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Officers

The standard officer cover was the French kepis. These caps were different colors, but the standard seems to be grey and blue with peaks and chinstraps of black leather. These covers were worn by the officers.

The coats were the universally grey frock coats with two rows of seven brass buttons each. The Army’s rank insignia : one , two and three collar stripes for second lieutenant to captain; one , two, three stars from major to colonel and gold Austrian knots on each sleeve-one braid for lieutenant, two for captain, and three for field grade officers. Many of these coats were grey, but there were a significant number that had dark blue collars and pointed cuffs as well as the US Marine Corps officer’s gold Russian shoulder knots.

The trousers were usually dark blue although one pair were sky blue with a black welt down the seam.

The fatigue dress were also blue color and made out of flannel or denim material. Vests were also worn and these were made with a standing collar, three or four slash pockets and nine small brass buttons down the front .

The marine buttons, which were made in England, were brass , plain, bearing the Roman letter “M” on the face, there was no unique marine Corps belt plate design.

Enlisted

Enlisted men wore dark blue French style kepis with black peaks and chinstraps and brass side buttons.

The regulations also indicated that enlisted men were to receive two uniform coats and four fatigue jackets during his enlistment and the cloth was to be grey.

Both coats and jackets were worn- Marines were seen in jackets near Richmond in 1864, but the longer frock coat seems to have been the standard.

Theses coats were grey and trimmed in black around the collar and the cuffs and was made of linen flax or for senior NCOs silk. Each coat bore a single row of seven brass buttons bearing the Roman letter “M” on it’s face and it reached to just above the knee.

The rank was indicated by the use of black chevrons worn with the points up, unlike their army counterparts who wore their chevrons with the points down.

The stripes were the same as in the army – corporal was indicated by two stripes, sergeant / three, 1st sergeant had a diamond in the center with three stripes, three stripes and ties were a quartermaster sergeant and a sergeant major wore three stripes and three arcs under .

The trousers were dark blue for winter and white cotton for summer. With 1" black strip on the seam of the trousers for all NCO's.

Both blue and grey flannel shirts were worn as outer garments in hot climates. White cotton shirts were also worn under the coats along with a leather stock which was worn over the collar and under the frock coat.




Much of this information was gleaned from several web sites on the CSMC . The uniform information was from the MEN AT ARMS SERIES:

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ARMIES 3: SPECIALIST TROOPS. By Philip Katcher and Ron Volstad. Published by Osprey Military Publishing LTD, 1986

Weapons and Accouterments

Weapons: Almost exclusively pre-war conversion smoothbores (U.S. M1816, M1822, M1835, M1842) provided by the Militia Act of 1808 and stored at the Fayetteville, N.C. armory.  Some Model 1841. 1841 Mississipppi, 1842 Springfield, 1853 Enfield, 1855 US Springfield, 1861 Colt Special, and 1861 Springfield.

Cartridge Box: Enfield style. Tins are required.

Cap Box: Pre-war government issue

Waist belt: Leather with snake belt plate.

Haversacks - White in color

Knapsack: Hard packs

Canteen: Standard issue medal canteen.

Footwear: Brogans, boots, civilian and others

Note: Bayonets, Springfield  Scabbard ,  appropriate to firearms for all years. 

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