . . . note that the issue shirt was part of their clothing issue. Anything else was at their own expense. And, I might note that Charles Bowen complained regularly about being short of funds due to frequent delays in paying the troops while in the field. At one point he was six months behind in pay and had to borrow ink, paper, and even some money from his company commander!

And, to second Mark's comment, come join us on San Juan Island this summer in August 2019! We'll be encamped on the actual ground drilled upon and trod by soldiers of the Regular Army in 1859. The Fourth Infantry, even!

[thomas aagaard]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

Read Meyers by all means: you'll find a free version here, and you might enjoy it enough to get a hard copy: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4594...-h/45949-h.htm

Thanks for the link... that cost my my afternoon/evening reading it.
:-)

[Will Hickox]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

The Regular Army during the ACW was issued arms, uniforms, and equipment via the same supply system as that of the Volunteers. The 1861 Revised Regulations make clear the items issued and the schedule by which they were issued in a "perfect world". Another great book to read is the collection of diary entries and letters written by Charles Bowen of the 12th U.S. Infantry. I believe that it is titled "Dear Friends . . . ". It also includes one war-time photo of Sgt. Bowen taken in the spring of 1863 at Falmouth Camp in Virginia. Bowen is pictured wearing an enlisted frock coat, sky blue trousers, a forage cap, and a pair of privately-issued boots that he described in his letters as possessing an extra tap on bottom and a red leather trim at the top. On the other hand, I've also seen EOG: Union a gathering of a guard detail of troops from the 8th U.S. infantry dressed in sack coats. As for shirts, Regular troops would have worn the same mismatch of shirts as would have been seen on any soldier of the ACW. But . . . note that the issue shirt was part of their clothing issue. Anything else was at their own expense. And, I might note that Charles Bowen complained regularly about being short of funds due to frequent delays in paying the troops while in the field. At one point he was six months behind in pay and had to borrow ink, paper, and even some money from his company commander!

And, to second Mark's comment, come join us on San Juan Island this summer in August 2019! We'll be encamped on the actual ground drilled upon and trod by soldiers of the Regular Army in 1859. The Fourth Infantry, even!

"On the other hand, I've also seen EOG: Union a gathering of a guard detail of troops from the 8th U.S. infantry dressed in sack coats."

That same photo also shows at least one of these men--regulars, on guard duty--in a civilian hat.

[ctwilley]

Re: Questions on the US Regulars

Check your regimental returns first. The Quartermaster Returns will have exactly what's being issued and when. Sometimes you might have to read between the lines. If they were issued a such and such and you see that they have 34 of that same item left over the next month...most likely everyone has a such and such. The detail of the return depends on who was filling it out. I've seen some go extremely detailed while others are very vague.