Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-27
Uniform Of the Maryland Guards, Of Balti.


For some time past the members of the FIVE
companies Of Maryland Guard have had under
consideration the subject of q uniform and
last evening received the report of the Execu-
tive Committee, to whom the matter was re-
ferred. There is so much good sense in what
they say, and with such general application to
volunteer associations, that the following ex-
tracts will doubtless prove interesting. Speak
ing of their organization, they conceive ii to
be the establishment upon permanent basis
OF q volunteer corps, recruited from the flower
of the youth and manhood of the community,
whose ultimate organisation should contem-
plate nothing short Of an entire regiment Of ten
full companies. 1t was supposed that the city
Of Baltimore, with its 100000 inhabitants, its
ancient military reputation, traditions of the
battle field, kept alive by monuments and re-
unions OF its old defenders, and its frontier To-
cation, should support at least one solid regi-
ment Of 800 or 1000 we'll instructed and reii-
able citizen soldiers. One obstacle to increase
IN the ranks Of citizen soldiery was the bur-
densome expense, beginning with an extrava-
CANT outlay for a uniform, and continued by
occasional costly pilgrimages, frequent con-
vivisl demonstrations, and endless inter-
changes Of hollow hospitalities.
The committee consulted economy ss the first
principle in the selection Of q uniform and
next in the order of importance the quality of
seryiceableness, and no dress can be SO which
is not easy and comfortable to the wearer and
which does not admit of free, rapid and pro-
longed movement without unnecessary over
heating or distress. The committee. therefore,
determined to discard the common uniform
seen in the streets on parade days and which
are common to all the old fashioned yolun-
teer companies. The charge of innoya-
tion in this particular may be parried by the
fact that whenever any of those companies
have had real service to do they have had the
good sense to discard their parade uniform and
60 to their duty in IN easy fatigue dress. Last
1y, mere beauty Of appearance or effect was as
signed the lowest place in the scale. Whilst
they were not insensible to the attractions of q
snowy and brilliant dress, they could not lose
sight of the fact that the pomp and glitter of a
holiday parade were not the objects for which
the Guard was established. The uniform which
the committee recommend Is q com bination of
the Chasseur and Zouaye style, uniting the
most desirable features of each, and substan.
TALLY the same which has been long worn with
appreciation in the service of those famous light
corps Of the finest army in Europe. The fol-
lowing are the uniforms submitted. and their
cost: Chasseur uniform-dark blue, with orange
misunderstanding jacket, pants shirt, esi.
ters, sash, cap, body belt, knspsaek. blanket,
and overcoat, $35 33; double breasted, dark
blue, with blue and gold trimmings, S44 I3:
single breasted, dark blue, with light blue
trimmings, SAT IL; doubIe-breosted, dark blue,
with black and gilt trimmings, $44 l3 Amer.
tcan, 24kh. - - 4 - ss.-ET