Everyone is familiar with the uniform of the U.S. Regulars, i.e., light blue with dark blue cap. This article covers some of the various volunteer units. The Mississippi Rifles have already been mentioned in a previous article, i.e. white pants, red shirts, and straw hats. Officers wore dark blue caps, coats and pants with red sashes, gold buttons and gold-trimmed shoulder straps.
The Indiana regiments wore all dark blue uniforms - flat topped caps, short jackets and pants. Officers wore frock coats with red sashes and silver shoulder straps. The 5th Indiana wore plain blue with double rows of silver buttons. The 3rd Indiana wore white collar trim and pants stripes. The 1st Indiana wore the same but had stripes of white braid on the chest. Canteens were light blue, belts were white, cartridge boxes black, and haversacks light grey. Shoes were black. Red shirts and slouch hats were also worn.
The South Carolina regiment wore a short, dark blue, double breasted tailed coat just like the U.S. Regular dress uniform. White epaulets and collar lace were worn with silver buttons. Pants were white or dark blue. The black shako was just like the U.S. dress shako, i.e., black with large white plume for officers, large yellow plume for sargents, and white pom-pom for other ranks. A silver palmetto tree was on the front with a silver bugle horn below it. The flag was six feet by 6' 6" and dark blue with white fringe. A white palmetto with scroll underneath was in the center on both sides. Marshall's Kentucky cavalry wore three-corner hats with a gold star and gold lace. They also wore hunting shirts (color is unknown, blue with red fringe was worn in the War of 1812 so one might use that) and red-brown hip boots.
Massachusetts troops wore grey coats and pants with white collar and cuffs. I suppose dark blue caps were worn.
Illinois troops wore blue or grey jackets with yellow or red facings. One company wore the regular U.S. uniform but with the addition of yellow braid strips across the chest. The sargents wore all dark blue.
The Baltimore-Washington battalion wore the regular U.S. uniform.
The 7th New York (or California battalion) wore short blue jackets with red pointed cuffs and blacks of red on the front of each collar. Silver buttons and white belts were worn (see drawing of jacket). Grey pants with red stripes were worn. A short blue cloth shako (rather like a tall kepi) was worn. IT was trimmed with yellow around the top and the base with a single yellow line down the front and back. Officers wore a similar uniform but had a frock coat instead of a jacket.
In general, when painting volunteer units when the uniform is unknown, officers for the most part seemed t follow U.S. regulations. The men probably wore blue caps or slouch hats (also somberos) with light blue uniforms with various colored shirts and pants thrown in to reflect the volunteer individuality.
Another unusual U.S. regular regiment was the Regiment of Mounted Rifles which fought as infantry for the most part. Eight companies fought on foot and two performed mounted duties. The uniform was the same as for dragoons, i.e., dark blue cap and jacket with yellow trim on the collar, epaulets, cuffs, front and bottom, and back seams. Dark blue pants were worn. A black pants stripe was worn with them yellow trim. Mississippi Rifles without bayonets were carried.
The Regiment of Voltigeurs was another light unit. It was supposed to have dark blue caps and grey pants and jackets. The buttons were brass. Yellow braid was on the collar and epaulets. This uniform was probably not worn; a dark blue plain version being worn. The Voltigeurs were armed with percussion smoothbores.
Thus, the American army was not all light and dark blue. One can paint various colorful units for this most interesting period.
Editor's Note: The illustration of the Illinois Volunteer was taken from Campaign Booklet #1, the Texan War of Independence and the US-Mexican War 1846-48 published by Frei Korps 15, 25 Princetown Road, Bangor, Co, Down, BT20 3TA, Northern Ireland. I believe the price is $7.00 including airmail. Very worthwhile for details of uniforms, flags and unit organization.
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© Copyright 1985 Hal Thinglum
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