A study of Enlisted Invalid Corps jackets 1863-1866
by Christopher J. Daley

This page is broken into two parts: The History of the Invalid Corps Jacket and an Examination of a Schuylkill Arsenals Invalid Corps Jackets. This is all a work in progress so if you have any additional information on Invalid Corps Jackets, please let me know. (Note: As explained in this article, the unit designation of "Invalid Corps" was changed to "Veteran Reserve Corps (VRC)" in 1864. For the sake of continuity, I have chosen to use the designation of "Invalid Corps" throughout the text.) Part I: The History of the Invalid Corps Jacket As early as 22 April 1777 the War of Board of the Continental Congress established a "Corps of Invalids" whose main purpose was not as active combatants, but rather a supportive unit. Under the command of Colonel Lewis Nicolas these men were charged with guarding magazines, arsenals and to serve as drill instructors for new recruits. The only requirement was that the invalid not have more than a single amputation.1 In the War Between the States a similar numbers shortage in November of 1862 forced the War Department to issue General Orders 36. This order authorized secure medical officers to use convalescents as nurses, cooks and attendants in a hospital to aid the growing number of wounded in the wake of the Maryland Campaign. The formal creation of The Invalid Corps (renamed the "Veteran Reserve Corps" on 18, March 1864 for morale reasons) came on 22 March 1863 with General Orders 63: At every U.S. General Hospital, the feeble and wounded men, unfit for field duty, but not entirely disabled, instead of being discharged, will be organized into detachments, under the charge of the officers acting as military commanders, who will assign men to them from time to time, in the reports of the surgeons in charge of the hospitals. From these invalid detachments the military commanders will make details for provost, hospital and other necessary guards: for clerks, hospital attendants, nurses, cooks and other extra duty men. The new Invalid Corps was to be organized into three battalions: Recruits of the battalion should be capable of using a musket; those of the Battalion are to have the use of one of the upper extremities ; those of the battalion are to have the use of at least one of their lower extremities. No third battalion was ever formed, but over 60,000 officers and men served in the corps throughout the remained of the conflict. 1,664 died while a member of the service, 24 in actions, the remained of disease and wounds suffered in regular service. This Invalid Corps Private is wearing one of the many variations that can bee seen in Invalid Corps Jackets. This Jacket has a lower collar with no 'false buttonhole" and the shoulder strap is rounded. (courtesy of Guy Smith) This unique corps also adopted a unique uniform. General Orders 124 on 15 May 1863 outlined the uniform as follows: The following uniform has been adopted for the Invalid Corps: Jacket: Of Sky-blue kersey, with dark-blue trimmings, cut like the jacket of the U.S. Cavalry, to come well down on the loins and abdomen; Trousers: Present regulation, sky-blue; Forage Cap: present regulation The jacket was to be designed and fashioned in such a way as to give the members of this new organization a sense of heightened pride and esprit-de-corps. In fact this uniform marked the members as cripples and shirkers. As the regulations for most state, volunteer and U.S. Regular infantry regiments called for a dark blue coat, this new garment precluded the wearer from being confused for regular soldier. Soldiers North and South marked the veteran soldiers and called them "Condemned Yanks"2 or "Inspected-Condemned". The later was a term used by the quartermaster inspectors who rejected inferior equipage or worn out goods. The "I.C." stamp used by the inspectors was unfortunately the same initials for the Invalid Corps.   Captain J.W. DeForest, the last commander of the corps would write in a final report, his observation regarding the adoptions of the Invalid Corps Jacket. The Uniform was becoming, but has never been popular. The men did not like to be distinguished from their comrades of the active service by a particular costume; they wanted to keep the dark blue blouse and dress coat in which they had learned their profession and received their honorable disabilities. This feeling was aggravated by the inevitable jealousy between field and garrison regiments, which ripened into something like bitterness between the soldiers of the Invalid Corps and the ranks in which they had so lately marched and fought.3 To add to the stigma of the uniform it self, some Invalid Corps officers forced the regulations upon the enlisted men to the point of punishment. Pvt. Alfred Bellard, noted one senior officer who seemed to delight in the discomfort of his troops even when off duty. We were now under strict military rule not being allowed to wear anything that was not issued by the government, even our shoes. When out on pass, we must have out jackets buttoned up to our chin, waist belt on and also white gloves. Our major, who was an officer of the regular army, and had but one eye, tried to make himself very conspicuous. While I was walking along Penn. Ave. one day out on pass I had my corps badge and shield on my jacket, and that was unbuttoned, when who should come along but the major, who ordered me to take off my badges and button my jacket. I did neither, only while I was in his sight. He ordered me back on one occasion, when I was going out on pass, he being at the gate, to take off my fancy cap and store bought boots, and put on the gov't pontoons before I could pass the guard. At the next parade, I had no army cap and the one the Lieut. Got for me was some two sizes too large and came down over my ears, I made it answer by pinning it up.4 Bellard kept an accurate account of his days with the Invalid Corps and made several observations about his uniform, along with color sketches of the same. The New Jersey native was assigned to the 97th Company of the 1st Battalion of Invalids.5 Soon after being assigned to that unit, on the 15th of October he was issued his uniform: We received our arms and equipment, an extra pair of pants and the blue jacket of the Invalid Corps. The jacket was made of light blue cloth with black braid for trimming and nine small brass buttons down the front.6 Pvt. Alfred Bellard's Sketch of The Invalid Corps Uniform Bellard's description of his newly issued suit bears little resemblances to the regulations prescribed by the War Department. As the U.S. Cavalry jackets were to be made with 12 buttons instead of the nine Bellard's had His jacket also had "black trimming", not dark blue trim. As you will see in this study Bellard's jacket is not the only variation of the Invalid Corps Enlisted Jacket issued to the soldiers. In fact the jacket was quite different to the specification called for in General Order 124. The extant Invalid Corps jackets vary greatly as to the prescribed "U.S. Cavalry Jacket" or Mounted Services pattern. The mounted services pattern called for a 12 button front, a survey of extant examples, diary accounts and images shows 9, 11 and 12 button Invalid Corps jackets. The tape surveyed in extant examples was 1/2 worsted twill, double-chevron weave trim. According to pattern, the mounted services jackets were to be made with 3/8" trim, extant examples support this. While the mounted services jackets are trimmed with two "false-button" holes on the collar, the Invalid Corps only has one. The Invalid Corps jacket is also missing the trim along the back seams which is prescribed for and found on extant mounted services jackets. The Invalid Corps jackets were cut longer and have more of a chasseur look to them, as with most chasseur jackets, the Invalid Corps jacket has a vent at the base of the side seam to allow the garment to break over the hips naturally. This feature, along with trimmed epaulets, are also missing on mounted service jackets. This corporal is in the 172d Company, 2d Battalion, and was photographed by P. Olmsted & Co., Davenport, Iowa (courtesy of Philip Katcher) Several other features prescribed by regulations to be included in the mounted services jacket are missing from the Invalid Corps jackets, including a functional cuff and bolsters. The bolsters were two small rectangle pieces of cloth sewn into the rear seams of the mounted services jackets. These trimmed "pillow-shape" devices were used to hold up or 'bolster' the issue saber belt. A final difference in pattern to the mounted services coat is the height of collar which seams to be slightly lower on most Invalid Corps Jackets. By 1864 the regulations were: Jacket for Veteran Reserve Corps: 1 1/4 yards of 6-4 sky blue kersey; 1 yard of 7/8 white or grey flannel or linsey lining; 1 1/8 yards of 4-4 unbleached muslin; I inch of 4-4 brown holland; 6 yards of I/2 inch dark blue worsted lace; 16 vest buttons; 7 skeins of dark blue linen thread, No. 35; 1 black hook and eye. For musicians, add 5 yards of lace and 2 skeins of thread. To view the regulations for the mounted services jacket, please visit: Uniform Study: St. Louis Depot Mounted Services Artillery Jacket There were two patterns developed for the Invalid Corps Jacket. The first pattern was the "Prototype Invalid Corps Jacket". There is one sealed sample piece in the collection of the Smithsonian Institute which was produced as a prototype. This jacket is longer, has separate skirt pieces and was never produced and issued to the Invalid Corps. The second pattern Invalid Corps Jacket didn't have a separate skirt piece, but exhibited many of the same features as the prototype. Only one pattern was used by the Schuylkill Arsenal, the Cincinnati Depot and contractors. The variations that occur among Invalid Corps jackets are "style" differences and are not pattern changes. Among the variations seen in jackets are the amount of buttonholes, anywhere from the prescribed 12, to as few as 9. The trim on the collar is also a style variation. Most of the Invalid Corps jackets, and all the ones surveyed from the Schuylkill Arsenal, have a one-double row of lace on the collar to emulate a false buttonhole. Some photos exhibit one-single row of lace and some jackets lack this feature all together. Research is still being done on the Invalid Corps Jacket and please visit this site frequently for, new photos and finds on this unique military garment.

Part II: Invalid Corps Jacket Production Contractor Production of the Invalid Corps Jacket Contract Dates Contractor Name Depot delivered to: Quantity Price (each) June 5, 1863 Devlin & Co. of New York City Philadelphia Depot 2,500 $4.27 1 July, 1864 to 30 June 1865 Worthington B. Button New York Depot 6,000 $4.98 1 July, 1864 to 30 June 1865 Ames B. Boylan New York Depot 10,000 $5.43 1 July, 1864 to 30 June 1865 William Deering of Portland, ME New York Depot 5,000 $6.35 Invalid Corps Jackets Reported on Hand   30 June 1864 30 June 1865   Baltimore 983 70 Boston 599 1,828 Cincinnati 11,188 2,780 Chicago - 4,911 Columbia - 426 Detroit - 400 Fortress Monroe 788 1,688 Harrisburg - 484 New Orleans - 3,631 New York 1,373 1,656 Philadelphia 11,239 28,703 Pittsburg 160 - Quincy 47 129 Saint Louis 200 2,545 Springfield 935 - Trenton - 500 Washington 5,133 2,924 TOTAL 32,645 52,785 Invalid Corps Jackets Purchased & Manufactured: 1 July, 1864 to 30 June 1865 Philadelphia New York Cincinnati Total Number 35,650 Total Value $228,569.04 Purchased Manufactured Purchased Manufactured Purchased Manufactured Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value - - 29,966 $194,779.00 5000 $31,750.00 - - - - 684 $2,040.04 (Captain Moulton at the Cincinnati Depot (no doubt a relative to the inspector at that depot of the same last name) sent a letter to George Clark in Cincinnati dated 13 February 1864 to please manufacture 2,000 to 3,000 Invalid Corps jackets as soon as possible. If kersey is not on hand it will be forthcoming.7 )

Part III: Examination of a Schuylkill Arsenal Invalid Corps Jacket (Click on images to get a closer look) In 1999, I had the opportunity to inspect and document a Invalid Corps jacket on display at Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, PA. Since then I have examined and photographed 4 other Invalid Corps Jackets and I am currently working on a database to catalog extant Invalid Corps Jackets. This Invalid Corps jacket is not identified to a soldier, but was purchased by Gettysburg National Military Park from the New York Historical Society.   Jacket is complete. This garment is an excellent example of a Type II Invalid Corps Jacket. All body pieces, buttons and trim are intact. Jacket shows no tears in body or sleeve lining. Jacket is hand sewn throughout. Button holes show no wear. It has a six-piece body and a two-piece sleeve. The length of the jacket from the base of collar to the bottom is 21". The side seam from the arm hole to the bottom is 13 1/2" and the length down the back along the center back seam is 23 1/8" The jacket is trimmer throughout with 1/2" worsted wool blue lace. It is trimmed around perimeter of collar, around jacket perimeter from base of collar on buttonhole side around to bottom button on button side. On cuff in a chevron pattern. The collar exhibits a 4" double row of lace on the collar to simulate a false buttonhole. The jacket has a four-piece collar. The height of the collar is 2 1/8" in the front and 2 1/4" in the center. There is a single black metal hook-n-eye set 1/2" up from the base of the collar. The side vent is 3 1/8" deep and 1/2" wide at the bottom. The width of the vent facing is 1 1/2" wide.   The sleeve lining consists of two different fabrics. Both are green polished cotton with a white pattern printed on them. The first is in a "basket weave" pattern the second is a "grid" pattern. The sleeves linings however are not matched. The upper sleeve lining of the left sleeve matches the under sleeve lining of the right sleeve and visa versa. (Note: Another jacket formerly owned by Dean Nelson had sleeve linings made from fabric identical to the basket weave pattern in this garment. On this example from the Schuylkill Arsenal, both the upper and under sleeve lining are made form the same fabric.) The left sleeve is marked "S.A. 2" in dark red ink. The body lining is a plaid domet flannel material. The lining of the body is 5 pieces, there is no center back seam as seen in the body. The functional shoulder straps are 5 1/2" long in the front, 6 1/4" in the middle and 5 1/4" in the rear. They are trimmed with 1/2" lace and have a 3/4" buttonhole. The facing piece is also raw edged. It is topstitched 6-7 stitches per inch 1/4" along the shoulder seam. The pocket bag material is also cut similar to the sleeves. The upper fabric is different than the under fabric. The opening of the pocket is 5 1/4" wide. All facing pieces are overcast raw edged to the body. The only top-stitching on the body is on the button side of the jacket. This stitching is 1/2" from the edge and is 6-7 stitches per inch. The jacket has a 12 button front. The top buttonhole is placed 1" down and 3/4" over and the bottom button hole is placed 3 1/8" up and 3/4" over. The buttonhole spacing is between 1 1/2" and 1 3/4" apart. All buttons on the jacket have a Scovill backmark. The cuff lace measurements are as follows: Front of sleeve is 1 1/3" up from the bottom, the middle of the lace rises to 4 1/2" and the lace falls to 1 5/8" at the rear of the cuff. The sleeve has a separate facing piece that is 1" deep and is raw edged. The length of the sleeve is 25", the width at the cuff is 5 7/8" and the width at the elbow is 8"

Special Thanks: The author would like to thank Ross Kimmel for the loan of his Invalid Corps Jacket photos and notes; Fred Gaede for his research on contractors and the quartermaster department; Phil Katcher and Guy Smith for the permission to use images in their collection and to Gettysburg National Military Park which houses the original sample displayed on this page. Further Reading: Please check out Philip Katcher's Military Image's article The U.S. Army Veteran Reserve Corps, 1863-1866 Click here to view photos of Invalid Corps Bands and Officers Here is a link that has all the Veteran Reserve Corps Regimental Histories If you like to sing, please try the lyrics to The Invalid Corps written by Frank Wilder in 1863 Foot notes 1. Stinson, Byron, The Invalid Corps, CWTI, May 1071, pp22 2. Donald, David H. Gone for a Soldier: The Civil War memoirs of Private Alfred Bellard, Little Brown and Company, Boston, 1975 p238 3. U.S. War Department, The war of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Washington 1880-1901, Series III, Vol. 3 p549 4. Donald, David H. Gone for a Soldier: The Civil War memoirs of Private Alfred Bellard, Little Brown and Company, Boston, 1975 p262 5. The 97th Company, 1st Battalion of Invalids was later redesignated as Company C, 1 Regiment Veterans Reserve Corps. 6. Donald, David H. Gone for a Soldier: The Civil War memoirs of Private Alfred Bellard, Little Brown and Company, Boston, 1975 p2 7. National Archives, Record Group 92, Entry 393, Cincinnati Depot, Letters Sent, 12 January 1864 to 30 Sept 1865 Quartermaster sizes for the Invalid Corps Jackets (measurements are in inches) Measurement Size #1 Size #2 Size #3 Size #4 Length of back 24 24 1/2 25 25 1/2 Length of coat 32 33 34 35 Length of sleeve 9 3/4 10 10 1/4 10 1/2 Width of bottom of back 3 1/2 4 4 1/4 4 3/4 Width of side body 6 6 1/4 6 3/4 7 1/2 Width of fore body 9 1/2 10 11 12 1/2 Width of sleeve, hand 6 6 6 6 Width of elbow 8 1/4 8 1/2 8 3/4 9 Width of collar 3 3 3 3 Width of breast 36 38 40 42 Width of waist 32 34 36 38   GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL’S OFFICE,         No. 130.       Washington, May 15, 1863.         In executing the provisions of General Orders, No. 105, from this Department, in regard to the selection of men for the Invalid Corps, medical inspectors, surgeons in charge of hospitals, camps, regiments, or of boards of enrollment, military commanders, and all others required to make the physical examination of men for the Invalid Corps, will be governed in their decisions by the following list of qualifications and disqualifications for admission into this corps: Physical infirmities that do not disqualify enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps. 1.      Paralysis, if confined to the left upper extremity, and the man’s previous occupation fit him for the duty of clerk, orderly, &c. 2.      Simple hypertrophy of the heart unaccompanied by valvular lesion; functional derangement of the stomach (dyspepsia); mild chronic diarrhea; simple enlargement of the liver or spleen; a temporary ailment of the kidneys or bladder. 3.      Chronic rheumatism, unless manifested by positive change of structure, wasting of the affected limb or puffiness or distortion of the joints. 4.      Pain, unless accompanied with manifest derangement of the general health, wasting of a limb, or other positive sign of disease. 5.      Myopia, unless very decided or depending upon structural change of the eye. 6.      Stammering, unless excessive and confirmed. 7.      Loss of teeth or unsound teeth. 8.      Porticollis. 9.      Reducible hernia. 10.     Hemorrhoids. 11.     Stricture of the urethra. 12.     Incontinence of urine. 13.     Loss or complete atrophy of both testicles from any cause; permanent retention of one or both testicles within the inguinal canal. 14.     Varicocele and cirsocele. 15.     Loss of left arm, left forearm or left hand, if the man be qualified for duty of clerk or orderly. 16.     Loss of leg or foot, provided the man have the inclination and aptitude for service in a general hospital, and 1s recommended for that duty by a medical officer, or if qualified for the duty of clerk or orderly. 17.     Old and irreducible dislocation of shoulder and elbow in which the bones have accommodated themselves to their new relations. 18.     Muscular and cutaneous contraction of left arm, provided the man may be employed as clerk, orderly, or messenger. 19.     Loss of left thumb; partial loss of either thumb. 20.     Loss of first and second phalanges of all the fingers of the left hand. 21.     Total loss of any two fingers of the same hand. 22.     Total loss of index finger of right hand. 23.     Permanent extension of any finger of the right hand; permanent extension or contraction of any finger of the left hand. 24.     Adherent or united fingers. 25.     Loss of any toe or toes except the great toe; all the toes joined together. 26.     Deformities of the toes, if not sufficient to prevent walking. 27.     Large, flat, ill-shaped feet that do not come within the designation of talipes valgus. 28.     Varicose veins not accompanied with ulcerations. 29.     Gunshot wounds or injuries not involving loss of function. 30.     None of the foregoing infirmities disqualify officers for service in the Invalid Corps. In all cases where the physical infirmities of officers or enlisted men come within the provisions of the above list they will be recommended for transfer to, or enlistment in, the Invalid Corps; but no one will be admitted into this corps whose previous record does not show that he is meritorious and deserving, and that he has complied with the provisions of General Orders, No. 105, War Department, Adjutant-General’s Office, 1863, authorizing an Invalid Corps. Physical infirmities that disqualify enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps.   1.      Manifest imbecility or insanity. 2.      Epilepsy, if the seizures occur more frequently than once a month, and have obviously impaired the mental faculties. 3.      Paralysis or chorea. 4.      Acute or organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, of the heart or lungs, of the stomach or intestines, of the liver or spleen, of the kidneys or bladder, sufficient to have impaired the general health or so well marked as to leave no reasonable doubt of the man’s incapacity for military service. 5.      Confirmed consumption, cancer, aneurism of important arteries. 6.      Inveterate and extensive disease of the skin. 7.      Scrofula or constitutional syphilis which has resisted treatment and seriously impaired the general health. 8.      Habitual or confirmed intemperance or solitary vice sufficient in degree to have materially enfeebled the constitution. 9.      Great injuries or diseases of the skull, occasioning impairment of the intellectual faculties, epilepsy, or other serious nervous or spasmodic symptoms. 10.     Total loss of sight or other serious diseases of the eye, affecting its integrity and use. 11.     Loss of nose or deformity of nose, if sufficient seriously to obstruct respiration; ozena, if dependent upon caries. 12.     Deafness. 13.     Dumbness; permanent loss of voice. 14.     Total loss of tongue; partial loss and hypertrophy or atrophy of tongue, if sufficient to make the speech unintelligible and prevent mastication or deglutition. 15.     Incurable deforniities of either jaw, whether congenital or produced by accident, which would prevent mastication or greatly injure the speech. 16.     Tumors of the neck impeding respiration or deglutition; fistula of larynx or trachea. 17.     Deformity of the chest sufficient to impede respiration or to prevent the carrying of arms and military equipments; caries of the ribs; gunshot wound of the lung, if complicated with fracture of a rib. 18.     Artificial anus; severe stricture of the rectum. 19.     Total loss or nearly total loss of penis; epispadia or hypospadia at the middle or nearer the root of penis; stone in the bladder. 20.     Confirmed or malignant sarcocele; hydrocele, if complicated with organic disease of the testes. 21.     Excessive anterior or posterior curvature of spine; caries of the spine; lumbar abscess. 22.     Loss of a thigh. 23.     Wounds, fractures, tumors, atrophy of a limb, or chronic diseases of the joints or bone that would prevent marchino siderable muscular exertion 24.     Anchylosis or irreducible dislocation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle joint. 25.     Muscular or cutaneous contractions from wounds or burns in degree sufficient to prevent useful motion of the right arm or of the lower extremities. 26.     With the exception of those paragraphs which refer to the total or partial loss of an extremity, the foregoing disabilities disqualify officers as well as enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps.         In all cases where the physical infirmities of an officer or enlisted man come within the provisions of this list, or where his previous record shows that he is not entitled to be received into the Invalid Corps, lie will, if in service, be discharged, and if an applicant to re-enter, his application will be disapproved.         Whilst the Government is most anxious to provide for and employ to the best of their abilities those faithful soldiers who, from wounds or the hardships of war, are no longer able to perform active duty in the field, yet it can upon no account permit men undeserving or totally disabled to re-enter its service. Those faithful soldiers whose physical infirmities are too great to admit of their being of any use in the Invalid Corps will, nevertheless, receive the pensions and bounties provided by law.         It is further announced that no officer or enlisted man shall be entitled to or receive any pension, premium, or bounty for enlistment, re-enlistment, or service in the Invalid Corps. They will receive all other pay and allowances now authorized by law for the U. S. infantry, except the increased pay for re-enlistment. Claims for pensions or bounties which may be due for previous service will not be invalidated by enlistment in the Invalid Corps. But no pensions can be drawn or accrue to the benefit of any man during his service in said corps. The officers and men will be organized into companies of infantry of the same strength as is now authorized by law for the U. S. infantry. No organized brigades, regiments, companies, or parts of companies will be accepted as such. Enlistments in this corps will be for three years, unless sooner discharged.         By order of the Secretary of War:         E. D. TOWNSEND,         Assistant Adjutant- General.