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155th's Uniform 1862-1863
Worn from the founding of the 155th PA Volunteers in September of 1862 and through Winter 1863. The 155th was
issued standard union attire, consisting of a dark blue forge cap, a 9 Button Frock/Dress coat (thigh length coat) of
the same color with blue piping, 4 Button Dark Blue Sack Coat, and light blue trousers, and brogans.
| 'Breaking Home Ties....' |
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| Taken from: "Under the Maltese Cross" |
| Courtesy: Dave Clark |
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| Shaun Grenan & Bob Cesca |
155th's Uniform Early 1864-1865
"Pearson's Zouaves"
The information can be found on pages 223-226 in the Unit's History, "Under the Maltese Cross"
| Photo by: Del Hilbert, VPS |
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| 155th PA Zouave Uniform |
In Late 1863 Col. Kenner Garrard, of the 146th N.Y., wanted Regiments of his Brigade (2nd Brigade, 2nd
Division, 5th Corp) to be skilled in the drill style of the Zouaves, modeled after the French Light Infantry. Skills
to learn included, bayonet excercises, skirmish duties and target firing. In the winter of 1863 the General was so pleased
that certain Regiments, including the 155th, were granted the French Zouave Uniform. The uniforms were altered French
Chasseur a Pied uniforms, which had been ordered by the US Govt., but these uniforms proved to be to small for the soldiers
they had been ordered for. The uniforms were altered with the yellow trimming, and yellow tombeauxs, which made for a very attractive
looking uniform. The men of the 155th were also pleased, as this was a welcome change from the drab standard Union Uniforms
they had worn since their enlistment. Colonel Pearson, who had became the Colonel previous fall (1863), worked the men
hard to learn the new skills congratulated the whole Regiment when issued the new uniforms, in the evening of January
19th 1864.
The 155th would wear their attractive uniform for the rest of their service. Along of the 140th NY "Ryan's Zouaves",
& the 146th NY "Garrards Tigers" the 155th became what would become part of the Zouave
Brigade, Ayres' 1st Brigade of Griffin's 1st Division in the 5th Army Corp.
Issued on January 19, 1864, as described in the unit history, the uniform consisted of:
- A Red Fez with a blue tassel the Traditional Zouave Head Gear, and during parades or
other occasions the men wore a turban in the Turkish style, a feature which the men commented on as being the greatest
and most impressive part of the uniform.
-A French Army Blue Zouave Jacket, with yellow trim, and yellow tombeaus. The Jacket
has rounded front with a false vest, with 9 buttons. There are two, maybe three versions of the 155th Zouave Uniform. The
second version has a slight shift in color, and some have no false vest (or it was taken out), but has
a "hook and eye" at the top of the jacket to keep it closed. With a homespun lining. A red maltese cross, representing the
1st division of the 5th Corp, was worn on the tombeaux.
-It does seem as though some of the 155th soldiers chose to retain and wear their dark blue
enlisted man's vest under their Zouave jacket
-A red wool flannel sash 10 inches or 8 inches wide and 10 feet long with yellow trim is also featured
with the uniform worn around the waist. It is the same the one worn by the 146th NY. The sash did not have the triangle
like the 5th NY and was rarely, if ever, worn with the ends "hanging out"
-Baggy M1860 French Chasseur Trousers (not pantaloons) of the same color as the jacket, with enough material
to make two pants, also added to the appearance of the soldier. These were mostly surplus from the 62nd & 83rd
PA's brief run with a Chasseur Style Uniform. Most of these were from France, however, given the height/size of the Western
Pennsylvania Men they chose to cease this and stuck to the Standard Federal Kit. The Surplus trousers were later distributed
to the 155th along with others, mostly Western "Colored" Regiments.
-The foot-gear consisted of Jambieres (Leather Leggings, made of goat skin, painted a yellowish brown) capped the white canvas
gaitors, which protected the standard brogans & bottoms of the trousers worn by the men.
-NCO Chevrons were yellow with a red backing, USMC style.
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| Zouave Jacket Front |
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| Back of Jacket |
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| Front of Pants |
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| Back of Pants |
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| Jambieres, Gaitors, and Fez w/ Turban |
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| 155th Zouave Style Chevrons |
155th PVI Officers Uniform:
Prior to the zouave conversion of January 1864, Commissioned Officers (Lt. and up) wore standard union officer attire.
Junior Officers, Lt. & Captain, wore a dark blue Officers Frock with a single line of buttons, vest, blue pants,
boots, sash, sword, pistol and a hat depending on the officer's preference. Majors & Colonels wore basicly the same
thing though the Frock Coat had two lines of buttons.
After the zouave conversion the uniform was left for prference of the officer. A Zouave style uniform was made for officers,
consisting of the same colors, french army blue, yellow, with red trim around the cuffs, collor, and front of the
jacket. The uniform consisted of a blue vest, and a shell jacket heavily trimed with yellow & red with
a false vest (like the jacket worn by the men) with red cuffs, and french army blue baggy chasseur style pants(like
those worn by the enlisted men, boots, sash, sword, pistol, and a red kepi trimmed with yellow.
| From "Under the Maltese Cross", p. 464 |
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| Zouave Officer's Uniform of the 155th |
| From "Under the Maltese Cross", p. 346 |
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| Zouave Officers Uniform of the 155th |
Arms of the 155th:
Originaly when the 155th PVI was organized in Pittsburgh & Harrisburg they were issued surplus Belgian Rifles with
sword bayonets. These weapons upon inspection in Washington, D.C. were determined to be unfit for use in battle, by Captain
A.T.A. Torbert, USA. The men of Co. K remarked in their history that "The guns were said to kill at 1,000 yards
but on examination we found they would not be dangerous to the enemy unless we got close enough to bayonet or club him"
The government then issued old style muzzle loader, "Buck & Ball", Springfield Rifles, more known as Harper's
Ferry Rifles. These weapons only proved to be effective at very close range, not being much use to the combat of the time.
After the Battle of Gettysburg, Colonel Cain who had been requesting more effective weapons for his men, collected newer 1861
Springfields from the thousands of dead union soldiers. Which they would continue to use till the end of the war.
Quartermaster Records:
Courtesy: Bob Cesca and the Penn. State Archives in Harrisburg
{series #19.219}Accession #3813
RG-19
Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs
Quarter-Master General
CLOTHING ISSUE BOOKS, 1861-1865. (40 volumes)
10-1487
Clothing Book, Co.s A, B, C, 155th Infantry, Aug. 1862-May 1865 (volume 27)
Clothing Book, Co.s D, E, F, 155th Infantry,
Aug. 1862-May 1865 (volume 28)
Clothing Book, Co.s G & H, 155th Infantry, Sept. 1862-May 1865 (volume 29)
Clothing
Book, Co.s I & K, 155th Infantry, Sept. 1862-May 1865 (volume 30)
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Descriptive Books of (PA) Regiments and Companies, 1861-1865. (5 volumes) {#19.21}
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Registers of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865. (16 volumes) {#19.65}
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Issued Sept. 2, 1862
(prices varied by company)
Shirt 88 cents
Pants $3.03
Overcoat (great coat) $7.20
Dress coat (the blue piped frock) $6.71
Socks 26 cents
Drawers 50 cents
Knapsack (gov owned)
Canteen "
Haversack "
Scales "
Blanket $2.95
Cap 63 cents
Shoes $1.90
A majority of the men bought sack coats at Falmouth/Fredericksburg on or around 11/30/62 ($2.63
- $3.14 prices varied for some reason).
The complete zouave uniforms were $15.33 (issued 01/31/64). Replacement item costs: turbans
were 77 cents; zouave shirts (were all labeled "zov shirt") were $1.90; the leather leggins or jambieres were $1. Zouave
pantaloons were $3.27. A fez was $1.25.
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