"1:1 Color Guard composition / Union / Confederate ? " Topic

Hi Guys,

Hope this finds everyone well.

Just a quick question re the color guards of the opposing sides. Aside from the Union regiments carrying 2 flags and the Confederate regiments carrying just a single battle flag, how many other soldiers/ranks composed the color guard?

I find numbers ranging from 3 to 8 sergeants, but was there a standard?

Also, when stepping out in front of a regiment, did this entire group move forward, or just the 2 (or 1) flag bearers?

Basically if one were to represent a 1:1 color guard on a separate stand, what should it look like?

Thank you for any insights,
Bob

Here's what Casey's Infantry Tactics says about the color guard. Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics are the same.

COLOR-GUARD.
43. In each battalion the color-guard will be composed of eight corporals, and posted on the left of the right-centre company, of which company, for the time being, the guard will make a part.
44. The front rank will be composed of a sergeant to be selected by the colonel, who will be called, for the time, color-bearer, with the two ranking corporals, respectively, on his right and left; the rear rank will be composed of the three corporals next in rank; and the three remaining corporals will be posted in their rear, and on the line of file closers. The left guide of the color company, when these three last named corporals are in the rank of file closers, will be immediately on their left.
45. In battalions with less than five companies present, there will be no color-guard, and no display of colors, except it may be at reviews.
46. The corporals for the color-guard will be selected from those most distinguished for regularity and precision, as well in their positions under arms as in their marching. The latter advantage, and a just carriage of the person, are to be more particularly sought for in the selection of the color-bearer.

Keith has it! Nine men, all corporals except for the color sergeant. What happens when you have two colors isn't spelled out in the regulations, but I've seen it written that in those cases the colors are carried by the two front rank corporals with the 'color sergeant' (this is an honorofic, there is no such rank as color sergeant) would not carry a color, but stand between the two color bearers. I've also seen references that the color sergeant would carry one and one of the corporals the other, standing side by side. So there is some variation.

One thing of interest here is the three corporals in the third rank (who stand with the rank of file closers). These aren't just replacements in case the other members of the color guard are hit. When the regiment advances in line of battle, the front rank of the color guard marches 6 paces in advance of the line. The second rank of the color guard moves to the front trank of the battle line and the third rank moves from the file closers into the second rank. This is to prevent the ranks of soldiers from crowding into the gap left when the colors advance.

Ahh beautiful, thank you so much guys! Greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Bob

As to the Color Guard, keep in mind that the regulations calling for a 9-man detail was based upon the old regular army organization from before the war.

The regular army infantry regiments were, on paper, to have 3 battalions of 8 companies each. In reality it tended to be 2 battalions that were fully raised. Each of these battalions would carry a single color. The 1st battalion carrying the national color, and the 2nd battalion carrying the regimental color.

Thus, you'd only need one sergeant to carry the color, and 8 corporals to fill in as Scott points out. There is some evidence that Heavy Artillery units, such as the 1st maine HA used this same organization, and carried their regiment and national colors in separate color guards within each battalion.

The other thing to remember is that each battalion/regiment also had a right & left general guide. these men were sergeants, and entrusted with (in the case of most federal units) a silk swallow-tail guidon made like the national color. These men, when the command "forward" was given, would, like the color guard, take 6 paces forward and align themselves with the color sergeant. This kept the line from drifting to one side or the other while advancing. Confederate infantry units used the same type of guides, but with some form of either the national color or battle flag, even some specific-made flag to that unit.

Thank you TKindred. Would you know, offhand, if the general guide had a pole for the guidon, or did they stick the guidon in their musket barrels (thinking of Napoleonic French NCO's method)..?

Thank you,
Bob

Typically the guidon was on a pole, but it was done the other way, too. Like most ACW stuff it varied :)

Thanks, Scott. :)