Invalid Corps

I found a new aspect of disability history, the Invalid Corps, while reading “The Gangs of New York.” Even though the members of the Corps were not considered able-bodied enough to serve in the regular army some units were armed. Those were among the first troops to attempt quelling the mobs in the 1863 New York City draft riots. In existence from 1863 to 1866 their first uniforms were sky blue. (They changed to regular uniforms to avoid ridicule.) Invalid Corps

It is opportunities like this that make me appreciate the internet. Using Google I easily found information on the Corps. It turns out there was a song about them, Invalid, and the Civil War reenactment people have their own version, Reenactments.