General Clothing Question and Service Stripes on Volunteer Troops

[latigerrebjim]

Been searching, but can't find a 'good answer.'

1. Shoe Issue - In late June (June 30, 1863) members of the 8th Louisiana Infantry along with other Regiment's in Hay's brigade got a clothing issue, to include shoes. Included in this issue were 'red' shoes. I would assume they would be civilian shoes, of a red color. What color red, might it be? I am thinking an 'ox blood red' color, as I have seen shoes (modern) this color along with shoe shine materials (modern)

2. Louisiana Issue Jackets - 1861/62 - Read a reference that some Louisiana Troops in Virginia were issued what were called 'harlequin jackets.' Apparently the prisoners in the Baton Rouge Pen (who did the sewing) used different colors and materials to make jacts and such, guessing they were using remnants (XYZ sleeve with BB Blue and WW weave, POI front with BA blue and WA weave, etc. Don't think they mix and matched with blue and brown colored items). Any idea as to different shades of 'blue' or brown colors that might have been used? and perhaps the different type of weave/materials used? Most troops at this time were issued clothing with a blue/brown color. There is a good reference to what they made at the Pen on the lazy jacks web site. (http://www.lazyjackmess.com/shirts.htm) I am guessing the difference was more in the colors as compared to the weave.

3. Service Stripes Worn By Volunteer Troops - Going North now. I know the 'regulars' wore service stripes to denote their service. Were volunteer troops (in this case Wisconsin) allowed to wear service strips too, IF they had prior service in the Regulars?

Thanks for any directions and assistance
James R Tebbetts
8th LA/33rd Wisconsin

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: General Clothing Question and Service Stripes on Volunteer Troops

The U.S. Army uniform regulations didn't distinguish between Regulars and volunteers. The Regulations can be found here; http://home.comcast.net/~8cv/referen...-army-regs.pdf

If you were mustered in to Federal service, you were subject to the U.S. Army Regulations. Granted, states issued unique items, and as always there are exceptions, but if you were a volunteer with Regular service, this appears to apply equally: "To indicate service--all non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, who have served faithfully for the term of five years, will wear, as a mark of distinction, upon both sleeves of the uniform coat, below the elbow, a diagonal chevron, one-half an inch wide, extending from seam to seam, the front end nearest the cuff, and one-half an inch above the point of the cuff, to be of the same color as the edging on the coat. In like manner, an additional half chevron, above and parallel to the first, for every subsequent five years of faithful service; distance between each chevron one-fourth of an inch. Service in war will be indicated by a light or sky blue stripe on each side of the chevron for Artillery, and a red stripe for all other corps, the stripe to be one-eighth of an inch wide."

Here is another good source on uniform regs, and has an index for easy research, and the author makes the point in the general comments that the uniform regs applied to Regulars and volunteers in Federal service;

http://howardlanham.tripod.com/trueindexreg.html