Artillery Officer's Uniform
Artillery Officer's Uniform
This unidentified artillery first lieutenant is wearing embroidered crossed cannons with the number one in a circle at the intersection on his kepi. The photograph was taken in New York City and he is believed to be an officer of the First German Light Artillery Battalion, which was organized in that city. His frock coat was an extra length of piping along the closure. The color of the piping is unknown, but it may be the scarlet branch color of artillery. It is not known if this is an individual feature or was worn by the other officers of the battalion. He is wearing a fancy tongue and wreath sword belt buckle rather than the regulation sword belt plate. The detail of plate cannot be seen and there are a large number of possible designs. He wears a sash around his waist and what appears to be a cavalry saber rather than the regulation staff and field officer's sword at his side. On his hands is a pair of gauntlets.
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Brickel's 1st Battalion German Light Artillery contained four companies that were organized August to September 1861. As a rule light artillery units were only accepted into Federal service as batteries, but somehow this unit was an exception. They left for Washington in October 1861 and served in the Washington defenses until they participated in McClellan's Peninsula campaign. They also served at Antietam and Fredericksburg. On March 5, 1863 the unusual artillery battalion organization was discontinued and the companies were redesignated the 29th to 32nd New York Independent Light Artillery Batteries.