The
Uniforms, Weapons & Accouterments
of
the
United
States Marine Corps
during
the American Civil War
by Bob Wagner
In 1861, the United States Marine Corps
in consisted of 1,892 officers and men; about half of whom
were stationed aboard U.S. Navy vessels in small ships
detachments. There, Marines performed the same duties as
generations of Marines before them; guard duty aboard ships,
service as sharpshooters and repelling boarders, heading
landing operations, and furnishing a flash of color on special
occasions. Ashore, the Corps provided the guards for the
principal Naval Stations and Navy Yards. At the outset of the
War, Congress authorized an increase of the Corps strength
to a total of 3,167 officers and other ranks. At no time during
the Civil War did the Marines strength exceed 3,900 men, with
which they had to provide detachments for a constantly expanding
U.S. Navy. The U.S. Marines played a gallant role at sea, as
elements of landing parties, and as members of Naval Brigades
serving with the Army.
Service afloat made different
demands upon clothing and equipment than service on land. The
effects of coal smoke and salt water were particularly serious.
The Corps supplied much of its own clothing and accouterments,
that more often than not, differed from comparable U.S. Army
equipment. Marines, along with sailors, served under much more
rapidly changing weather conditions than soldiers; and as a result,
the Corps employed distinctive warm weather clothing, and Marine
Detachments on ocean going vessels were issued special gear for
both foul weather and extreme cold conditions.
Brevet Brigadier General
Archibald Henderson, the "Grand Old Man of the Marine
Corps," passed away on 6 January 1859. Henderson had served
aboard the USS Constitution in 1815 and
since 1820 had served as the Commandant of the Corps. As
Commandant, Henderson convened a board of officers to revise the
Corps uniforms. One of the first acts of his successor, Col. John
Harris, was to send the boards finding to the Navy
Department. Approved on 24 January 1859 and put into effect in
October of that year, these regulations remained in force until
1875 with only slight modifications.
Full
Dress Uniforms
The Marine uniform regulations,
The Uniform and Dress of the United States Marine
Corps - October, 1859, gave all
hands except musicians, a dark blue double-breasted frock coat
for a full dress uniform. This garment, rather long by
todays standards, had a skirt that extended
"three-fourths of the distance from the top of the hip to
the bend of the knee." All officers, except the Commandant,
wore eight, evenly spaced; large "Marine" buttons in
each row, and the Commandant wore his buttons in pairs. Enlisted
personnel had seven Marine buttons in each row. The distance between the rows of
buttons was five and one half inches at the top of each row, and
three and one half inches at the waist of the coat.
Trimmed all around with scarlet
piping, the standing collar rose only high enough to permit the
chin to turn freely over it. This collar hooked at the bottom and
opened up and back at an angle of sixty degrees. Two loops of one
half inch gold lace (yellow worsted wool for enlisted personnel)
were placed on each side of the collar. These loops each ended in
small Marine buttons, with the bottom loop extending back four
and one half inches. The upper loop extended back to a line
parallel with the end of the bottom loop. The fronts of the loops
sloped up and back, following the lines of the collar.
The full sleeves had a plain
round cuff that was three inches deep, and each had a false slash
cuff, edged in scarlet piping. These slash cuffs had loops of
half inch gold lace (again, yellow worsted wool for enlisted)
that were to be two inches long and one and a quarter inches
wide. Photographic evidence shows, however, that these loops were
sometimes smaller. Each of these loops held a small Marine
button. Field grade officers wore four of these loops on each
cuff, Captains wore three and Lieutenants had two. All enlisted
men wore two loops of yellow worsted wool lace, except for the
four senior enlisted ranks, the Sergeant Major, the Quartermaster
Sergeant, the Drum Major, and the Chief Musician, who wore three
loops. The slash cuffs were all cut in a scalloped shape fashion
and were two and one quarter inches deep at the points and one
and nine-tenths inches wide. With the varying number of loops on
the slash cuffs, their length varied as well. The Commandant and
field grade officers were to have slashes that were six
and a quarter inches long, with other ranks' slashes lessened in
length to correspond with the fewer number of loops.
The skirts of the dress uniform
coats were to be full. All ranks had two scarlet edged pocket
openings on the back of the skirts. These flaps, sewn vertically
into the back of the skirts, were also scalloped shaped. There
were two buttons sewn on to the flaps, one button at the bottom
point, and one midway between the top and the bottom. There was
also a button sewn just above the opening, at the waist. The
lining of the coats was black. An examination of an enlisted full
dress coat in the Marine Corps Museum at the Washington Navy Yard
shows the right side of the double-breasted coat was cut along
the row of buttons, and angles out again from the waist to the
hem of the skirt. The bottom edge of the skirt is directly in
line with the top button on the coat.
Musicians wore a scarlet, cochineal,
dyed full dress coat. The Drum Major and Chief Musicians wore
double-breasted coats and the Musicians coats were
single-breasted. Instead of scarlet piping, all musicians wore
white piping.
Trousers
All Marines wore sky-blue
trousers with "French pockets." Photographic evidence
shows that these pockets were of the "Mule Ear" design.
Made loose, and designed to fit well over the bootee, the
trousers of all officers had a welt of scarlet, three sixteenths
of an inch in diameter, sewn into the outer seam. According to regulations, only the senior
enlisted ranks, Sergeant Major and Quartermaster Sergeant, along with all musicians wore the same size
scarlet welt sewn onto the outer trouser seam. Photographic evidence
shows, however that some Orderly Sergeants wore the scarlet welt as well.
Officers not serving with
troops were permitted to wear dark blue trousers, with a
scarlet welt, once again, sewn into the outer seam. In warm weather,
all Marines were permitted to wear white linen, or cotton
trousers, cut like the sky blue trousers.
Full
Dress Hats
The Commandant and all field-grade officers wore a chapeau-bras of the French pattern.
These nautical appearing bicorne hats were worn in a "fore
and aft" fashion. The length of the chapeau varied from
seventeen to nineteen inches and was five and one half inches
high at the fan. Edged with black silk lace, these hats sported a
black cockade, held in place with a loop of gold lace on the
right side. The Commandant wore a plume of yellow swan feathers
and other field grade officers wore a red plume of cock or
vulture feathers. The plume was designed to lie along the crown
of the chapeau-bras.
Company grade officers,
enlisted Marines and musicians wore a black cloth shako. These
hats were five and one half inches tall at the front and six and
one half inches tall in the rear, giving the counter sunk crown
of the hat a slightly-sloped appearance. There were two bands of glazed
black leather on the hat, with the bottom band one and an eighth
inch wide and the upper band seven eighth of an inch wide. The
visor was perfectly straight and was one and a half inches deep
and six and a quarter inches wide.
Officers wore a brass acorn
and enlisted men wore a worsted red pompon. The officers' acorn
was two inches tall and one and a quarter inches in diameter.
Made over a cork foundation, the enlisted-men's pompon was fixed with a three-inch
long wire loop to attach it to the top of the hat; pitched
slightly to the front parallel with the slope of the crown. The
base of the pompon was a hemisphere of yellow, heavily gilt
metal. Additionally, the base of the pompon also had a piece of red leather,
cut in a scalloped shaped fashion inserted into the cup.
The ornament worn by company
grade officers and enlisted Marines was a yellow metal United
States Shield within a half wreath of laurel leaves. In the
center of the shield was the emblem of the Corps, a light
infantry bugle with an "Old English" letter M made out
of white metal.
Footwear
The terminology for military
boots and shoes of the 1860s is far from clear and even
seems to have caused some confusion during the Civil War era itself.
In 1854, the U.S. Armys Quartermaster general determined
that the footwear intended for the mounted services would be
called a "boot," while the footwear used by the
infantry would be called the "bootee." "Shoe"
was apparently a description for Ladies footwear and to a lower,
lighter, style of footwear worn by civilian men. Dress
regulations, however, mention only the "ankle boot" and
the "Jefferson boot." Both types of footwear were
prescribed for the cavalry, but the infantry was only permitted
the Jefferson Boot. We can conclude that the ankle boot was a
medium high riding boot, without lacing (also known as a half
boot), while the bootee or Jefferson Boot meant a high quarter shoe,
or a "brogan."
The bootees issued to the
Marines of the Civil War era were of the ankle-length-laced
variety. These bootees were extremely square-toed, with either
pegged or hand sewn soles. Marines were issued eight (8) pairs of
shoes over a four (4) year enlistment.
During the Civil War Era, even
the cheapest of footwear came in pairs made on right and left
lasts. Soles were sewn to uppers or fastened by pegs, nails, and
occasionally rubber. The heels on officer's bootees were rather
high, but this was apparently a matter of style. American
military footwear was invariably made of black leather, with the
rough side out.
Epaulettes
All Marines wore two epaulettes
on the full dress coat. The epaulettes worn by officers were gold
cloth, with a solid metal crescent. Inside the crescent each
officer wore the emblem of the Corps, the Infantry bugle with the
silver "M." Centered in the strap of the epaulette was
the officers insignia of rank. (See insignia). The
Commandant and all field grade officers wore bullion that was
one-half inch in diameter and three and a half inches long.
Marine Captains wore bullion that was one-fourth an inch in
diameter and two and a half inches long. Lieutenants had fringe
that was one-eighth an inch in diameter and was two and a half
inches long.
All enlisted ranks wore brass
scale epaulettes, similar to the U.S. Army Dress uniform
epaulettes. Made entirely from brass, enlisted epaulettes had a
large crescent and scale straps. Detachable, yellow worsted
fringe hung from the crescent in diameters that varied according
to the wearers rank. The top four enlisted ranks, Sergeant
Majors, Quartermaster Sergeants, Drum Majors,
and Chief Musicians epaulettes had fringe that was
three-eighths of an inch in diameter, Sergeants fringe was
one quarter inch in diameter, Corporals and Privates
fringe was one sixteenth inch in diameter.
Undress
Frock Coats
All officers wore, for undress,
a double-breasted dark blue frock coat. With the exception of the
lack of lace and scarlet piping, this coat was nearly identical
in cut and materials to the officers dress coat. The
sleeves of the undress frock coat were plain, with three small
Marine buttons on the cuff. The standing collar and cuffs of the
Commandant was made of dark blue velvet. Once again, there are
pockets in the skirt, however, the pocket only had one button at
the bottom. There was also a button at each hip, giving a total
of four buttons on the back of the coat. In lieu of epaulettes,
all officers wore Russian shoulder knots of gold cord. These
knots will be discussed later, under Insignia.
All enlisted ranks, including
musicians, wore dark indigo blue kersey frock coat. This single-
breasted garment had seven large buttons on the front and one
button on each hip. The coat had a standup collar, somewhat
shorter than the full-dress coat, with a scarlet welt inserted
into the seam where the collar joins the coat. The cuffs of this
coat were two and a half inches deep and had two buttons. The
skirt of the enlisted undress frock coat had no pockets and
extended from the top of the hip to halfway between the top of
the hip and the bend of the knee.
Fatigue
Caps
With undress and fatigue
uniforms, all Marines wore a dark blue kepi. These fatigue caps
were a copy of the French Chassuer pattern cap, and came with a
straight leather visor constructed from two pieces of leather
sewn over a stiffener. The top of the crown was counter-sunk and
Officers caps were distinguished by the addition of having
a black silk ribbed band one and five eighths of an inch wide
sewn onto the bottom of the cap and three rows of black silk
braid, three sixteenths of an inch wide was sewn onto each seam
from the bottom to the crown. One row of black silk braid sewn
around the crown and a four lobed knot sewn into the crown. This
knot, still in use in Marine Officers uniforms today, is
known as the Quatrefoil. Enlisted personnel wore the same cap,
but without the braiding along the sides or the quatrefoil on the
crown.
Kepi
Badge
The Marine ornament, adopted
with in 1859, was the light infantry bugle, surrounding an Old
English "M." The ornament for officers was embroidered
on a scarlet wool backing with gold thread. The white metal
"M" had a shank similar to a button, to ease its
removal for cleaning. The red patch that the bugle was
embroidered on was trimmed to one eighth of an inch from the
outer edge of the bugle. The enlisted ornament was made of brass,
with a red leather insert behind the circle of the bugle. Again,
as with the officers ornament, the detachable "M"
was of white metal.
Summer
Fatigue Uniforms
While serving at sea, officers
were permitted to wear a white linen, undress frock coat. This
coat was also permitted to be worn by officers visiting ashore in
foreign ports. The white linen coat was never to be worn on
ceremonial occasions or while on parade with the troops.
Officers'
Fatigue Coats & Enlisted Sacks
Officers also had a shell-type
jacket of dark blue cloth, lined with scarlet. The stand-up
collar was the same as on the Undress coat, but the collar of the jacket was
edged all around with half-inch gold lace. The cuffs of the
sleeve also had points of gold lace, and in at least one case,
these points were as much as twelve inches high.
Enlisted personnel, while on
board seagoing vessels, were permitted to wear the flannel
fatigue sack. This dark blue garment, actually an oversized
shirt, worn outside the trousers. The length of the sack, or
jersey as it was called in some diary entries, was half of the
length from the top of the hip to the bend of the knee. The sack
had a small turndown collar and regulations stated that the neck
opening was held closed with four small Marine buttons.
Photographic evidence shows that many Sacks were made with five
small Marine buttons at the neck. When the sack was worn enlisted
Marines were required to wear a white shirt underneath.
Greatcoats
Officers wore a "cloak
coat" of dark blue wool lined with scarlet wool. The
"cloak coat" is identical to the coat that was issued
to Army officers and is an identical copy of the French Officer's
cloak of 1845. This coat closed in front by four frogs and loops
of black silk cord. Like both the French and U.S. Army version,
the Marine officers coat had a detachable cape. A braid of
eighth inch of black silk ribbon distinguished officer's ranks.
Second Lieutenants wore plain sleeves and each rank added one
loop, with the Commandant having five braids in a double knot.
Enlisted Marines
overcoats were single breasted, with a row of seven (7) large
sized "Marine" buttons. These unlined coats were to be
of a blue-gray color, with a cape that fell down to the cuff of
the sleeve. Non-Commissioned Officers wore their chevrons just above
the cuffs of the overcoat.
Shirts
Enlisted personnel were issued
both white and blue dommet flannel shirts. According to photographic
evidence however, many Marines continued to wear Red flannel
shirts from the previous uniform regulations. Shirts worn by men
in the 1850s through the 1860s were a pullover shirt
of a style that was also worn widely by the working man. These
shirts had a simple turnover collar fastened by up to four (4)
buttons. This garment was actually an undershirt since it was not
intended to be worn as an outer garment.
Neck-stocks
All Marines were to wear black
neck-stocks, hence the nickname "Leather-Necks." These
stocks, the purpose of which was to make the Marine hold his head
erect, were made of black leather. A surviving stock of the era
is thirteen and one-half (13 ½) inches long and two (2) inches
wide. The back of this stock had a smaller strip of leather; ½
inch wide that was sewn onto the back of the stock and kept
closed with a small brass buckle. Photographic evidence shows,
however, that the neck-stock was rarely (if ever) worn, except
with full dress.
Waist-belts
Officers were to wear a
waist-belt "not less than one and one-half inches, nor more
than two inches wide, to be worn over the sash; the sword to be
suspended from it by slings of the same material as the belt
"
The Commandant, keeping with the Corps' attempt to make him look
like a General, was to wear a belt made from Russian Leather,
with three (3) stripes of gold embroidery, with the slings
embroidered on both sides. All other officers were to wear a belt
of white glazed leather. The Sword Belt Plate for officers was
identical to the Sword Belt Plate for U.S. Army officers of this
era. According to photographic evidence, most Marine officers
appear to wear the black leather US Army sword belt for all
undress occasions, regulating the white sword belt for full-dress
wear.
According to the 1859 Clothing
Regulations, enlisted personnel wore a white buff leather
waist-belt of "the French pattern" with the French clasp
and knapsack sliding slings, based on the U.S. Army M1855 belt.
This belt did not at once replace the older belts and there seems
to be some question whether it was ever issued at all. An
examination of a belt on display at the U.S. Marine Corps Museum
at the Washington Navy Yard shows the belt to be nearly two (2)
inches wide, with belt keepers of the same white buff leather on
either side of a plain brass rectangular buckle.
Rank
Insignia
Officers wore, with all
uniforms except the Full Dress uniform, Russian Knots of gold
cord. Company grade officers, Second and First Lieutenants and
Captains wore shoulder knots three (3) gold cords three
sixteenths (3/16) of an inch in diameter, with Field Grade
officers (Majors, Lt. Colonels and Colonels) wearing four (4)
gold cords. Second Lieutenants and Majors wore no insignia on the
knots. First Lieutenants wore an embroidered single bar sewn
directly on the knot and Captains wore two (2) bars. Lt. Colonels
wore a silver embroidered oak leaf on the knot and Colonels wore
a spread eagle. The Commandant wore a silver six-pointed star.
All officers, except the
Commandant, wore a crimson, or wine, colored silk sash with
bullion fringe. This sash was long enough to wrap twice around
the waist and tied behind the left hip. Officers of the day wore
the sash over the right shoulder, tied on the left hip. The
Commandant was authorized to wear a sash of buff silk net.
Orderly Sergeants and above
wore a waist sash of red worsted, with fringe ends, to be worn
twice around the waist and to tie behind the left hip. The
pendant was to not hang more than eighteen inches below the knot.
This sash was worn over the coat with all uniforms except the
fatigue sack.
Non-commissioned Officers wore
chevrons on all outer garments. These chevrons were worn points
up, unlike the Armys points down method.
The Sergeant Major wore three
(3) bars and an arc of yellow silk lace that was one-half an inch
wide sewn onto a scarlet ground. Quartermaster Sergeants wore
three (3) chevrons and a tie of yellow silk lace, and Drum Majors
wore three (3) bars and a tie, with a star in the center. Orderly
Sergeants (also known as First Sergeants) wore three (3) chevrons
and a lozenge (diamond) of yellow worsted half-inch lace sewn
onto a scarlet ground, with sergeants and corporals wearing three
(3) and two (2) chevrons respectively.
Uniform
Buttons
The oldest U. S. military
insignia in continuous use today is the button worn by the United
States Marine Corps. The only item that has changed on the design
on the button is the number of points on the stars. Admittedly,
the shape of the button has changed over the years, along with
the button's color, but the insignia remains virtually
unchanged. The button worn for the Civil War era was a two (2)
piece domed button, made from stamped brass. The
"Large" size buttons were 7/8th of an inch
wide and ½ of an inch deep, excluding the shank. The smaller
cuff button, was ½ of an inch wide and 3/16 of an inch deep.
Knapsacks
The Marine Dress Regulations
called for a black cow-skin knapsack to be worn. It is unknown
whether this knapsack was ever issued. Surviving knapsacks from
the Civil War era are of a "Double-Bag Knapsack" type.
These knapsacks were made from black painted canvas. The two
sections were attached by a three (3) inch canvas strip. The
front section was an envelope 14.5X13X3 inches with a short flap
fastened by three (3) buttons. The rear section (14.5X16 in.)
formed into a container by two (2) vertical flaps, tied with
thongs. Four (4) leather loops sewn to the outside front, two (2)
on each side through which pass two (2) russet straps (1 inch
wide) encircled the knapsack and buckled at the bottom. Sewn onto
those straps, near the top and the bottom, are two (2) carrying
straps, also buckling at the bottom. An adjustable breast strap
slides on the carrying straps. There is no blanket roll straps
for a bedroll. The rear of the knapsack was painted with a
"USM" within a white oval.
Haversacks
According the 1859 Clothing
Regulations, Marines were to carry a haversack "Of same
material, size, and form as those issued to the United States
Army." The haversack issued to Regular US Army personnel was
a bag of black painted cotton cloth with a five (5) inch rounded
or pointed flap, buckled with a single strap. The dimensions of
the bag are as follows: 12.5 X 3.5 (at bottom) X 13 inches deep.
The interior of the bag had a removable unpainted cotton bag held
by three (3) buttons. The haversack had a black cloth carrying
strap that was about two (2) inches wide and was non-adjustable.
Canteens
The canteen issued to Marines
was also to be like the canteen issued to the Army. A canteen
displayed by the U.S. Marine Corps Museum at the Washington Navy
Yard is a black painted "bulls-eye" pattern canteen.
The canteens that were issued, like so much of the military
equipment of the day, must have been issued with a great deal of
irregularity.
Cartridge
Box
The cartridge box worn by
Marines was, usually, the M1855 Cartridge Box. This Army issue
cartridge box was designed for the .58 caliber Rifle Musket that
was issued to Marines for shore duty. Constructed from black
bridle leather, the M1855 Cartridge Box had double flaps and an
implement pocket. The interior dimensions of the box were
6.8" X 1.4" X 5.2". Two (2) tin inserts of the
same design as the M1842 cartridge box. While the Army version of
this box carried a brass oval "US" plate, and the Navy
Version had an embossed USN stamp, the cartridge box issued to the
Marines was plain. The M1855 Cartridge Box had both horizontal
and vertical loops on the rear, with two (2) brass buckles on the
bottom. These loops and buckles permitted the cartridge box to be
worn from either the waist-belt or a cartridge box strap. Marines
wore a white buff leather cartridge box strap that appears to be
about 2 1/4 inches wide. After the summer of 1864 however, the
Marines were instructed to wear the Cartridge Box on the waistbelt, and only wear the Cartridge Box strap for full-dress
occasions.
Cap
Box
Marines wore a M1855 cap box on
the right front of the waist-belt.
Cross-belt
& Bayonet Frog
The Marines wore a white buff
leather cross belt that was the same width of the Cartridge Box
Strap. This belt was 38 ½ inches long, with a loop at the left
end. The cross belt was held closed with a cross belt plate that
was peculiar to the Corps. It appears that the plate was issued
without any insignia whatsoever, but the two (2) surviving
examples show that they were engraved. It is surmised that this
engraving may have been done on a ships detachment by
ships detachment basis. The cross belt ended in a frog,
also of white buff leather, that held a M1842 Bayonet Scabbard.
The Bayonet scabbard was constructed of black leather, with a
brass tip in the end.
Weapons
The official United States
Marine Corps shoulder arm just prior to the Civil War was the
M1855 rifle musket. This was changed to the M1863 in early 1864.
The M1855 percussion muzzleloader, caliber .58, was rifled with
three (3) grooves. This weapon was 56 inches in overall length
without the 18-inch long socket bayonet. The M1855 was one of the
first three (3) U.S. arms specifically designed for the use of
the Minie bullet. Equipped with a Maynard tape primer system, the
priming system of the M1855 was similar to the cap guns used by
children today. Musket slings were of Black Leather, and officers
were cautioned against "putting muskets in the hands of the
men without slings."
Officer
Side Arms
There does not seem to be any
standard side arm issued to Marine Officers of the Civil War era.
One, at least, carried a M1855 pistol carbine, and others carried
the Colt Navy Model revolver. This .36 caliber revolver was
developed in 1851 and was quite possibly, the finest handgun that
this era produced.
Swords
With the change to the 1859
Clothing Regulations, the Marine Officers were no longer
authorized to carry the traditional Mamaluke Saber. This was done
at the recommendation of a board of officers who felt that the
U.S. Army sword, with its leather scabbard, was more efficient.
As a result, U.S. Marine officers were authorized to wear the
M1850 foot officers sword. With the Army sword the Marine
officer wore a black leather belt of Army pattern with the
regulation Army plate, or he wore the white buff leather belt
with the Army plate. Most evidence shows, however, that the white
belt was saved for dress wear. The sword knot worn had a gold
lace strap with gold bullion tassel, apparently of Army pattern.
Senior Non-commissioned
Officers, Orderly Sergeants, the Quartermaster Sergeant, the
Sergeant Major, and Chief Musician's wore the same sword as the
officers, except the NCO version had leather instead of sharkskin
grips. Other Musicians wore the Musician's sword from the
previous regulations. Regulations called for NCOs and
Musicians to wear the sword in a white frog from the waist-belt
and photographic evidence seems to bear this out. Marine Corp's Quartermaster
Returns show that the Marine Corps was accepting shipments of the earlier Model
1840 NCO sword.
In conclusion, it must be
remembered that while the Marines had clothing regulations in
place, these regulations were always subject to the Senior Naval
Officer present, who could at any time, dismiss or revise any
Marine Orders or Regulations. Marines during the Civil War era
worked at the pleasure of the Ships Captain, or the Navy
Yard commander, and were required by both regulation and custom
to follow his orders.
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