Dark Blue Trousers

[coffee boiler]

I’m not having any luck tracking down the exact date in 1858 and the general order number that changed the regulation trousers from light blue to dark blue. I thought Army Blue would have this, but couldn’t find it there. Anyone have the answer? If not, I’ll add it to my list of things to look up at NARA the next time I’m there.

Regards,

[Alamo Guard]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

I know it was changed in Dec 1861, that volunteer forces would wear light sky blue trousers and regular army trooops would continue to wear the dark blue. Of course this was just a regulation and not really 100 percent correct, based on what was available as needed.

[Blum]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

Sorry,

I think he speak of the 1858 regulation when the skye blue was changed to dark blue. Not the dec. 1861 regulation when the dark blue was changed in another time to skye blue.

I had made the same mistake also the first time i had read the question ! ;)

[coffee boiler]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

Sorry,

I think he speak of the 1858 regulation when the skye blue was changed to dark blue. Not the dec. 1861 regulation when the dark blue was changed in another time to skye blue.

I had made the same mistake also the first time i had read the question ! ;)

Blum, you are correct. The regulation which changed the trousers back to sky-blue on December 16, 1861 was general order 108. What I'm trying to track down is the date and general order number of the '58 revision. Thanks for clarifying.

Regards,

[VMI88]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

I’m not having any luck tracking down the exact date in 1858 and the general order number that changed the regulation trousers from light blue to dark blue. I thought Army Blue would have this, but couldn’t find it there. Anyone have the answer? If not, I’ll add it to my list of things to look up at NARA the next time I’m there.

Bob,

I believe you'll find what you're looking for in the appendix to Army Blue. I was looking up the same information a few weeks ago and found it there. However, it's extremely difficult to decipher because the language of the regulation is somewhat vague and it applies to different branches at different times. Good luck!

[Brian Baird]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

It was GO 3, dated 24 March, 1858, according to Todd's AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPAGE, 1851-1872
Brian Baird

[Arkansas Box Boy]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

Mr Clayton,
The dark blue trowsers issue has always troubled me;
Several early war events would have had the Federals in Dark Blue, correct?
If regs of Dec, 1861 changed the color to Light blue, how long would it have taken for the entire army to be 'refitted' with the new color?
I have always speculated that events like Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Shilo, TN would have seen a majority of Federals in dark blue, as the conversion to the new color would not have taken place yet. I just can't believe that the Army would have thrown away all those pairs of dark blue trowsers...

Just a thought...

Don Tolbert
Holmes Brigade

[Blum]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

"Several early war events would have had the Federals in Dark Blue, correct?"

Yes, but only for the regular army regiments. Not for the volunteers ! ;)

[Robert Braun]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

"Several early war events would have had the Federals in Dark Blue, correct?"

Yes, but only for the regular army regiments. Not for the volunteers ! ;)

There were MANY U. S. Volunteer infantry regiments equipped with dark blue trousers as either their initial issue or the state/federal issue once their state gray uniforms had been phased out. To name a VERY few, the Second Wisconsin, 124th New York and the 156th New York all received dark blue trousers.

Regards,

Bob

[Blum]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

Thank you to correct my mistake. I apologize for that.

In fact, I had not find the right words to tell it is also possible to have many regiments in skye blue trousers before December 1861 among volunteers regiments. So, reenactors in sky blue reenacting a early war battle are not in the error. Am I right ?

It is not always easy to write in English !!! :o

[Yellowhammer]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

Bob's post is quite correct. In addition to old stock, new dark blue kersey trousers were manufactured and issued to early volunteer regiments in great quantity. Remember, when the war broke out existing stocks of regulation sky blue were quickly used up and production could not keep pace with demand. When sky blue was lacking, dark blue was the preferred substitute but examples of other colors such as brown, black and gray can be documented.

For example, the 55th NY had quite dashing uniforms complete with double-breasted coats and red chasseur caps. However, material for trousers was lacking and the men went to war wearing brown trousers made by Brooks Bros. of New York.

The supply of sky blue kersey was lacking throught the vast majority of 1862 (perhaps later) and dark blue trousers were still being worn in the field. This famous image, taken at Manassas junction in August 1862, shows a variety of trousers on the ragged Federal troops deployed there.

[Arkansas Box Boy]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

Mr. Atlan,
As far as I can tell, Artillerymen the only enlisted men that had Sky-Blue trowsers at the start of the war. This is the dilemma I spoke about. The question remains:
If the Army did not authorize Sky Blue Trowsers until Dec, 1861, It would have taken some time for the pipeline to re-fill, correct? All enlisted infantry before that date would have been issued dark blues and the existing supply of dark blues would have had to been exhausted before 'new' sky blues were issued, right?

Let's look at a example:

Army of the Southwest, Genl. Sam Curtis. Left Rolla, MO in mid Jan, 1862 with orders to destroy the MO State Guard. The Rolla supply depot would have had a number of replacement trowsers available, but in dark blue, as the order to change to sky blue was only a month old at the time.

My bet is that a majority of the infantry were equipped with the 'old' dark blue trowsers.

Is this sound reasoning?

Any help here would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Don Tolbert
Holmes Brigade

[A Sykes Regular]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

Hey, Bob - Actually I think it changed in the General Order of 1857. I'll track down the date and order number - I have an original of the U.S. Army Regulations of 1857 at home, which I believe has the G.O. in the appendices. (cit. Regulations for the Army of the United States, 1857). I'll check over the weekend and let you know - if I do, I'll transcribe and post the text up on www.usregulars.com... Heck, maybe I'll even copyright it... :wink_smil

I’m not having any luck tracking down the exact date in 1858 and the general order number that changed the regulation trousers from light blue to dark blue. I thought Army Blue would have this, but couldn’t find it there. Anyone have the answer? If not, I’ll add it to my list of things to look up at NARA the next time I’m there.

Regards,

[A Sykes Regular]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

Actually, I had the 1857 regs in my office, after all. These regs were authorized as of January 1, 1857, by Jeff. Davis, Secretary of War. Whether there was a General Order that preceded the regs remains to be investigated.

page 441.

Article LI "Uniform and Dress of the Army"

Trowsers.

1411....The uniform trowsers for both officers and enlisted men will be made of cloth throughout the year; made loose, and to spread well over the book; of white and light blue mixed, common called sky-blue mixture for regimental officers and enlisted men; and of dark blue cloth for all other officers; reinforced for all enlisted mounted men.

1412 though 1415 discuss the strip on the seam of the trousers.

Article 1416 has an interesting and detailed discription of the "new" forage cap, as well...

[coffee boiler]

Re: Dark Blue Trousers

The '57 date answers a big question. Meryer refers to receiving the new dark blue trousers around august of 1857, which was inconsistent with the 1858 date that Langellier mentions.

Thanks.