Correct Leg Stripes

[cplgordon]

Hey Folks,
I am looking to finish acouple projects before cedar creek and I have a small one that i want to be sure of before I finish it - hoping you folks can provide some advice.
I was promoted to Corporal some time ago and I still have not taken the time to put the leg stripes on my uniform. I am a union corporal and I know that I need to put a 1/2 inch stripe down the legs. What is the correct color of the stripe (I am infantry) - I have heard navy blue and french blue so I want to be sure that I get the right color - also does anyone know where I might get it.
Thanks,

Cpl. Gordon
2nd Maine

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Navy blue worsted wool tape, available through Needle and Thread of Gettysburg, 96 District Storehouse, and a few others who carry trims and notions. As an aside, consider your impression before going through the expense and time, particularly for a corporal. If you're going for an early war look, perform alot of garrison duty, or do eastern theater Army of the Potomac type events, by all means go for it. For later in the war, non garrison (ie campaign events), or most western impressions, you can go sans trouser stripes in most cases. There are few images of corporals wearing those stripes outside of garrison duty, winter camps, etc.

[Pvt Schnapps]

What Ross said. I'll add that, as a practical matter, if you want to wear the pants on those occasions when you may have to switch rank, you're just making trouble for yourself.

On the other hand, as a possible alternative, I thought about this quote that I've posted before a few times, but maybe once a year doesn't hurt. It's from one of my favorite sources --

The Civil War Notebook of Daniel Chisholm, W. Springer Menge and J. August Shimrak, eds., Ballantine Books, New York, 1989.

p. 59 “Saturday, Jany 14th [1865] We have special orders for every non commissioned officer to have chevrons on their arms and stripes on their pants. The quarter master hasn’t any, we have to take old blouses and make them ourselves. It is laughable to see all the boys at work with their needles. You may depend some of the stitches are long.”

[Cpt Boone]

NJ Sekela also has the correct tape in stock.

http://www.njsekela.com/OSCommerce/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=65&osCsid=35b54d99f1ad52b3246a68d1c37ab028

Give him a look. He can get it out to you quick.

[Rob Weaver]

schnapps:
I love that quote about cutting up old blouses for blue fabric! I wonder how many of us will ever do the same thing. I haven't ever added stripes to my trousers as I've seen about half of the NCO images without stripes - even if wearing a sash or NCO sword as well as chevrons.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

NJ Sekela also has the correct tape in stock.

http://www.njsekela.com/OSCommerce/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=65&osCsid=35b54d99f1ad52b3246a68d1c37ab028

Give him a look. He can get it out to you quick.

How well does that natural tape take a dye?

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

NUG..., for troops with sky blue trousers.

But not in the case of units wearing the "old fashioned" dark blue trousers where the NCO's wear the Saxon blue stripes...

Such as the 16th Ohio (who weren't quite "right" on the chevron regs...):

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y104/Michael1787/CW16thOHSilasCornchevrons.jpg

Also note, in passing, how the 1st Sergeant (IIRC Silas Corn) dealt with a too large of blouse or weight loss...)

CHS

[jurgitemvaletem]

Hallo!

NUG..., for troops with sky blue trousers.

But not in the case of units wearing the "old fashioned" dark blue trousers where the NCO's wear the Saxon blue stripes...

Such as the 16th Ohio (who weren't quite "right" on the chevron regs...):

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y104/Michael1787/CW16thOHSilasCornchevrons.jpg

Also note, in passing, how the 1st Sergeant (IIRC Silas Corn) dealt with a too large of blouse or weight loss...)

CHS


Perhaps the 1st sgt. should have traded blouses with the gentleman to the far right in the rear rank.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Welcome to the wonderful world of government garment sizing...

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Aye...

We should save and mark that image for when discussions of size and fit come up, and as an example of how well "trading" worked.

:)

On the other hand, may be the lad with the too snug blouse had strong BO or cooties. May be he just did not want to resew the chevrons.

;) :)

CHS

[Rob Weaver]

Wow - those are the worst chevrons I think I've ever seen! Did you notice that they also have the collars of their 4-buttons turned up, in imitation of the dress coat collar? There's a look you don't see very often reenacting.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Folks are always amazed when they see variants to how uniforms are worn at reenactments, but none of this is shocking if you pick up a book, access archives, or subscribed to "Military Images". This stuff has been out there for years, so why base your impression strictly upon what you see at a reenactment when you can go to the direct sources....

[Thad Gallagher]

It seems like a majority of the images I have seen would cause us to say those are the worst chevrons I have ever seen. Like Ross mentioned, just look at some images, nothing new here, just out of the norm for reenacting. We are so used to seeing perfect, tape stripes, on a backing, that we forget about field mods, using scraps of stuff around, etc.

I can only imagine the response it I put on my 1st Sgt. chevrons like that for an event. It may be worth the try. Anybody have any extra sky blue kersey lying around?

[Thad Gallagher]

Curt,

Do you have any other info on the image, such as time frame?

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Kinda/sorta...

I would have to check the books as my memory does not have the 16th Ohio in Missouri at the time Silas Corn was 1st Sergeant. I suspect a "travelling" photographer.

Corn,, form Millersburg, Ohio was appointed 1st Sergeant on September 26, 1861. Appointed 1st Sgt. FRom December 1861 through September 1862 they were in KY and TN
On February 19, 1862 he was promoted to 2nd Lt.

Sooooo, roughly the image "has to" date between September 1861 and February 1862ish.

(Corn was promoted to 1st LT on August 6, 1862, and captured on December 29, 1862 battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Vicksburg, MS and imprisioned thorugh March of 1863 at Vicksburg and Jackson, MS before being transferred to Libby Prison, Richmond, VA on March 23rd. He was exchanged on May 8, 1863, rejoining the regiment at Vicksburg on July 4th. On May 21, 1864 he was promoted to Captain, and mustered out at the end of his three year enlistment October 4, 1864.

I had previously thought that his gaunt look and poor blouse fit in the image was due to being a POW- but that was after he became an officer. I wonder if his service records would show an illness causing a loss of weight, but I never inquired.

CHS

[cplgordon]

Hey Folks,
Thank you all your help in getting the correct leg stripes for my uniform. I have ordered them and they came in the mail today. Now what is the correct way they go on? Do they cover the seam up the leg or Go up the left or right of the seam? and which side of the pocket does it go up? Thanks folks
-Joe

[GreencoatCross]

Most of the original trousers I've studied have the tape or fabric strip applied by hand to the "front" of the side seam. At least one pair had the tape more or less centered over the seam. Stitching was done using all types of thread; logwood linen or cotton, black cotton, brown, etc., using a crude running or overcast stitch.

[MaineMan 1861]

Good Evening Joe,
I have my new corporal stripes sewn right on the seam of the trousers, starting along the edge of the pockets and going down. If you have trouble sewing them, you might want to ask a civilian or another military member to help you. I had one of the civilian ladies do it for me in the 3rd and they came out great.

By the way, if your looking for any info on the Corporal's position and duties, you might want to try Kautz's Handbook for NCO's and Soldiers, which was published in 1865. I have it in my Civil War bookshelf and it has helped me in learning the new role during this summer.

Hope this helps.

[cplgordon]

Thanks fir the info Jared,

My concern is, which part of the pocket does the stripe follow, does it go over the top of the pocket, or behind the opening of the pocket?
Thanks for helping me to make sure this is right.

[Thad Gallagher]

You could stop at the bottom of the pockets as well. I have seen a few images of this. Perhaps they were more of a field added design and it was easier to stop there, plus depending on the coat your wearing you don't see where it stops.

[MaineMan 1861]

Good Evening Joe,
I checked on my trousers. My stripes come up the front seam of the pant leg and follow the outer pocket flap to the waistband. This is how I have mine. You could check with another person in your unit who had been a corporal at one time to see how they did it, or see if you can have one of the other members sew them on for you.

Hope this helps.