The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-05
THE CONFEDERATE UNIFORM
REGULATIONS WE'RE ESTABLISHED
But NOT FOLLOWED.

Gray Tunic and Light Blue Trousers
Prescribed, But Rarely Ever Fol-
Iowcd-Aftcr the First Year the
Men Were Uniformed in Gray or
brown Jeans or whatever ELSE
Their states COuId Get-Ihe Uni
form Patterned From That of
Observation-Disclosures of the Officers
and Designations of Rank.
In these days of war, and rumors
of war, the features and events Of the
late civil war have become subjects of gen
eral and interesting discussion. The mem
cries of veterans are being revived and
they now recall more yividly the scenes
and stirring events of those times.
One of the interesting features of the
days from 1851 to 1865 was the Confederate
uniform, that prescribed by the regulations
in comparison with that which was act
ually worn. Gen. G. NJ Sorrel, who has
recently been thinking over the matter of
the Confederate uniform, has furnished
some data relating to 1t which viii be
Of interest not only to Confederate veter-
ans. but to all those who consider matters
military.
The uniform prescribed by the regula-
tons and that which was actually worn
were very different things-the latter was
| pretty much anything that could be
scraped up for the occasion, appearing in
all imaginable hues, shapes and patterns.
The soldiers were generally uniformed by
the states in jeans of butternut colored
cloths and gray cloth but the regula lions
provided for gray tunic, and light blue
trousers, the facing being blue for in
! fantry, yellow for cavalry and crimson for
artillery.
Gen. Sorrel does not recall having seen
those regulations, but is satisfied they
must have been printed, and copies of them
are doubtless in existence to-day. Could
they be republished they would undoubted-
! ly make most interesting reading.
The clothing of the officers was intended
to be somewhat better than that of the
rank and file. Large quantities of Con-
! fcderate gray cloth were run through the
blockade especially in the early part of
the war, and there was some attempt at
J uniformity and attention to marks of rank
and the arm of the service.
The regulations prescribing the uniform
were prepared by a board of officers at
Richmond, whose names are not now re-
| called, but il is thought Col. George Deas
of the adjutant generals department was
one of them. Under these regulations
there was a complete departure from the
uniforms and badges of the United STATES
army. The Confederate dress was evident
ly fashioned on a study of the Austrian
regulations, and it Is considered that there
| could scarcely have been a better model.
| 1t was a gray tunic and blue trousers,
the tunic being a very short, close-htting
garment, with standing collar This par
ticular cut did not go. The officers did
not take to it, and the ordinary military
! dOuble-breasted frock coat was the actual
wear.
The cumbrous epaulettes and meaning
less shoulder straps of the United States
army we're not thought of for indica tons
| of rank in the Confederate army. The
| Austrian marks on the collar and sleeve,
far more serviceable and slightly, were
! quickly settled on. So much for the upper
| rig. The trousers were light blue for the
| line and dark or mazarin blue for the staff
! and general officers. They were corded on
the outer seam for line officers, with blue
| yellow or red, according to the arm of the
| service. The staff officers had the broad
gold stripe, the general officers two mar
| rover stripes, showing the cloth between.
There appears to have been no differ
ence in the badges indicating rank as
worn by fun general down to a brigadier
| general They were all to have on the
collar three gilt stars the middle one be-
! ing the larger encircled with a wreath
! of the same material. The facings for
! color, and like all other parts of the SER
vice, included collar and cuffs. Colonies
in all arms Of the service had three stars
on the collar, lieutenant colonies two, and
| majors one.
An additional rank mark was borne on
| the sleeve in the shape of an Austrian
| knot of narrow gold lace running up to
the elbow and above. For generals this
was of four braids, for colonies, ueuten-
ant colonels and majors, three captains
| two and lieutenants one
General officers began to group their but
tons in twos, threes and tours like those
| of the United States army, but 1t Is not
| thought that this arrangement was pro-
| Vided for in those now almost forgotten
| regulations
The uniforms throughout, wherever
worn, were handsome and serviceabIe, but
it is doubtful If there ever was a Confed-
crate regiment uniformed according to
| regulations. In the early part of the war
there was some attempt made TO have
| companies uniformed alike, and some of
| the Virginia regiments were handsomely
clothed, but regiments from other states
were rushed forward TO the army so rapi-
| dly that it was difficult to even clothes
companies uniformly. The first volunteer
regiment Of Georgia, the first Georgia. reg
| uiars, the SiXty-third Georgia Regiment
Col George A. Gordon's, and the Eigth-
tenth Georgia Battalion, Savannah Vol
unteer Guards, all of which may be des-
ignated as belonging to Savannah, were
uniformed as regiments, but none of them
alike. The Sixty-thrd Regiment, for in
| stance, had very dark gray suit of block
ade goods. The usual designations Of arm
and rank were of course used
AS a rule after the first year of the war
the Confederate soldier other than a com
missoned officer, wore home made suits
| of brown or gray jeans, or for that matter
of whatever color their states could get.
The officers. as a rule, wore gray cloth,
| which came in via blockade.
1t is said there was no difference in the
! pay Of generals, whether lieutenant gen
eral or a brgadier. Each received 1901 per
month, and the privates said the 81 a
month was for services and the other $500
for their good looks
HERO OF MANILA AT THIRTY.
story of His COurtshlp and Marriage