Union Army Uniforms and Insignia of the Civil War
Field Officers' Uniforms
Infantry Colonel's Uniform
This infantry colonel is wearing a dress uniform. The frock coat is double-breasted. The buttons are placed in two rows of seven each, spaced evenly down the front. All infantry officers wore an eagle button with an "I" in the shield on the eagle's chest. There are three small buttons on a Civil War officer's cuff, while those of enlisted men always have only two. His hat is looped up on the right side by an embroidered eagle. Mounted enlisted men's hats were also looped on the right while foot men were looped on the left per the text of 1861 regulations. An embroidered infantry horn is worn on the front of the hat. Three black ostrich feathers are worn on the hat. His sword is held up by a hook on the sword belt and the sword knot in held by his left hand. Around his waist is a crimson sash over which is worn the sword belt. Sky blue trousers for regimental officers were also introduced after the publication of the 1861 Regulations as a wartime expediency. There is an one-eighth inch dark blue welt running down the side of the trousers.
An Infantry Colonel commanded a regiment of troops, which was typically ten companies and over one thousand men at full strength. In the volunteer force colonels were appointed by state governors and then mustered into Federal service with their regiments. Often they were men of political influence, but little military experience. Most learned their duties and functioned well, some became outstanding leaders, and others were incompetent and were compelled to resign from the service.
Officers' Hat Insignia
Officer's Embroidered Jeff Davis Hat Eagle
The adoption of the Jeff Davis hat posed the problem of how to make the hat look military. One solution was to use the eagle design that was worn on the front of the cap (shako) as an insignia to loop the side of the hat up. These eagles saw service 1858-1871. They were among the more beautiful creations of the embroiderer's art. The above eagle was worn by Lieutenant Colonel William H. Silsby of the 10th Iowa Infantry.
Infantry Officers' Hat and Cap Insignia
Forage Cap Insignia for Infantry Officers
Jeff Davis Hat Insignia for Infantry Officers of First Regiment
The larger size insignia were intended for the front of the Jeff Davis hat and the smaller size ones are for the front of the forage cap (kepi). The numeral "one" within the above infantry horn indicates a regiment, having the number one. It is not possible to know from an actual insignia or photograph whether or not the regimental number is that of a regiment from particular state or from the Regular Army of the United States. Some insignia have numbers in bullion embroidery or as small silver metallic numbers added to the insignia. In other cases (as shown) the insignia were worn without any regimental number. The insignia themselves were generally made from bullion embroidery, but also were sometimes stamped brass with a false embroidery surface.
The infantry horn had its origin in Europe where it was worn by light infantry skirmishers recruited among huntsman. The English had a Rifles, the French Chasseurs and Germans Jäger troops. Americans followed European uniform styles and the hunting horn device was used on various shako plates in the early 19th Century. In 1839 an insignia very similar to the Civil War one was adopted for wear on the front of the officer's forage cap. With the evolution of headgear it was transferred to each new style until in 1875 when it was replaced with the crossed musket insignia that remains in use by infantry as a branch insignia today.
Officer's Hat Insignia
Infantry Officer's Embroidered Hat Insignia
The brownish background is faded from its original blue. This insignia was originally worn by an officer of the 10th New York Infantry. These insignia were worn on the front of the Jeff Davis hat and forage cap. The horn was dropped as the insignia of infantry in 1875 when crossed rifles were adopted.
Infantry Second Lieutenant
This infantry second lieutenant is wearing an infantry horn on his forage cap, which is resting on his leg. He is holding a piece of hardtack and drinking a cup of coffee. His uniform is a dark blue frock coat and light blue trousers with a darker blue welt trim.
Officer's False Embroidered Infantry Horn
The usual officer's hat insignia was an embroidered infantry horn often with the number of the regiment embroidered in the circle. Embroidered insignia were expensive and did not hold up well in the field. Metallic false embroidered insignia, such as this one, were available as a substitute. Although intended for officers, photographs will on occasional show enlisted men also wearing them. The enlisted use of these metallic horn appears to be very common in images of troops from New England states, particually New Hampshire. Two examples of these metallic horns on original forage caps can be seen on pages 176 and 177 of the book Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Union.
Unidentified Private 52nd Illinois Infantry Regiment. Details Hat Insignia
This image was taken in 1861 while the regiment was in Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri. His hat is either private purchased or one the best jobs of shaping a Jeff Davis hat that was ever done. The hat insignia are very interesting. His infantry horn is not the usual U.S. issued one, but appears to be a metallic, false-embroidered version that was occasionally worn by enlisted men. Unlike an issued horn, this one has tassels hanging below it. His company letter, perhaps an "A" is placed in the inside of the horn. He also wears the regimental number "52" below the horn. He is wearing a regulation uniform frock coat with infantry accouterments. The light blue piping of the collar and cuffs are clearly seen. His belt has an oval U.S. plate with a clip seen to its right to hold the tongue. He has an empty bayonet scabbard, cap box and cartridge box hidden behind the right arm on the belt. The cartridge box is supported by a cross belt having a round plate with an eagle. He supports a Springfield rifle with bayonet. Plugging the barrel of the rifle is a wooden tompion. On his feet are an issued pair of army shoes, called Jefferson boots.
Questo messaggio è stato modificato da intruder: 11 dicembre 2008 - 09:34
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