Arm bands

[TMAN]

Gents.

Our Company lost a dear friend and the idea was put forth to wear Arm Bands in his memory. After I used, Google,the search option and i don't have any books that would have an documentation, i am asking these questions.
1. Does any one have an documentation on how widley they were used in the ANV? 2. was there a specific size? and 3, was there any particular fabric or material used, or did they use what was available?.

Any input would be appreciated.

With my compliments
Tim Fretwell
10 LA Co.C

[Hank Trent]

Re: Arm bands

Check out Brian Koenig's post #13 in this thread. It's concerning union soldiers, mostly officers, wearing mourning, but might be helpful. His summary:

The device I have most widely encountered for soldiers (and in particular officers) to indicate mourning was a cockade on the left arm, and/or crepe on the hilt of the sword. Many of the images of federal officers taken in April 1865 show them wearing such in mourning for the death of President Lincoln.

As I mentioned in that thread, I'm not one for mixing real life with historic portrayals either for better or worse, but everyone's different.

It does raise another historic question, though, about when cockades or crepe on the hilt was typical: did soldiers usually wear mourning for their fallen comrades? Did the regulations address that point? Did rank affect the custom? For example, would an officer wear mourning for a private killed in his company, or would a private wear mourning equally for a fellow private, or for his captain or colonel? Would it be different if the mourning was for a family member at home vs a fellow soldier?

It seems that at certain times, like after Gettysburg or Antietam, most of a regiment could be wearing a cockade because they knew someone recently killed, and yet somehow I'm just not picturing that...

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Arm bands

I'll have to find the account, but soldiers in the 1st Florida Reg't wore black arm bands for a month after Shiloh when Laurie Anderson died.

[TMAN]

Re: Arm bands

Check out Brian Koenig's post #13 in this thread. It's concerning union soldiers, mostly officers, wearing mourning, but might be helpful. His summary:



As I mentioned in that thread, I'm not one for mixing real life with historic portrayals either for better or worse, but everyone's different.

It does raise another historic question, though, about when cockades or crepe on the hilt was typical: did soldiers usually wear mourning for their fallen comrades? Did the regulations address that point? Did rank affect the custom? For example, would an officer wear mourning for a private killed in his company, or would a private wear mourning equally for a fellow private, or for his captain or colonel? Would it be different if the mourning was for a family member at home vs a fellow soldier?

It seems that at certain times, like after Gettysburg or Antietam, most of a regiment could be wearing a cockade because they knew someone recently killed, and yet somehow I'm just not picturing that...

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

I have to agree, it makes more sense to to mourn for a specific conflict, Like Shiloh,Gettysburg,Sharpsburg etc. I see these black arm bands all over the place and thats where my pards got the idea, however they have no documentation to back it up and is it over represented in this hobbie?

Tim Fretwell
10 LA Co.C

[ephraim_zook]

Re: Arm bands

From the 1861 (revised '63) US Army Regs:

299. The usual badge of military mourning is a piece of black crape around the left arm, above the elbow, and also upon the sword-hilt; and will be worn when in full or in undress.

300. As family mourning, crape will be worn by officers (when in uniform) only around the left arm.

My interpretation is that #299 refers to mourning for a military colleague, while #300 refers to mourning for a family member. Also note that the regs mention mourning displays worn by officers. There is nothing in the regulations that I can find that refers to enlisted men wearing crape or other signs of mourning.

Ron Myzie

[David Fox]

Re: Arm bands

There exists a photograph of JEB Stuart in Confederate uniform facing the camera and looking profoundly homely, having a deer-in-the-headlamps stare. Tied to his upper arm is a mourning band. I'm not able to find the photo at the moment, but recall the band is rather narrow and casual-appearing.

[GarrettG1993]

Re: Arm bands

Yes,
I remember seeing that photo. I belive it was taken sometime after Jackson was shot.


Regards,
Garrett Glover

[advanceguard]

Re: Arm bands

Found this while researching today:


Found in the Memoirs of Col. William A. Jackson,... Co. of the 18th Regiment, New York Volunteers. Who died at Washington November 1861

Published in Albany: Joel Munsell 1862



Resolutions of the 18th Regiment "At a meeting of the 18th N.Y.S.V., at Camp King, Nov. 18th, 1861 the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted:

[in reference to Col. Jackson].....Resolved that the Regiment wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days".




I am, Sirs,