The New York herald., 1872-08-03
UNCLE SANS NEW CLOTHES
The Uniform for the Army and
What 1t is Like.
A GREAT CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

WASHINGTON, July 80, 1872.
In general order. issued under date OF July ",
1872, the War Department adopts a number Of
changes recommended to he made In the army unit
form by the Board which lately sat In New York,
aud is preparing descriptions and diagrams for
distribution, so that the army may be completely
equipped in its 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 sOldiery all OF which have
long been needed.
THE PRESENT UNIFORM
OF our army is q compound or shreds and patches,
something having been added here or taken away
there, at the whim OF somebody or anybody having
the ear OF the Secretary OF War; for the last
quarter Of century The present reform was car.
rled out on the idea of preserving all that was
good In the old uniform and making 1t better by
addition substraction each case might require
The faces Of tho Board and the War Department.
were turned against any radical transformations,
or the tendency Of large class in the service 10
change for the mere sake Of changing, and the
amendments proposed TO the present regulations
concerning uniform dress and equipments by tho
present Board do not go as far as the recommen-
datiOns OF Generals Sherman, Sheridan and Augur,
who constituted Board for the like purpose four
or five years ago.
THE DOUBLE-BREAsTED FRoCK COAT
heretofore sacred to officers above the rank Of cap
TAIN is now to he worn by officers Of all ranks thla
Improvement on the despised single breaster being
accomplished by the united efforts of the 'liners5
The coat Is q little shortened In the skirt and tho
cuffs are to be ornamented with gold stripes upon
the upper side. The undress sack coat which
worked its way into service during the late war is
now recognized, with the addition Of some simple
by law and orders to wear brevet uniforms the
insignia OF brevet rank may be worn on the coat
collar instead. The unsighty
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 c0urtmartialed and dismissed, in the
late Army OF the POtomac-gives place to neatly
fitting basque, handsomely faced with the cOIors OF
the several arms the breast and skirts and lib
orally Ornamented with buttons. The brass sh0ul-
der scale disappears in favor Of cloth shoulder
cross-bets in place For fatigue and other pur-
poses smart, navy blue blouse, plated on the
breasts and gathered IN by waist belt is provided
In place OF the present slOuchy nOndescript.
The trousers Of all generals and their STAFF off,
GERS are to lie dark blue and with trimming OF any
kind. Reglmental officers are to wear light blue,
with wide, weed stripes, the color Of their respect
i've arms Of service.
THE ANrIoUATED STOCK
disappears from the nomenclature OF the army, and
that utter des0latiOn and abomination-the black
felt hats retained on the list, merely for officers
to "knOck about" In at their option. General and
STAFF officers are to wear the French chapeau, with
ostrich plume, on dress occasions; mounted corps
o black felt helmet, with gold trimmings and hair
plumes, and marching corps a dress cap, with up.
right plume Of cocks fcathers-red for artillery and
pons instead OF pilmes. Mounted troops may wear
genuine troopers top boots and sashes and epau-
lettes are abolished for all but general officers.
THE OFFICERS BLACK LEATHER BELT
Ia enriched by gilt banding and braidng, and tho
small, straight, star sword prescribed for the pres
ent infantry pattern Gilt Russian shoulder knots
are to be worn by all except general officers and
star officers and regimental adjutants to wear
an agulllette with the right shoulder knot. When
ever shoulder knots not worn the present
shoulder strap Is to be displayed Ornaments likely
to draw the fire OF sharpshOoters may be left Off in
the field, and soldiers Overc0ats may be worn by
Officers In actual service, but the
BUTTONS, STRIPES AND SHOULDER STRAPS
are not to be dispensed with. General officers
tain the 'clOak OvercOat," but others are to wear
double breasted coats with movable Capes or SOL
ders' coats as above mentioned. The enlisted force
OF "Old Probabilities" are to appear cavalry on
occasions OF ceremony, but with distinctive insignia
and ornaments OF their own. Among
MINOR CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS
are the introduction OF felt saddle cloths and tho
promise OF fabrics for the soldiers uniform adapted
to differing temperatures, with many beneficial
notifications Of the various kinds OF equip
ments and accOutrements. check Is put
upon the eccentric dandysm and foppery
regular and volunteer service during the
war, by f0rbiddng the wearing OF anything but tho
strict regulation dress duty, and 80 Danish
those wonderful make-ups that have so often in the
past left the behOders in doubt as to who and what
they had within the range Of their vision. strict
construction Of this rule will put into uniform the
many officers on bureau duty at Washington or
stationed ut the military establishments In other
cities and towns and who now, like the generation
OF British officers since Waterloo, affect to prefer
being IN 'mufti" to appearing In regmentals
Officers don their new trappinys soon an
they please, and must report themselves az FULLY
equipped by the first day OF next December.