Additional Information
about
Federal Impression Standards
for Siege and Seizure of Sumter
Commemorating the 150th anniversary
of the event which commenced the Civil War
8 - 14 April 2011
The below is additional information about the revisions to the U.S. Army Regulations of 1857 :
Serial Set,
Vol. 963.
35/1, HR,
Mis. Doc. No. 127
"Change in the Army Uniform"
Letter from the Secretary of War, in reference to
The recent change in the army uniform, &c.
May 4, 1858-Referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.
War Department,
Washington, April 30, 1858.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th instant, asking the necessity for the recent change in the army uniform and the legal authority for making the same.
In consequence of repeated representations by many officers of the army of the entire unsuitableness of the old uniform cap, a board was directed to convene, composed of officers of experience in the service, to consider the propriety of a change in this respect, as well as others of minor importance in which improvements were thought desirable. After a full consideration of the subject, the board recommended certain modifications of the established uniform, which are as necessary for the comfort of the troops, and desirable on account of the greater neatness and simplicity which they would impart to the soldiers' dress. The old uniform cap was represented as utterly unsuited for the service, affording little or no protection to the soldier, exposing him unnecessarily to scorching suns, to drenching rains, and cold and sweeping winds, and adding to the unavoidable hardships of active service one which could readily be obviated by the use of a felt hat as such has now been adopted. So apparent indeed, was the necessity for a change in this respect, that it is well known to the department that the soldiers themselves, finding the cap which was provided by the government useless for the only purpose for which a cap is used, as a covering for the head and a protection for the face and neck, have in many instances abandoned it and provided themselves with hats at their own expense.
The only other change which affects in any important degree the estimate for army clothing is in the color of the pants, dark blue having been substituted for a lighter shade of the same color. This alteration, while it adds not a little to the appearance of the uniform, opens a wider range of selection in the purchase of the material; and will thus, in all probability, by inviting competition, enable the department to procure a better article at a cheaper rate. So that this change, though involving an increased expenditure at the outset to inaugurate it, will be in reality a measure of true economy in the end.
The legal authority for the change is found in article 100, section 1, of the act of April 10, 1806, "establishing rules and articles for the government of the armies of the United States," which gives the President power "to proscribe the uniform of the army."
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John B. Floyd,
Secretary of War
Hon. J. Glancy Jones,
Chairman Com., Way and Means, H. R.
General Orders No. 3.
War Department, Adjutant General's Office,
Washington, March 24, 1858.
The following regulations have been received from the War Department, and are published for the information and guidance of the army:
I. Instead of the uniform cap prescribed by existing regulations, all corps of the army will wear a hat of the pattern hereinafter described:
Hat.
For officers:
Of best black felt. The dimensions of medium size, to be as follows:
Width of brim, 31/2 inches.
Height of crown, 61/4 inches.
Oval of tip, 1/2 inch.
Taper of crown, 3/4 inch.
Curve of head, 3/8 inch.
The binding to be 1/2 inch deep, of the best black ribbed silk.
For enlisted men:
Of black felt, same shape and size as for officers, with double rows of stitching, instead of binding, around the edge. To agree in quality with the pattern deposited in the clothing arsenal.
Trimmings.
For general officers: gold cord, with acorn shaped ends. The brim of the hat looped up on the right side, and fastened with an eagle attached to the side of the hat; three black ostrich feathers on the left side; a gold embroidered wreath in front, on black velvet ground, encircling the letters U. S. in silver, old English characters.
For officers of the Adjutant General's, Inspector General's, Quartermaster's, Subsistence, Medical and Pay departments, and the Judge Advocate, above the rank of captain: The same as for general officers, except the cord, which will be of black silk and gold.
For the same departments, below the rank of field officers: the same as for the field officers, except that there will be but two feathers.
For officers of the corps of engineers: The same as for the general staff, except the ornament in front, which will be a gold embroidered wreath of laurel and palm, encircling the silver turreted shield on black velvet ground.
For officers of the topographical engineers: The same as for the general staff, except the ornament in front, which will be a gold embroidered wreath of oak leaves, encircling a gold shield, on black velvet ground.
For officers of the ordnance department: The same as for the general staff, except the ornament in front, which will be a gold embroidered shell and flame, on black velvet ground.
For officers of dragoons: the same as for the general staff, except the ornament in front, which will be two gold embroidered sabres crossed, edges upward, on black velvet ground, with the number of the regiment in silver in the upper angle.
For officers of cavalry: The same as for the dragoons, except that the sabres will be reversed, with the number of the regiment in the lower angle.
For officers of mounted riflemen: The same as for the general staff, except the ornament in front, which will be a gold embroidered trumpet, perpendicular, on a black velvet ground.
For officers of artillery: The same as for the general staff, except the ornament in front, which will be gold embroidered cross-cannon, on black velvet ground, with the number of the regiment in silver at the intersection of the cross-cannon: The brim of the hat to be looped up on the left side, and the feathers worn on the right side.
For officers of infantry: The same as for the artillery, except the ornament in front, which will be a gold embroidered bugle, on black velvet ground, with the number of the regiment in silver within the bend.
For enlisted men: The same as for officers of the respective corps; except that there will be but one feather, the cord will be of worsted, and the badges of yellow metal. The letter of the company, of yellow metal, to be worn in front.
All the trimmings of the hat are to be made so that they can be detached; but the eagle, badge of corps, and letter of company, are to be always worn.
A cocked hat, as prescribed in the General Regulations of 1847, may be worn by general and field officers at their option. Except for the general-in-chief, three black ostrich feathers will be worn with the cocked hat, instead of a plume.
2. The uniform trowsers for both officers and enlisted men will be of dark blue cloth, made without plaits. A gold cord one-eighth of an inch in diameter, instead of a buff welt, will be worn by officers of the general staff and staff corps, and a sky-blue welt by officers of infantry; for other corps the welt at present worn. For sergeants a stripe one and a half inch wide, and for corporals a stripe half an inch wide, of the color of the facings of the corps, will be worn covering the outer seam.
3. In lieu of one of the two coats or jackets now authorized the first, third, and fifth years, and of the sky-blue cloth jacket allowed by paragraph 1402, General Regulations, two sacks of blue flannel, of the pattern issued to mounted troops, will be allowed yearly to all enlisted men.
4. The uniform coat will be made without plaits, and the number of the regiment will be omitted from the collar of the coat.
5. Instead of the common tent now in use, the pattern known as Sibley's tent will be substituted.
6. This regulation shall go into effect immediately, except that the clothing and tents of the old pattern know on hand will be issued until exhausted.
II. Paragraph 1003, General Regulations for the Army is so far amended by adding the following:
The inspectors general, when on tours of inspection where they are obliged to take a servant, shall be entitled to the actual cost of his transportation.
III. Paragraph 963 of the Regulations for the Army is so far amended to allow to the senior ordnance officer, stationed at the headquarters of a military department, one room as an office, and fuel therefor, from the 1st October to the 30th April, at the rate of one cord of wood per month.
IV. Fort Umpqua, Oregan Territory, is announced as a double ration post, and will be considered as such from the date of its occupation.
By order of the Secretary of War:
S. Cooper
Adjutant General
Main battery at Fort Sumter bearing on Fort Moultrie and the channel.
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