Uniforms and Equipment

'...that division of regular troops presented an appearance which wil never be effaced from my mind. It was thoroughly military and soldierlike; they looked so clean, their arms and accoutrements in such good order, that all my enthusiasm for soldiers was greatly gratified.' 

-John R. Kelly

 Baltimore Volunteer Battalion

September 1846

A Regular in Marching Order

Uniforms and Equipment of the Regular

M1839 Forage Cap: A wheel cap made from dark blue wool with a leather chinstrap and visor. Enlisted version has a flap that can be fulled down to protect the wearer's neck from the sun or ears from the cold; this clap is held out of the way by a pair of buttons and a tie. A 1" brass company letter is affixed to the front (in our case, a "D").

1833 Fatigue Jacket

M1833 Fatigue Jacket: A sky-blue roundabout jacket made of wool kersey. Originally meant to be a working (or "fatigue") jacket, it soon became the primary fighting uniform of the US Army during the Mexican War. It has a standing collar and shoulder straps piped with wool worsted tape of the branch of service color (in the case of infantry, white). The front is closed with nine small pewter buttons, featuring an eagle holding a small shield. Within the shield is the letter "I" for infantry. These buttons also secure the shoulder straps, are mounted in pairs on either side of the collar, and one each to secure the cuffs. The front of the jacket has two vest-style pockets, one on either side, near the waistline.

Leather Neckstock: A leather neckstock was to be worn to all company formations. This is a piece of formed leather encircling the neck that protects the wearer from blows or slashes against the neck, as well as keeping the wearer's head in an upright and military fashion. It could be fastened with either a buckle or by tying via a leather thong. 

M1832 or M1845 Pattern Trousers: The trousers adopted by the infantry in 1832 were closed with a "small fall" or drop front. The trousers later adopted by recommendation of the Ordnance Board in 1845 instead had a button fly, very similar to the trousers worn during the Civil War, but did not have side-seam pockets. Both trousers were made of sky-blue kersey wool and had suspender buttons on the outside of the waistband. Sergeants were identified by a 1 1/2" wide white worsted tape on the outer seams of their trousers, in addition to their red wool sashes and the carrying of a M1840 Non-commissioned officers' sword on a white leather baldric.

Underclothes (Shirts, Drawers, & Socks): Long john style drawers, in cotton for the summer and flannel for winter, were either issued or procured by the individual soldier. Shirts, likewise, were both issued and made or purchased by the soldiers. Red flannel shirts were popular amongst the men serving in Mexico, and plain white linen or cotton print/calico shirts constructed ‘on the square’ were quite common. Socks were made from wool in a variety of plain colors, depending on what was available.

Bootees:  Black leather 'Jefferson bootees,’ originally made in straight lasts, with pegged  soles.

M1816
Springfield Musket

M1816 Springfield Musket: The Model 1816 musket was originally manufactured at the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Arsenals between 1816 and 1844. Around 675,000 were made, more than any other flintlock in U.S. history. The Model 1816 had a 42-inch long .69 caliber smoothbore barrel and a straight lined stock. The overall length of the weapon was 58 inches.  Many improvements to the Model 1816 were made, producing the Model 1822 Musket, Model 1835, Model 1840, and Model 1842. U.S. Ordnance Department referred to these as different models, but in other U.S. government documents they are referred to as a continuation of the Model 1816. During the Mexican-American War, the flintlock version of the Model 1816 was preferred by U.S. regular forces, due to percussion cap supply concerns.

Bayonet: Either a 16" or 18” steel socket bayonet was issued to each soldier, depending on the pattern of musket. All bayonets had a triangular cross-section blade and was fixed to the stud on the muzzle of the musket with a zig-zag channel built into the bayonet's ring. It did not have a locking collar, like later bayonets.

Bayonet Scabbard: The bayonet scabbard is made to the Gaylord pattern, with a white buff belt loop without rivets and a black leather scabbard body with brass "Springfield" style tip. 

M1839 Waist Belt and Buckle: Waist belts were 1.5" wide, originally 38.5" long with a loop at one end. The oval buckles were approximately 3" long and 1.6" wide and embossed with the letters "US."

1828 box with
embossed flap

M1828 or M1839 Cartridge Box w/ Sling and Plates: The M1828 cartridge box was an improved M1808 cartridge box with an inner flap and ears. This box was to be used with flintlock muskets. The front flap had highly ornate embossing, featuring the letters "US" and an eagle embossed withing an oval wreath.

The M1839 box replaced the 1828 box. It is a .69 round ball cartridge box set with buff belting 2.5" wide and US and Eagle plates affixed. The US plate is the large, 3.6" by 2.2" oval plate used through the Civil War, affixed to the front flap of the box, while the Eagle plate is round, 2.5" in diameter plate adopted in 1828, also used through the Civil War. 

M1836 Canteen: This tin canteen was adopted in 1836 for Dragoons and soon after issued army wide. Originally holding one quart of water and embossed with the letters "US" in a circle, by the time of the Mexican war they were the most commonly issued canteen to US regular infantrymen. In 1846 an upgraded, 2 quart version, which was ascetically identical though slightly larger, was produced and issued for troops serving in the hot Mexican climate, but these were poorly made and did not hold up well in service. 

Scalloped-flap haversack
with tin cup

Haversack: A cotton drill 1820’s pattern scalloped flap haversack. It is closed with three pewter buttons.

M1825 Knapsack: The 1825 pattern knapsack was described as a "fold over type knapsack; made of oil cloth covered canvas." It measured roughly 12" by 12" by 4" folded, and its' leather straps were black iron dyed. By regulation, the regimental number was to be painted on the portion of the bag that lies between the straps when the pack was worn. The knapsack was designed to carry both blanket and greatcoat, but little else.

M1821 Blanket: The M1821 blanket is a white wool blanket with woven blue end-stripes on both ends. Though specifications stated these were to have the letters "US" inked in the center, this was not often the case. These were cut from a roll, and so can be either single or double length.

1821 Pattern Gilt
Overcoat Button

M1832 Greatcoat: The 1832 greatcoat was made of sky-blue wool. It was single breasted, fastened with five large (1") buttons in front, and the belted back was secured with a single button. The back belt featured squared-off ends, rather than the rounded ends of later pattern greatcoats. The cape was short, coming to just above the elbows, and was fastened in the front with three small (3/8") buttons. The coat had a standing collar. The buttons were the gilt 1821 pattern general service type.

Misc. Accessories: While not a complete list, here are a few additional items that were commonly carried by American soldiers in the 1840s: eating utensils, tin cups and plates; belt  or pocket knives; toiletries; Bibles,  playing cards, dice, books, or other items to keep the men entertained; eyeglasses (these were not common, however); trouser suspenders; pipe clay (for whitening buff leather belts); a housewife (sewing kit).

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