|
|
|
Larry Purtell
Little Meadows
PA USA
|
Posts: 1739
Joined: 2004
|
|
|
|
Who was to know.
|
Confusion about the color of uniforms at 1st Bull run caused many friendly fire episodes. At first glance this photo appears to depict an early war Confederate soldier. Actually this is Sergeant Joseph Dore of the 7th New York State Militia. Not sure how long the 7th continued with gray uniforms.
----------------------------------
"My goal is to live forever. So far, so good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DT509er
Santa Rosa
CA USA
|
Posts: 1441
Joined: 2005
|
|
|
|
Who was to know.
|
Here is what I found specifically to the NY unit.
1861:
Late 1862:
By May 1865:
1867:
Apologies, the link is not coming through but the info I posted came from; Yankees in Gray - 7th NY Inf. wears militia uniforms in 1863? at https://civilwartalk.com/
Dan
----------------------------------
"American parachutists-devils in baggy pants..." German officer, Italy 1944.
“If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.” Lord Ernest Rutherford
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michigan Dave
Muskegon
MI USA
|
Posts: 8064
Joined: 2006
|
|
|
|
Who was to know.
|
Dan, or Phil,
Makes you wonder how many soldiers wearing confusing attire, were casualties by friendly fire early in the war??
Any records or opinions on this?
Thanks,
MD
----------------------------------
"The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phil Andrade
London
UK
|
Posts: 6378
Joined: 2004
|
|
|
|
Who was to know.
|
|
Quote: Dan, or Phil,
Makes you wonder how many soldiers wearing confusing attire, were casualties by friendly fire early in the war??
Any records or opinions on this?
Thanks,
MD
There must’ve been tens of thousands of friendly fire casualties in that war, Dave.
Apart from occasional similarities in uniforms, the big problem was black powder weapons emitting immense amounts of smoke, making the “ fog of war” a literal trope. Equally important, I reckon, was the fact that so much fighting took place in woods, which compounded confusion and mistakes. Look no further than the fates of two of the Confederacy’s top generals- Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet- both struck down by friendly fire , the one fatally, the other desperately seriously, wounded . The uncanny similarities are striking : in almost exactly the same location, doing exactly the same thing, with almost exactly one year elapsing between the two episodes.
If this happened to top ranking officers, we can only guess at the incidence among those of the rank and file.
It has to be a matter of guesswork, but I would opine that five per cent of all those who were hit in battle were victims of friendly fire, and I would assert that as a minimum.
Regards, Phil
----------------------------------
"Egad, sir, I do not know whether you will die on the gallows or of the pox!"
"That will depend, my Lord, on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress."
Earl of Sandwich and John Wilkes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
morris crumley
Dunwoody
GA USA
|
Posts: 3292
Joined: 2007
|
|
|
|
Who was to know.
|
On 20 September, 1863 at Chickamauga, as the desperate nature of the fighting to hold onto Snodgrass Hill was underway, an officer of the 125th Ohio ordered his men to stop firing on approaching soldiers because "they are wearing dusty blue uniforms." They were not "friendlies" but the Brigade of General Joseph Kershaw`s South Carolinian's of Longstreet`s First Corps.
A massive amount of fine, blue-grey wool had begun to arrive from blockade runs in July of that year and the Richmond Depot produced thousands of round jackets, along with pants of a lighter, ski-blue color. When General Longstreet was sent West, along with two of his divisions, Law`s ( which would be joined and led by Hood again,) and McClaws, and Porter Alexander and his artillery battalions, the men had been issued these fine wool uniforms. The men of the Army of Tennessee made much mention of the Easterner`s uniform, and so too did Grant make mention of Longstreet`s men being dressed in a shade of blue-grey.
Respects, Morris
----------------------------------
"You are a $70, red-wool, pure quill military genius, or the biggest damn fool in northern Mexico."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phil Andrade
London
UK
|
Posts: 6378
Joined: 2004
|
|
|
|
Who was to know.
|
Morris,
Talking of mistaken fire, I’ve just posted an answer to your post and put it to on the wrong thread !
Please refer to the General Patterson’s blunder posts.
Regards, Phil
----------------------------------
"Egad, sir, I do not know whether you will die on the gallows or of the pox!"
"That will depend, my Lord, on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress."
Earl of Sandwich and John Wilkes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
