Redlegs: The U.S. Artillery from the Civil War to the Spanish American War, 1861–1898

By John P. Langellier

“Give[s] an interesting insight into how the uniforms and personal equipment of this branch of the U.S. Army developed.” —Historic Musings

This volume in the popular G.I. series illustrates a much-neglected aspect of American military history—the U.S. Army artillerymen named Redlegs after the red stripes on their trousers. The photographs, most of them rarely seen in other sources, range from the Civil War and the campaigns against the Native Americans through to the Spanish-American War.

Artillery was a vital arm and proved its worth in all of these diverse theaters of war; artillerymen served as part of mobile columns, in sieges and blockades, and as garrisons in remote frontier forts. This handy guide includes superb images and descriptive captions detailing the appearance of the men, their uniforms and equipment, and the ordnance used over the years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Feb 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781784380021

Book preview

Matthew Brady photographed Major Robert Anderson, the ‘hero of Fort Sumter’ holding an 1860s forage cap and wearing the 1851-pattern dark blue cloak coat for officers with three black silk galloons between the elbow and cuff to designate rank. Anderson’s double-breasted 1851-pattern frock coat as prescribed for field grade officers is evident underneath the coat. (RGB)

Redlegs: The U.S. Artillery from the Civil War to the Spanish-American War, 1861-1898

A Greenhill Book

First published in 1998 by Greenhill Books,

Lionel Leventhal Limited

www.greenhillbooks.com

This edition published in 2016 by

PEN & SWORD MILITARY

An imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Ltd

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Copyright © Lionel Leventhal Limited, 1998

ISBN: 978-1-84832-811-2

PDF ISBN: 978-1-78438-104-2

EPUB ISBN: 978-1-78438-002-1

PRC ISBN: 978-1-78438-053-3

The right of John P. Langellier to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements and Abbreviations

Redlegs

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND ABBREVIATIONS

The author wishes to thank the individuals and staff of the institutions noted below:

ABBREVIATIONS

REDLEGS

THE U.S. ARTILLERY FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE SPANISH–AMERICAN WAR, 1861–1898

War clouds had been gathering in the U.S.A. for decades, when on 26 December 1860 Major Robert Anderson of the First U.S. Artillery informed his superiors in Washington D.C. that he had decided to withdraw the garrison of Fort Moultrie, South Carolina under the cover of darkness. Anderson and