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Greetings everyone,
Right now I am currently researching the 1st NC Regt. in an effort to obtain a substantial knowledge of their history and involvement at the Battle of Big Bethel for a local interpretation at the end of January. So far what I have is a basic understanding in that the unit was raised from a variety of counties and elected D.H. Hill as their colonel on May 11 of 1861. 9 days later the state seceded from the Union and, recognizing the lack of uniformity in their troops, created a council on the 23rd of the same month. This council then issued General Order No. 1 on May 27, which stipulated the regulations for the new uniform.
In particular I am currently researching the uniforms seen at the time the unit was sent to Hampton, where they were sent to Bethel Church to guard the bridge leading into York County. I can not find any information from what I have here and what I can find online as to the equipment they had at the time. I hesitate to believe they already had the uniforms described by the guidelines, seeing as how the battle was fought on the 10th of June and the order is dated the 27th of May.
There is an image in the book Still More Confederate Faces(Serrano) on page 57 of an officer from the Lafayette Light Infantry (a pre-war militia unit which later became Co. F of the 1st NC) in which he is wearing a dark blue untrimmed double-breasted frock coat with shoulder scales. His trowsers are of the same color and have no evidence of a stripe along the outer seam. on the table next to him is an M1851 shako with a plume of ostrich feathers (red and white) and brass (or other metal) letters LFLI inside a brass wreath. This image has no date along with it but is said to belong to the Greensboro Historical Museum.
This leads me to ask, did the company still have their prewar uniforms when they were sent to Virginia, were they wearing civilian garments, or perhaps a mix of prewar uniforms minus the resented shakos? This is of course only one company, but if anyone has any information on any of the companies of the 1st NC it would be of great help.
Patrick Smith
Right now I am currently researching the 1st NC Regt. in an effort to obtain a substantial knowledge of their history and involvement at the Battle of Big Bethel for a local interpretation at the end of January. So far what I have is a basic understanding in that the unit was raised from a variety of counties and elected D.H. Hill as their colonel on May 11 of 1861. 9 days later the state seceded from the Union and, recognizing the lack of uniformity in their troops, created a council on the 23rd of the same month. This council then issued General Order No. 1 on May 27, which stipulated the regulations for the new uniform.
Regulation for the Uniform Dress and Equipment of the Volunteers and State Troops of North Carolina, May 27, 1861
The uniform coat for all enlisted men shall be a sack coat of gray cloth (of North Carolina Manufacture) extending half way down the thigh, and made loose, with falling collar, and an inside pocket on each breast, six coat buttons down the front, commencing at the throat; a strip of cloth sewed on each shoulder, extending from the base of the collar to the shoulder seam, an inch and a half wide at the base of the collar, and two inches wide at the shoulder; this strip will be of black cloth for Infantry, red for Artillery and yellow for Cavalry.
The uniform coat for all enlisted men shall be a sack coat of gray cloth (of North Carolina Manufacture) extending half way down the thigh, and made loose, with falling collar, and an inside pocket on each breast, six coat buttons down the front, commencing at the throat; a strip of cloth sewed on each shoulder, extending from the base of the collar to the shoulder seam, an inch and a half wide at the base of the collar, and two inches wide at the shoulder; this strip will be of black cloth for Infantry, red for Artillery and yellow for Cavalry.
There is an image in the book Still More Confederate Faces(Serrano) on page 57 of an officer from the Lafayette Light Infantry (a pre-war militia unit which later became Co. F of the 1st NC) in which he is wearing a dark blue untrimmed double-breasted frock coat with shoulder scales. His trowsers are of the same color and have no evidence of a stripe along the outer seam. on the table next to him is an M1851 shako with a plume of ostrich feathers (red and white) and brass (or other metal) letters LFLI inside a brass wreath. This image has no date along with it but is said to belong to the Greensboro Historical Museum.
This leads me to ask, did the company still have their prewar uniforms when they were sent to Virginia, were they wearing civilian garments, or perhaps a mix of prewar uniforms minus the resented shakos? This is of course only one company, but if anyone has any information on any of the companies of the 1st NC it would be of great help.
Patrick Smith
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