Union Infantry Regiments

 Union Regiments at the battle of First Manassas, 21th of July 1861

New York:

14th New York State Militia/84th New York Infantry Regiment.

I have based this drawing on a colored portrait photo of a member of this regiment. This uniform is a very well known uniform unlike many other uniforms worn during this battle. This regiment is one of the regiments with a very exotic looking uniform. This regiment was also called the “Red legged devils”. This uniform stood out from a great distance because of the bright red colors. Here, a civilian belt is worn instead of the "US" or "SNY" (State of New York) buckle belt.

38th New York State Infantry regiment. 

This entire regiment, like the 27th New York InfantryRegiment, wore the typical state uniform for New York: Dark blue short jacket with epaulettes, the collar and epaulets were trimmed in light blue, Dark blue kepi and light blue trousers. This uniform was worn by many New York regiments throughout the war. This is one of the few uniforms that did not change after 1861. The belt buckle bears the letters “SNY”: State of New York,” derisively called “Snotty Nosed Yanks” by the Confederates. A white havelock is worn over the kepi against the sun. These were no longer used after 1861.

79th New York Infantry Regiment.

This regiment consisted mainly of Scottish immigrants. They wore a typical coat for this regiment and dark blue trousers and not, as is often claimed, kilt trousers or light  blue trousers. The proof is provided by this photo of prisoners of war of the 79th regiment just after the battle.

Michigan

1st Michigan infantry regiment.

This regiment wore an all-union blue uniform consisting of a kepi, with or without a white havelock, and a short coat. This regiment had a canteen with a red protective cover. The drawing depicts a soldier who, during the greatly delayed advance of the Union, left the rows without permission, went to pick blackberries and pause for a while. Many soldiers did this during this advance, but also Confederate soldiers did this during the battle. Many had barely eaten and there are eyewitness accounts that some took two days to get all the thorns out of the palms.

Massachusetts

5th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, Company C “Charlestown Light Infantry”. 

According to  various sources, that regiment wore the same uniform as the regular army: dark blue long coat, dark blue trousers and headgear. An early photo and drawing show that in practice they wore a  light gray shirt in combination with the dark blue pants and kepi. This may no doubt have led to confusion again, as many Confederates also wore gray shirts.

11th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. 

This regiment wore gray uniforms which naturally led to
much confusion as many Confederate regiments also wore gray uniforms. It concerns Companies
 A, B and K, which all had different uniforms: 

Company A, with gray short coat, trousers and kepi,  with a copper "A" on it, 

Company B “Paul Revere Guards”, with the characteristic hat that was worn
by more regiments from Massachusetts sets and with red piping on the uniform.

Company K had rich red piping on the jacket.

Rhode Island

2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, Company D

 Unlike many other regiments I am researching, the 1st and 2nd Rhode Island Infantry are the easiest regiments to research. Countless photos were taken of these regiments in the summer of 1861. The uniforms of all companies of the 1st and 2nd RI are almost the same: long blue over shirt, gray trousers, often
a red rolled up blanket/poncho, blue standard kepi with and without havelock, but also black
"hardee hats”, standard U.S. Army belt and magazine pouches. On the kepi of my example the
gold colored letters “RI” and on the closure of the strap on the kepi the number “2” have been
added. My drawing depicts a member taking a rest on his way to Manassas, his clothes and shoes dusty from the sand.