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Photographic Compilation of Federal Troops
Wearing Dark Blue Pants in 1862
By Paul A. Boccadoro
In an attempt to add some interest to an otherwise "standard" Federal 1862 impression, I have compiled the below examples of dark blue pants being worn in the field by Federal troops during mid to late 1862. It was the Secretary of War's General Order No. 108, dated December 16, 1861, that changed the standard pant color from dark blue to light blue, with a dark blue welt for officers and dark blue stripe for NCO's (source). The change was made due to the higher cost of dark blue dyed material as compared to lower cost of light blue dyed material: the lighter the color, the less expensive it is to dye.
Despite the General Order being put out in very late 1861, there were still huge stockpiles of unissued dark blue pants which were distributed throughout the following year, as evident in the below photographs and documents. Likewise, manufacturers still had immense supplies of already purchased dark blue trouser material, which certainly was used up before purchasing a new supply of light blue trouser material.
Please examine these photographs to study the existence of dark blue pants mixed within the Federal ranks through 1862, and considering wearing a pair to some of our upcoming Federal 1862 events.
February 26, 1862.
A well known photograph of the 96th Pa. at Camp Northumberland. Notice their full dress uniforms: frocks, dark blues, dress hats, and some companies with gaiters.
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March, 1862.
Confederate fortifications now held by Federal soldiers. It appears as though all six men have dark blue pants.
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May, 1862.
HQ of Gen. George B. McClellan, Camp Winfield Scott, near Yorktown, Va. Five men are seen wearing dark blues - including the man sitting by the rifle stacks at the left edge of the photo.
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May 27-28, 1862.
Nine memebers of the 5th NH can be seen here in dark blues as they built this bridge across the Chickahominy River, Va.
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June, 1862.
A Federal battery near Fair Oaks, Va. A great photo showing a mix of dark and light blue pants on artillerymen, but still marginally dark blues.
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July 1, 1862.
A document showing the issue of two pairs of dark blue pants during the summer of 1862. One can safely assume these pants were used by this man throughout the rest of the year. (source)
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July, 1862.
Men of Co. C, 41st New York Infantry near Manassas, Va. This entire companyon campaign is still wearing dark blue pants during the late summer of 1862.
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August, 1862.
Soldiers beside damaged rolling stock of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, near Manassas Junction, Va. One of my personal favorite photos, it shows a mix of the man on the right wearing dark blues, with the other two wearing sky blues.
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August, 1862.
Robert Borland, Co. F, 96th Pa. Just before going into the Maryland campaign, Borland had this image made - still wearing the full dress uniform. The 96th Pa. of the 6th Corps went into the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam while wearing dark blues and frocks with scales.
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August, 1862.
Fauquier Sulphur Springs, Va., vicinity. These troops building a bridge across the Rappahannock show almost an even split between pant colors.
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Summer/Fall, 1862.
Coosaw Ferry, Port Royal Island, SC. Still transitioning to sky blues, two of these three men are wearing dark blues while on guard duty.
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October, 1862.
A cavalryman at Antietam, Md. Even following the Maryland campaign going into mid fall, men still wear the dark blue pants issued to them.
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April, 1863
Men and wagons of the Engineer Corps ambulance train near Falmouth, Va. Two pairs of dark blues are still worn among these men even as late as 1863!
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Unidentified, June, 1862.
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Unidentified, 1862.
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Unidentified, May, 1862.
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Unidentified, 1862.
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