The Liberty Rifles

Photographic Compilation of Federal Enlisted Men
Wearing Dark Blue Pants in 1862 and Beyond
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 enlisted men during mid to late 1862 – and even later into the war. 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. In other words, the lighter the color, the less expensive it was 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. One can deduce that contractors fulfilled their large orders for dark blue pants before new contracts were drawn for light blue pants.

Please examine these photographs to study the existence of dark blue pants mixed within the Federal ranks through 1862 – and even beyond – and considering wearing a pair to some of your 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.	February, 1862. While some units were still completely outfitted with dark blues, others like the 50th Pa. already began seeing some light blues in the ranks by early 1862. LOC#: LC-B811-156A	Early Winter, 1862. 2nd Vermont at Camp Griffin, Va. Most of these men are in dark blue pants, with some even in dark blue overcoats. Use the light blue overcoats on two of the men for shade comparisons. LOC#: LC-USZ62-135917

March, 1862. Confederate fortifications now held by Federal soldiers. It appears as though all six men have dark blue pants. LOC#: LC-B817-7171	March, 1862. The man in the foreground is wearing dark blue trousers, while others in the background wear light blue. LOC#: LC-B811-320	March, 1862. This sentry is wearing dark blue trousers shortened by cutting off the cuffs, and the other five men also appear to be wearing dark blues. LOC#: LC-B811-302

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. LOC#: LC-B811-367A	May, 1862. All the men in the foreground here at Cumberland Landing, Va. are wearing dark blue pants. LOC#: LC-B811-1214B-1	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. LOC#: LC-B817-7383

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. LOC#: LC-B811-2510	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)	Summer, 1862. A company of the 35th New York Infantry shows an even mix of pant colors. Notice the rear rank is comprised solely of men in dark blues, perhaps arranged like this for the photograph. LOC#: LC-B811-2422

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. LOC#: LC-B817-7517	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. LOC#: LC-B815-593	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.

August, 1862. Fauquier Sulphur Springs, Va., vicinity. These troops building a bridge across the Rappahannock show almost an even split between pant colors. LOC#: LC-B815-513	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. LOC#: LC-B811-201	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. LOC#: LC-B811-619

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. LOC#: LC-B815-516	July or August, 1863 These men building fortifications on Morris Island, SC are wearing an assortment of sky blues, dark blues, and even what appear to be work pants made of white duck. LOC#: LC-B8156-17	August, 1864 "Essayons Dramatic Club," a group of the U.S. Engineer Battalion, near Petersburg, Va. Two men in this photo are wearing dark blues. LOC#: LC-B817-7336

August, 1864 Petersburg, Va. The two Sergeants within this group of men from Co. B of the Engineer Battalion are wearing dark blues. LOC#: LC-B817-7219	September, 1864 Atlanta, Ga. Shown are Sherman's men destroying railroad. A man in the foreground is seen wearing dark blue pants. LOC#: LC-B811-3630	April, 1865 Federal troops at Appomattox Court House. One man is seen here wearing a pair of dark blues even as late as Lee's surrender. LOC#: LC-B817-7193

April, 1865 In the same scene at Appomattox Court House, a second man wearing dark blues is sitting on the fence. LOC#: LC-B817-7193