federal trousers

[lukegilly13]

I'm sorry if this is a newbe quesiton but I guess when it comes to federal that's what I am. What is the lowest ranking officer in the federal army that would be issued dark blue trousers? Also, is there any circumstances where enlisted men were issued these dark trousers? Finally, where can I access information like this such as what uniforms were intended for what purposes?
PS: I portray the 77th Pennsylvania and sometimes Army of the Cumberland as Burnside's 1st Sgt.

[BrianHicks]

Re: federal trousers

Pre-war regulations called for Dark Blue trousers to all men. These regulations were effective as of 1858, and did not go back to sky-blue trousers for enlisted men until the uniform changes that came about with General Order No. 6, March 13, 1861. With this new order they were to return to sky-blue for all regimental officers and every enlisted man except those in the Ordnance Dept. who retained dark blue.

Regarding Officers, they were not 'issued' any uniform items, but were required to purchase for themselves. There were regulations which were to guide them in what was permissible.

I recommend these books:

Army Blue
The Uniform of Uncle Sam's Regulars
1848-1873
by John P. Langellier
Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

U.S. Army Headgear
1812-1872
by John P. Langellier & C. Paul Loane
Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

"For Fatigue Purposes..."
The Army Sack Coat of 1857-1872
By Patrick Brown
Published by The Watchdog Review

[lukegilly13]

Re: federal trousers

Thank you! I did not know that about the sky blue trousers. The federal army, i'm assuming, doesn't quite work like the confederate army in situations like this. If the confederate army decided to mass change trousers it still wouldn't have gotten to everyone. Do you know a source that reveals the "regulations" ?

[BrianHicks]

Here's a link to the Uniform regulations of 1857:

http://www.usregulars.com/genorder6.html

Fro the Full Regulations of 1861:

http://www.usregulars.com/Regulations%20Home.html

The Uniform Specific section from 1861 is here:

http://www.usregulars.com/reguni0.html#ARTICLE%20LI%20-%20UNIFORM,%20DRESS,%20AND%20HORSE%20EQUIPMENTS

[Ian M.]

Re: federal trousers

I had thought the regulations for sky blue trowsers was issued in December 1861. So sky blue were the deal until 1857?

Despite not being Federal army regulation until sometime in 1861, was it common for northern state volunteer units to issue sky blue trowsers from the beginning?

[Tennessee Boy]

Re: federal trousers

As an aside, why sky blue trousers? Why not have one blue trousers and jackets.

(Dumb Johnny Reb question)

[Arkansas Box Boy]

Re: federal trousers

The extra cost of dying those dark trousers were a consideration in making the change. Artillery never went to dark blue. From the 1861 regs...

1468. For General Officers and Officers of the Ordnance Department--of dark blue cloth, plain, without stripe, welt, or cord down the outer seam.

1469. For Officers of the General Staff and Staff Corps, except the Ordnance--dark blue cloth, with a gold cord, one-eighth of an inch in diameter, along the outer seam.

1470. For all Regimental Officers--dark blue cloth, with a welt let into the outer seam, one-eighth of an inch in diameter, of colors corresponding to the facings of the respective regiments, viz.: Cavalry, yellow; Artillery, scarlet; Infantry, sky-blue.

1471. For Medical Cadets--same as for Officers of the general Staff, except a welt of buff cloth, instead of a gold cord.

1472--For Enlisted Men, except companies of Light Artillery--dark blue cloth; sergeants with a stripe one and one-half inch wide; corporals with a stripe one-half inch wide, of worsted lace, down and over the outer seam, of the color of the facings of the respective corps.

1473. Ordnance Sergeants and Hospital Stewards--stripe of crimson lace one and one-half inch wide.

1474. Privates--plain, without stripe or welt.

1475. For Companies of Artillery equipped as Light Artillery--sky-blue cloth. All trowsers to be made loose, without plaits, and to spread well over the boot; to be re-enforced for all enlisted mounted men.

This again was the beginning of 1861. The change was issued as such:

General Orders 108 December 16, 1861

I--The Secretary of War directs that the following change be made in the uniform trowsers of regimental officers and enlisted men. The cloth to be sky blue mixture. The welt of officers and the stripes for non-commissioned officers of infantry to be of dark blue.

This is a link to Howard's site that gives an interesting account of a soldier being issued dark blue trousers in July of '62....read and be educated....

http://howardlanham.tripod.com/linkgr5/link215.html

Enjoy!

Don Tolbert

[Boy of '61]

Re: federal trousers

I'm sorry if this is a newbe quesiton but I guess when it comes to federal that's what I am. What is the lowest ranking officer in the federal army that would be issued dark blue trousers? Also, is there any circumstances where enlisted men were issued these dark trousers? Finally, where can I access information like this such as what uniforms were intended for what purposes?
PS: I portray the 77th Pennsylvania and sometimes Army of the Cumberland as Burnside's 1st Sgt.

Yes some enlisted men were issued dark blue trousers. For example the 2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment wore dark blue trousers at the Battle of Mill Springs, as while as some of the Regular Army regiments too, but only at the beginning of the conflict. I believe that as the war continued, less and less dark blue trousers would have been seen issued to enlisted men. The best thing to do is look at the records of the unit you portray and see what they were issued.

[Ian M.]

Re: federal trousers

Thought about starting a new thread but maybe it's a decent relation here. Was it relatively common for Federal cavalry and other "mounted" services like signals, artillery etc. enlisted to be issued regular foot trousers without the extra "mounted" reinforcement fabric, even though that's what the regs called for?

[LeftCoastYank]

Re: federal trousers

If memory serves correct, there was a order issued in '61 which stipulated that preexisting stocks of dark blue trousers were to be issued until the supply of them was exhausted after which light blue trousers were to be produced and issued.

I imagine that would be why dark blue trousers appear to have been issued to so ma y early war Regts.

Dave Schwartz

[fedcampaigner]

Re: federal trousers

The U.S. Regulars website has the 1861 U.S. regulations posted . Look under Uniforms and Equipage Article LI. I think trying to find documents of what your unit was issued would be your best bet. Good Luck!!

[fedcampaigner]

Re: federal trousers

Sorry, I forgot to add the address for the website. It is http://usregulars.com.

[Ian M.]

Re: federal trousers

Any takers on this question?

Was it relatively common for Federal cavalry and other "mounted" services like signals, artillery etc. enlisted to be issued regular foot trousers without the extra "mounted" reinforcement fabric, even though that's what the regs called for?

[Rob]

Re: federal trousers

The 157th New York was issued dark blues, and they were mustered into Federal service on September 19th, 1862. I'm sure that the sky blues were issued as needed after being received, once the old stocks were depleted.

I read one account of officers being driven to distraction by having both colors in the ranks at the same time. (As if they had nothing better to worry about during a war.)