Quote Originally Posted by Slag101 View Post
The use and wear of Glengarrys by the 79th is debatable. It can be documented that they were worn pre war time, and at the start of hostilities, but I don't think there is any solid documentation that they saw field service, sort of like the myth of then wearing kilts or tartan trews to battle. The evidence is contrary to these assumptions. This being said, I could be wrong, but I have never seen or read documented proof of the it, although, I would love it if it is and was true. The only reference I can site at the moment is Don Troiani's Regiments of the Civil War. There is very little description, but a wonderfully artists rendition of what a soldier in the 79th would have looked like equipped with tartan trews and Glengarry. He does state that the tartan trews did not see field use during battle.
Don Troiani is a wonderful artist, and is very meticulous about his depictions of uniforms and equipment, but I would not assume that just because he did not depict something in a painting that it never happened. The 79th was in service during the entire war, and many changes in uniforms and equipment took place during that time, as well as confusion concerning the pre and post war uniforms. No one depiction of a single point in time can account for all the possibilities.

"The regiment received new glengarry caps in 1864 when they returned to New York (page 472, 79th history)." The regiment was then reorganized, as the original members had completed their enlistments, new recruits enlisted, and the regiment was sent to Petersburg, VA. The quote is from "History of the 79th New York Cameron Highlanders 1859-1876," by William Arley Beard III, Regimental Historian of for the 79th New York, Co. A East Tennessee Chapter, Living History Unit, and the page reference is to William Todd's "The Seventy-Ninth Highlanders, New York Volunteers" 1886, Albany.

Most of the time, the 79th wore kepis, but excavated finds of the insignia known to have been worn on the glengarries suggest that they were worn at least some of the time. In any case there seems to be more myth, confusion, mystery and inaccuracy concerning the uniforms of the 79th than any other regiment.

In discussing the Civil War I generally follow the rule "Never say never--never say always.""