The weekly Arizona miner., 1872-08-31
Uncle Saln's New Clothes.

In general order, issued under date of July 27, 1875, the War Department adopts number of changes recommended to be made in the army uniform by the Board which late y sat in New York, and is preparing descrip- tions and diagrams for distribution, so that the army may be completely equipped in this new dress before Christmas. These changes have been made with the several purposes of increasing the comfort of the wearer, making the dress more serviceable, and greatly adding to the appearance of the soldicry, all of which have long been needed
 The Present Uniform
 Of our army is a compound of shreds and patches, something having been added here, or taken away there, at the whim of some body or any body having the car of the Sec retary of War, for the last quarter of cen tury. The present reform was carried out on the idea of preserving all that was good of the old uniform and making it better by ad- dition or subtraction, as each case might require. The faces of the Board and the War Department were turned against any radical transformations, or the tendency of large class in the service to change for the mere sake of changing, and the amendments proposed to the present regulations concern
 
 present Board do not go as far as the recom- mendations of Generals Sherman, Sheriden and Augur, who constituted Board for che like purpose four or five years ago.
 The Double-Breasted Frook Coat, Heretofore sacred to officers above the rank of captain, is now to be worn by officers of all ranks, this improvement on the despised single-breasters being accomplished by the united efforts of the |" liners" The coat is little shortened in the skirt and the cuffs are to be ornamented with gold stripes upon the upper side. The undress sack coat which worked its way into the service during the late war is now recognized, with the addition of some simple ornamentation; and as officers are now forbidden by law and order to wear brevet uniforms, the insigna of brevet rank may be worn on the coat collar instead. The unsightly
 Frock Coat of the Enlisted Man, For refusing to draw which, at the cost of their men, the Colonels of whole division of nine months troops were court martialed and dismissed, in the late Army of the Poto- mac-gives place to a neatly fitting basque, handsomely faced with colors of the several arms on the breast and skirts and literally ornamented with buttons. The brass shoul- der scale disappears in favor of cloth shoul- der strap of slightly appearance useful in keep iny cross-belts in their place. For fatigue and other purposes a smart, navy blue blouse platted on the breasts and gathered in by waist belt, is provided in place of the pres ent slouchy nondescript.
 The trousers of all generals and their staff officers arc to be dark blue and with trim mings of any kind. Regimental officers are to wear light bue with wide, welted stipes, the color of their respective arms of service.
 The Antiquated Stock
 Disappears from the nomenclature of the army, and that utter desolation and abomin- atien-the black felt hat-is retained on the list, merely for officers to knock about in a, their option. General and staff officers are to wear the French chapeau, with ostrich plume, on dress occasions; mounted corps black felt hemlet, with gold trimmings and hair plumes, and marching corps dress cap, with upright plume of cocks feathers-red for artillery and white for infantry. Foot soldiers will wear pompons instead of plumes Mounted troops may wear genuine troopers ton boots and sashes, and epauletts are abol- ished for all but general officers.
 The Officers Black Leather Belt Is enriched Dy gllt UaiiuluS ahu VI o'aiN"S, s the small, straight staff sword prescribed for the present infantry pattern. Gilt kus- sian shoulder knots are to be worn by all ex. cept general officers and staff officers. and reaimental adjutants are to wear an aguillette with the right shoulder knot, Whenever shoulder krots arc not worn the present shoulder strap is to be displayed. Ornaments likely to draw fire, may be left off Tn the field. and soldiers overcoats may be worn oy officers in actual service, but the
 Buttons, Stripes and Shoulder straps Are not to be dispensed with. General oh- cers retain the "cloak over coat, l" but otnefs are to wear donbie- breasted coats with nov able capes or soldiers coats, as above men tioned. The enlisted force of "oid fropa- bilitics are to appear as cavalry on occa- sions of ceremony, but with distinctive insignia and ornaments of their own. Among
 Minor Changes and Improvements Are the introduction of the felt saddle cloths and ths promise of fabrics for soldiers uni form adapted to differing temperature, with many beneficial notifications of the various kind of equipments and accoutrements. A check is put upon the eccentric dandylsm and foppery that to some extent crept into slr