Marine corp history

[sweettooth]

I know that the Marines fought on both sides of the civil war  anybody know what happened to the ones that fought for the south ?
Hopefully they were reabsorbed into the corps.
The persona I am fleshing out is that of a Marine sent to nicuraga after the civil war was discharged there and made his way through Mexico up to Texas . Is this historically possible ?  Thanks  Sweettooth corporal  U. S.M.C. 67 - 70  Semper Fi

[Major Matt Lewis]

Sweettooth,

I believe after the War between the States, the CSMC was basically Mustered out of Service.  Do to the massive scaling back of the military after the Civil War, many Federal Marines found themselves looking for work too.  So I doubt that many of the CSMC found a home in the USMC. 

Now not having served in the Marines, back then, as a matter of fact I am boot to you I doubt that the Marines would discharge a Marine in Nicuargua.  Now that being said, I know the Navy discharged sailors in China and the Phillippeans back in the day if they requested it.  So who knows, maybe it's possible.

[US Scout]

Sweettooth-

Maj Lewis gave you the right scoop.

At the end of the War, those who had served in the Confederate service were banned from joining the Federal forces. Granted, a man could change his name and enlist and a few have been documented as doing so, but it was not that common.  Most Confederate soldiers (including Marines) returned to civilian life and whatever living they could find.

See if you can find copies of Ralph Donnelly's "The Confederate States Marine Corps: The Rebel Leathernecks" and "Service Records of Confederate Enlisted Marines" in which he deals with the subject of post-war Confederate Marines.

As for the discharge, it was the custom to retain sailors and Marines until the cruise was over.  Sailors at the time enlisted for the length of cruise, usually specified at 2 or 3 years in duration.  Marines enlisted for a period of 5 years, just like in the Army, and when not in a ship's detachment were ordered to various barracks around the country - notably at the Navy Yards in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washington, and San Francisco.   There were no Marines stationed in Nicaragua, only ship's detachments, so it was highly unlikely any Marine would have been discharged so far from home.

It was typical for the time that individuals would be retained past their enlistment expiration when at sea or in the field.  When the campaign or cruise ended and the unit returned to its home garrison, those soldiers who had expired enlistments would be discharged.   However, a Marine whose enlistment expired could be transferred to a vessel returning home and be discharged upon entering a US port.  Its possible a Marine might have requested his discharge at a foreign port, but I haven't heard of one to my knowledge.

US Scout
Bvt Col of Marines

[sweettooth]

Thanks for the the history lesson gentlemen. But since it is all fantasy Thats my story and Im sticking to it.
One thing I find interesting is how long the Corp. has been fooling around in Nicararga . Its kind of like well nothing else is going on and we can always find a nice little scrmish down there. I have no polittcal views concerning my Marine corp. and their wars. I just find corp.history interesting .

Maybe you can enlighten me on another aspect: The corps. flag was blue at one time . Up to Chaltepec I think.
I sure would like to find a picture of it.     Thank ypu Sweettooth

[Major Matt Lewis]

Sweet Tooth,

You are right!  This is a game that allows us to play the way we want to...

[Guns Garrett]

I believe the Marine Corps Colors changed from blue to red in the 1920's but I'm not sure.  I've seen some WWI recuiting posters that show Marines carrying a blue flag.  I know the Corps was in Nicaragua in the 20's and 30's, as well as Haiti and Santo Domingo, but not sure if they were there any earlier.  Let us know what you find out.

[US Scout]

I'll take a look in my references on the colors this evening if I have the chance. 

US Scout
Bvt Col of Marines

[LazyK Pejay]

Gentlemen,

This may be of help:

The Flag of the United States Marine Corps is scarlet with the Corps badge in gray and yellow. It was adopted on January 18, 1939, although Marine Corps Order 4 had established scarlet and gold and the official colors of the Corps as early as 1925. The Indoor/Parade version is bordered by a gold fringe while the Outdoor version is plain.

The official battle color of the Corps is maintained by Marine Barracks, Washington, DC (“8th and I”), and carried by the Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps. The position of the Color Sergeant was first officially designated in 1965 and was first held by Gunnery Sgt. Shelton L. Eakin. The billet is a two-year tour open to all Sergeants; the only caveat being that the applicant must be 6 feet 4 inches tall and pass a rigorous White House security check. In addition to the multi-colored battle streamers affixed to the top of the staff, the staff itself is covered with sterling silver bands engraved with the names of conflicts in which the Corps has been engaged.

Very little information is available regarding the flags carried by early American Marines, although indications are that the Grand Union Flag was carried ashore by the battalion led by Captain Samuel Nicholas on New Providence Island, 3 March 1776. It is quite possible that the Gadsden flag was also carried on this expedition.

The standard carried by the Marines during the 1830s and 1840s consisted of a white field with gold fringe, and bore an elaborate design of an anchor and eagle in the center. Prior to the Mexican-American War, this flag bore the legend "To the Shores of Tripoli" across the top. Shortly after the war, the legend was revised to read: "From Tripoli to the Halls of the Montezumas." During the Mexican and Civil Wars, Marines in the field apparently carried a flag similar to the national flag, comprised of red and white stripes and a union. The union, however, contained an eagle perched on a shield of the United States and a half-wreath beneath the shield, with 29 stars encircling the entire design. Beginning in 1876, Marines carried the national colors (the Stars and Stripes) with "U.S. Marine Corps" embroidered in yellow on the middle red stripe.

At the time of the Vera Cruz landing in 1914, a more distinctive standard was carried by Marines. The design consisted of a blue field with a laurel wreath encircling the Marine Corps emblem in the center. A scarlet ribbon above the emblem carried the words "U.S. Marine Corps," while another scarlet ribbon below the emblem carried the motto "Semper Fidelis."

Orders were issued on 2 April 1921 which directed all national colors be manufactured without the yellow fringe and without the words "U.S. Marine Corps" embroidered on the red stripe. This was followed by an order dated 14 March 1922, retiring from use all national colors still in use with yellow fringe or wording on the flag. Following World War I, the Army practice of attaching silver bands carrying inscriptions enumerating specific decorations and battles was adopted. This practice was discontinued on 23 January 1961.

Marine Corps Order No. 4 of 18 April 1925 designated gold and scarlet as the official colors of the U.S. Marine Corps. These colors, however, were not reflected in the official Marine Corps standard until 18 January 1939, when a new design incorporating the new colors was approved. The design was essentially that of today's Marine Corps standard.

For a brief time following World War I, the inscribing of battle honors directly on the colors of a unit was in practice, but realization that a multiplicity of honors and the limited space on the colors made the system impractical, and the procedure was discontinued. On 29 July 1936, a Marine Corps Board recommended that the Army system of attaching streamers to the staff of the organizational colors be adopted. Such a system was finally authorized by Marine Corps Order No. 157, dated 3 November 1939, and is currently in practice.

Semper Fi

Capt. "Pejay" King USMC 1968-1973 ( LazyK Pejay)