Research Questions

[pvt_water]

Hi Everyone,

A friend of mine was doing some research and came across information that needs some verification or further research. Maybe someone can help.

1. Was there such a group as the "Rifled Regiment" during the Civil War?

...and...

2. At the beginning of the CW, was the color of the bugle cord for the Union Army green?

Thanks!
Pvt_Water

P.S. At this time, I don't know where he got this information, but will update as soon as I find out.

[GaWildcat]

There was the Regiment of Mounted Rifles before the war, and Jeff Davis had his 1st Mississippi Rifles in Mexico. There were units that called themselves Rifles , just as there were units that called themselves sharpshooters (a company of the 31st Ga {IIRC} was called the Campbell County Sharpshooters), Fencibles, Guards and Light Infantry; so this could be a nickname.

[Blair]

You may find units like the 1st and 2nd USSS that were considered "Rifle" Regiments. They wore Green uniforms because this was the color designation for Rifle units in Europe during this time period.
Prior to the War you may find mounted units like the 1st US Mounted Rifles that wore Green trim on their uniforms.
But durng 1855/6 the mounted sevices underwent major changes. The 1st and 2nd Dragoons became the 1st and 2nd Cavalry. The 1st Mounted Rifles became the 3th Cav. and two more Cav units wer added in the 4th and 5th Cav's.
Some of the older members of these units contunued to wear the jackets and branch of sevice on their uniforms until those wore out and were no longer avilable.
Usuaually speaking, a Regiment was broken down into ten Companies. Early in the War these Regiments might have two, perhaps four Companise that were desinated as "Rifle Companies" and armed with rfled firearms. These would inturn be used as "Flanking" Companies in line of battle and/or as Skirmishes. Sometime called Sharp Shooters in the O R's.
As more rifled firearms became available, more and more Companies within the Regiment were issued rifled weapons.
Blair Taylor

[Pvt Schnapps]

Hi Everyone,

A friend of mine was doing some research and came across information that needs some verification or further research. Maybe someone can help.

1. Was there such a group as the "Rifled Regiment" during the Civil War?

...and...

2. At the beginning of the CW, was the color of the bugle cord for the Union Army green?

Thanks!
Pvt_Water

P.S. At this time, I don't know where he got this information, but will update as soon as I find out.

1. The regiment you are thinking of was actually the fourth battalion of the 3-month 1st District of Columbia Volunteers, sworn into Federal service during the early dark days of the war of the rebellion when very few regular troops were available to defend the nation's capital. Although Charles Pomeroy Stone, the IG and acting commander of the District militia had, in consultation with General Scott, selected the Capitol, Post Office Hill, and Treasury building as the citadels of the defense, the 4th was, through some mistake of its inebriated adjutant, assigned to the northern bank of the Tiber, in an area known as "Murder Bay" -- Washington City's equivalent to the Five Points. Not 30 hours after their posting, the 320 men of the 4th were systematically besotted, robbed, beaten, and infected with a variety of social diseases not seen since the last militia mobilization in Gomorrah. From that day until their dismissal in disgrace a few weeks later, they were known throughout the City as "The Rifled Regiment."

2. The color was not green, but chartreuse.

3. I know what you're thinking, but you can trust me.

4. Or you can try a little research on your own first.

[Pvt. Rufus Guy]

The aforementioned "Rifled Regiment" alluded to a particular unit that Pvt. Schnapps has identified, but as GaWildcat mentioned, there were several units that called themselves "Rifles."
I've conducted a lot of research in the area of SW Ohio and Northern Kentucky and found that there were several rifle companies that were formed as militia and Home Guard companies in Cincinnati, Ohio in the summer of 1862 to defend Cincinnati against a Confederate threat by Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith.
Usually named for their commanding officer (an elected Captain) or neighborhood, there were the Burnet Rifles, the Winfield Rifles, the Cincinnati Rifles, the Pearl Street Rifles, the Mount Auburn Rifles, and the Tiger Rifles.

[Rob Weaver]

Let us not forget "Kane's Rifle Regiment," also known as The 1st Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment,, the 13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, 42nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, The Bucktail Rifle Regiment or the Bucktailed Wildcats.

[BobWerner]

You may find units like the 1st and 2nd USSS that were considered "Rifle" Regiments. They wore Green uniforms because this was the color designation for Rifle units in Europe during this time period.
Prior to the War you may find mounted units like the 1st US Mounted Rifles that wore Green trim on their uniforms.
But durng 1855/6 the mounted sevices underwent major changes. The 1st and 2nd Dragoons became the 1st and 2nd Cavalry. The 1st Mounted Rifles became the 3th Cav. and two more Cav units wer added in the 4th and 5th Cav's.Blair Taylor

Actually, the change you are referring to took place in 1861 after the war had begun. In March of 1855, following the urging of then Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, the U.S. Army was expanded to include four new regiments: the 9th & 10th U.S. Infantry and the 1st & 2nd U.S. Cavalry. (It was the Old Second Cavalry that was originally commanded by A.S. Johnston, Colonel and R.E. Lee, Lt. Col. ) For the next six years, the five mounted regiments would serve retaining their unique designations and uniforms, some even carrying over into the early years of the war. The Dragoons were especially reluctant to give up their orange trimmed jackets. In 1861, reorganization renumbered the regiments according to seniority. As you noted, the 1st & 2nd Dragoon Regiments became the 1st & 2nd Cavalry; the Regiment of Mounted Rifles became the 3rd Cavalry; and the 1st & 2nd Cavalry became the 4th & 5th Cavalry. At this time a new regiment was also added as the 6th U.S. Cavalry and the regiments were expanded from 10 companies/troops to 12 to utilize 3 battalions of 2 squadrons each.
Not to nitpick, but I just wanted set the record straight.
Respectfully,

[Swag]

Ah Bob you beat me to it! I suggest listening to everything this man as to say Mr. Private Water, as he is something like the "Hitchhikers guide to the Civil War" in the sense that Mr. Werner is a wealth of knowledge.

[Blair]

Bob Werner,

Thank you.
You are absolutlty correct.
I was not sure that the ambiguity posed in the original posting would require such pecission. I should have known better, my apologies to all.
Blair Taylor

[pvt_water]

Thanks to all for your wealth of information...I shall pass it along!

Warm Regards,
Pvt_Water