The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-05
Uniform. Desirable. no, Essential.


ing uniformed. The Revolutionary war was
fought without uniforms. We DOUBT y -"
gle company throughout the war was cio'heo
all alike. The British called our soldiers To9o-
mullins, from the variegated character Oh tue
clothes they wore. Their garments presented
n. many colors as JosErh ) coat tnoosn' "''
81 oandv. We suppose the old copperas aye |
ard tho MIKE berry red are very fully repre- |
sented in our regiments. The craniai cover
ing. too, was by no means UNIFORM either d. u
fashion. material or color. The. wool hat was
probably rather distin guished article OF wear
in those days--the beaver most aristocrauc
ornament Rabbit skins, coon skins, bear
skiing, and the other hairy felts doubtless fg-
ured most cons picuously along our lines. What
a mistaken idea have we of the times that
tried mems souls, il we dress our Revolutionary
patriots out, in our imagination, with the gilt
tering and tawdy uniforms of our modern
holiday parades and surround them with the
pride, pomp and circumstance OF glorious mock
war, War then q very stern reality,
most matter-of-iaet affair of frost and suffer
ing, Of dust, and sweat, and blood. 1t was
an affair in which men might well choose TO
wear their old clothes, and to leave their Sun
day and gala attire (Which they had mott at
home. The stuff the men mot the clothes)
we're made of, was then the thing OF most ae-
count; soldiers were mustered into the SER
vice, not caps, coats and trowsers.
While they are -thctically desirable, we
never could imagine any strong military ne
cessity for uniforms. The best soldiery in the
world have been without them tho most no
table struggles of heroes have been those III
which the overworkcd heroes dressed in ia
tigue garb. The Scotch Highlanders notori-
ously fight breechesless, and they have always
fought very well. 1t is claimed that these tail,
brawny, sinewy Sawneys, in bare legs, decided
the day at Waterloo.
The American savages have done very ter
Tible execution in simple breech cloths and
| elaborate paint. Each savage daubed him
7 self according to his fancy, and an Indian file
of the monsters mile long would not present
two alike. They painted themselves for in
spring terror, and variety Of costume, not uni
iormity, was the idea of these men III state OF
| nature-thcse natural warriors-these best
| lighters the world ever saw in the natural
state. A regiment of Indians, painted ali
| alike, would be a first step towards civiliza-
ton; but it would be very droll spectacle.
Certainly the idea of uniforms did not come
from the savage condition. 1t originated in
mere convenience. Where the Government
clothes the soldiers, it is cheaper and more
| ,oIy. all hair of ka m
terial and pattern than otherwise.
, The thing grew out of mere economy, and
began with the Quartermaster. 1t was de
manded by no principles of military SCIENCE
A mountain ritemau does better in his hunt
ing-shirt than in the Government dress. He cal
fight we'll in trowsers of any color, and, II neet
5 be, without trowsers at all. JACKsoN's armie
d fought all their campaigns in home mad
:, hunting shirts. soldier should not be reJecte
n for the color of his breeches. If such system b
S, carried too far, it degenerates into this absur
7, dity, that jackets and trowsers are mustere
u into the service and not men.
e The notions Of FREDERICK the Great o
these subjects have been altogether discarde
- by modern Europe. The supple, loosely cla'
Algerian Zouave is the farthest possible II
. move from the stiff, booted bcted, pillorie
grenadier Of the great Prussian martinez
- FREDERICK was a remorseiess Procrustes
" this matter of uniformity. He not only ell
:, forced absolute uniformity in the habillmen
of his men, but he attempted as far as possib
to coerce nature by reducing their bodies
fit the same arbitrary mould. He left an a
fiicting legacy in these respects to mlital
!, science in Europe from which the great geni
of NAPOLEON succeeded in achieving only
partial emancipation. The burning sun al
: sands Of Algeria wrought an innovation
this subject, which it would have cost Gener
his epauets or Prince his crown to have i
- stituted. The most untractable, dogmatic;
oe ferocious foe to innovation is your veteran OF
ho Ger of the regular service. He would rath
i receive bullet than new idea into his brai
" To talk to him Of a new mode of contributil
of to the soldiers comfort is as bad as interme
va ding in his domestic affairs.
10 If Government supplies the clothing of 81
~ diers, then it may suit its own taste and cow
IN nience in the cut and material used. But,
tb the first outburst of war, when soldiers a
ev wanted, the volunteer must be accepted wi
NJ. his own clothes ON his back. Here, the re
II son out of which the uniforms grew, does I
ara hold, and cessante rdtone, cessat ct iPsa ter
,u- Even straw hat is good covering in
en- summer season, and no jacket at all bet
,g than the tight, padded, sufocating, parade co
for We understand that our authorities have
NJ rived at these wise conclusions in regard
nd uniforms, and that good companies will
IA longer be refused admission into the serv
ok for want of regulation clothes. 1t is not DIR
he that makes the man; it is the soul that nal
his the soldier. These arc times that try NE
souls, and why should our mastering offc
ope be fumbling with what neither makes br'
to a poltroon, nor poltroon brave? AS
eat soldier provides in general his own clotl
ney let US see only that we muster in soldier /
of think. yourselves fortunate that we have got
ok even if he should be dressed in the HON
linseys of the Revolutionary war. Inds
We owe great reverence to the linseys.
A Foreign Corps.
- The Wing observes that the LINCOLN q