31st New York Infantry, Company C: “The Polish Legion” 1861
31st New York Infantry,
Company C: “The Polish Legion” 1861
“Montezuma Regiment”
American Civil War
by Mark Maritato
Status: Available
Watercolor and Gouache on Bristol
Signed and dated by the Artist
11in w x 14 in h
Unframed
This solder wears a uniform modeled after the existing European organization known as the “Polish Legion” which consists of a red Chapska with a brass eagle device. A blue frock coat trimmed in Red. The trousers are of a blue/gray color that followed in the same tradition. Company C of the 31st New York was recruited by Captain Alexander Raszewski, and was filled with Polish-Americans. The May 9, 1861 edition of the New York Evening Express describes Raszewski's company as "clothed in the uniform of the Polish Army, and from part of the Polish Legion raised in this city." The New York Herald of May 2, 1861 had already described a company of "77 men, wearing the crimson Lancer's cap" which had marched by on the way to be measured for uniforms. On May 9th, the New York Times commented on Pratt's regiment, noting that the 31st had "attached to it a company of Poles, the majority of whom are old soldiers...The men had expressed a desire to wear the Polish uniform, which has been allowed." It appears that by June of 1861, all newspaper accounts of this company wearing the Polish inspired uniform ceased which suggests that the men of this company were resupplied with standard blue uniforms provided by the state of New York. “…the former being the improved Springfield, smoothbore muskets, the latter comprising light blue overcoats, with cape (the regular army pattern), dark blue jackets, •light blue pantaloons, and dark blue caps, with covers and "flats" - enameled cloth capes to be attached to the back of the cap to shield from the rain and
protect from the sun.” The 31st New York would see combat at First Bull Run, the Peninsula, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Salem Church. In it’s two years of service, the regiment lost fifty-six men killed in action with another fifteen dying of wounds. In March of 1862, Captain Raszewski was promoted to Major, and was discharged in October.
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