Introduction

My First Manassas/ Bull Run drawings

Introduction

On July 21, 1861, after minor skirmishes, the first major battle of the American Civil War took place.

The Confederates called this battle “First Manassas”, while the Union called it “First Bull Run”. The Confederates won this battle. Both sides entered this battle full of optimism. The war was expected to last only a few months and this battle, according to many, would be the last. Things turned out differently. More than 900 soldiers on both sides and one civilian would not survive this battle. After this battle came many larger and bloodier battles. The Civil War would last for almost four more years..

Why am I particularly interested in this battle?

I have been interested in military history from a very early age. Series such as “The Blue and the Grey”, “North and South”, the comic book series of “The Blue Bellies” and my father’s book “The Great Battlefields”, which covered First Manassas, stimulated my interest in the Civil War. Later movies as “Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals” motivated my interest only more and more.

I have a grat interest in details and the fact that there were many variations of uniforms, especially during this battle. Units with colorfoul luxurious uniforms, but also units with a very incoherent set of uniforms. Given the heat of the day and especially the afternoon, many thick woolen or jeans jackets were taken off. Many soldiers at that time wore shirts in all kinds and colors or patterns under their jackets, which in turn resulted in an incoherent whole. This was described in some reports as civilian clothes. Other units wore red, grey or blue shirts instead of jackets. Others had their uniforms made by loved ones or family, so these had a personal touch. The variations were endless. They were just as unprepared in this area as they were in battle.

There were Confederate companies dressed in blue uniforms, in which many Union troops also fought, and some Northern regiments and companies fought in gray uniforms, in which many Confederate troops also fought, causing much confusion.

More than once, because of this, friendly regiments or companies were fired upon or there was hesitation, as a result of which the enemy was fired upon too late or not at all.

About 15 years ago I started with this research. I find the difficulty level a challenge. In 2016 I started to pick up my then negelected hoby, drawing. And this topic lends itself well to it!

In short, the many riddles and countless different uniforms as opposed to a year later when most Union troops wore blue and Confederates many shades of gray and brown, fascinate me.

E-mailing to various American institutions, researchers, reenactment clubs and especially extensive use of Google gave great results. Surprising facts emerges from a number of parts about which not much is known about early uniforms. In some cases I was also able to refute assumtions that circulated on many American sites and books with photograpic or docmented evidence. This goes fort he pants of the 79th New York Regiment and the headgear of my favorite General T.J. Jackson.

Surprisingly many photos of some companies/ regiments can be found from 1861.

This goes for the 1st and 2nd Rhode Island regiments. Countless photographs of these two regiments were taken in 1861. Quite a few early portrait photograps of various companies of the 6th North Carolina have surfaced among the Confederates. Also from Company I of the 4th Virginia regiment, the “Liberty Hall Volunteers”; half a dozen clear early war portrait photos with the typical shirt exist.

Many portrait photos, especially those of the Confederates from 1861 however, are anonymous, i.e. no name, and no regiments or companies are known, in most cases this will never be found again I’m afraid; unfortunately! Confederate uniforms are also much more difficult to research than the uniforms of the Union.

It’s sometimes amazing what one can find with a little help from Google, long live the internet! However, sometimes information can be very contradictory and frustrating.

I make my drawings with acrylics.

These drawings are based on documented information and/or original photographs.

I want to publish these drawings and findings on this blog and share them with fellow reseachers. Some drawings are interpretations of written and sometimes incomplete information.

I am now mainly occupied with the First Brigade of the Army of the Shenandoah, commanded by Brigadier General Thomas Jonathan Jackson. This Brigade consisted of the 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment, 4th Virginia Infantry Regiment, 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment, 27th Virginia Infantry Regiment and Cummings Regiment ( later called the 33d Virginia Infantry Regiment). This Brigade would become the “Stonewall Brigade” later. I will also publish drawings of other Confederate and Union regiments/ companies later.

I have researched and drawn the following companies of the First Brigade of the Army of the Shenandoah:

First Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah/ Stonewall Brigade, summer 1861, researched and drawn, (italics = partly researched)

2nd Virginia

·       Co A “Jefferson Guards”

·       Co B “Hamtramck Guards”; heavy shirts; color shirt and trim?, trousers?, headgear?

·       Co D “Berkeley Border Guards”

·       Co E “Hedgesville Blues”; color shirt?, kind of jacket?, headgear?

·       Co H “Letcher Riflemen”; frock coat or rondabout?

·       Co I “Clarke Riflemen”

·       Unknown company, black trousers etc.

4th Virginia

·       Co B “Fort Lewis Volunteers”

·       Co C “Pulaski Guards”

·       Co F “Virginia/Grayson Daredevils”

·       Co G “Montgomery Invincibles”/ “Wise Fencibles”

·       Co I  “Liberty Hall Volunteers”

5th Virginia

·       Co A “Marion Rifles”

·       Co C “Mountain Guards”

·       Co D “Southern Guard”; frock coat or rondabout?

·       Co E “Augusta Greys”

·       Co F “West View Infantry”; details on fatigue jacket, headgear?

·       Co G “Staunton Rifles”

·       Co K “Continental Morgan Guards”

·       Co L “West Augusta Guards”

27th Virginia

·       Co B “Virginia Hibernians”, Captain Norris

·       Co E “Greenbrier/ Lewis Rifles”

 C Cummings Regiment (later 33d Virginia)

·     Co H “Page Greys”

·     Colonel Cummings

There is still much more to explore and hopefully more data and photos will emerge, This work and especially producing the drawings gives me a lot of energy and pleasure.

If I have a period photograph as comparison to a drawing I will publish it with the drawing. None of the period photos are mine. During my 15 years of research I found many photos on the internet. I will try to name the source. Unfortunately the source isn’t known anymore fors me photographs. It is not my intention to steal photographs and pulbish them as were they my own. Only the drawings I make are mine. I watermarked them against copying. Please feel free to share my drawings.

I only ask one favour in return: please name my blog as a source. Many thanks.

I want to help fellow researchers or modelling enthousiasts with my publishes results and would like to get in touch to exchange information. For example, I am looking for imformation and/or photos of uniforms of the following companies of the First Brigade of the Army of the Shenandoah/ Stonewall Brigade around the summer of 1861:

First Brigade Army of the Shenandoah/ Stonewall Brigade, summer 1861, companies to research Italics= partly researched but questions remain

2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment

·       Co B, “Hamtramck Guards”; heavy shirts; color shirt and trim, trousers, headgear?

·       Co C, “Nelson Guards”

·       Co E,  “Hedgesville Blues”; color shirt, headgear?

·       Co F, “Winchester Rifles”

·       Co G, “Botts Greys”

·       Co H, “Letcher Riflemen”; frock coat or rondabout?

·       Co K, “Floyd Guards”

 4 4th Virginia Infantry Regiment

·       Co A “Wythe Greys”; reenactment impression accurate or fantasy?

·       Co D, “Smyth Blues”

·       Co E, “Montgomery Highlanders”

·       Co K, “Rockbridge Rifles”

 

5th Virginia Infantry Regiment

·       Co D, “Southern Guard”; frock coat or rondabout?

·       Co F, “West View Infantry”; details on fatigue jacket, headgear?

·       Co H, “Augusta Rifles”

·       Co I,   “Ready Rifles”

  

27th Virginia Infantry Regiment

·       Co A, “Alleghany Light Infantry/ Roughs”

·       Co B, “Virginia Hibernians”

·       Co C, “Alleghany Rifles”

·       Co D, “Monroe Guard”; grey salt and pepper frock coat with gold and black or

           red trim. Details? Headgear?

·       Co F, “Greenbrier Sharpshooters”/ “Meadow Rifles”

·       Co G, “Shriver Greys”; fine grey suit, details?

Cummings Regiment, later 33d Virginia

·       Co A, “Potomac Guards”; grey uniform, black hat, details?

·       Co B, “Tom’s Brook Guards”/ “Shenandoah Riflemen”

·       Co C, “Tenth Legion Minutemen”

·       Co E, “Emerald Guards”

·       Co F, “Independent Greys”/ “Hardy Greys”

·       Co G, “Mount Jackson Rifles”/ “Allen’s Infantry”

·       Co K, “Shenandoah Sharpshooters”; Civilian clothes (?)

 

If someone has information on this please contact me.