Navy Uniforms  "Enlisted Men"

The regulation uniform for Union navy enlisted personnel during the war consisted of dark blue woolen wide-bottomed trousers, a dark blue long-sleeved pullover shirt, also made of wool, and a dark blue visorless cloth cap. The shirts, worn tucked into the pants, were issued in a variety of yoke styles, and each was issued with a large black kerchief that was rolled and usually worn around the neck (under the shirt's large falling collar) and tied in front. The beltless trousers fit tightly at the waist, held in place by buttons that fastened across the top and down each side of the front. The base of the cap was often wrapped with an ornamental black silk ribbon that hung down a few inches on the side of the head.

In cold weather a short double-breasted shell jacket of dark blue was added to the uniform, along with a dark blue cloth fatigue hat. A white cotton version of the uniform was authorized for warm-weather duty. Sailors were authorized to wear either a white version of the brimless hat or a brimmed straw hat with the summer uniform. Though never part of the official uniform, flannel undershirts were widely worn by Union sailors throughout the war.

Sewing and decorative embroidery were traditional pastimes for sailors, who often decorated their undergarments with elaborate patriotic or naval designs and embellished the collars and cuffs of their uniforms with embroidery or white tape. They also embroidered their rank and insignia onto their uniforms.

Petty officers, equivalent to noncommissioned officers in the army, wore their rank on their sleeve above the elbow. Placement of the insignia on the left or right sleeve depended on the type of job held by the sailor. Gunner's mates, ship's stewards, sailmaker's mates, carpenter's mates, and ship's cooks wore their badges on their right sleeve; all other petty officers wore them on their left sleeve. The petty officer's sleeve insignia consisted of a spread-winged eagle sitting on an anchor, below a five-pointed star.

Fascinating Fact:  Illustrations of sailors working in the stifling heat below deck often show the men stripped to the waist while performing their duties.


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