Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-20
UNCLE SANS UNIFORMS.
The Fashion in Army Dress Has Un-
dergone Many Changes.
co,ors and insignia Rules About Uniform
ing Miles New Uniform.

.hur of the round tapie, anu tie ifi ioe
man in a soldiers trappings has in
',,,ise diminished from that far day of
,,istv legends to this latest practical
hour when the whole nation mas Deeh
..,.,od into a camp. and even civilians
t,o smallest of our towns fall asleep
richt to the singing of buSles, and
,,,r, to wakcfulness in the morning at
,he blare Of the reVeilie.
rnt fashion in army dress has under
mo as many changes as has the APP
Gore, of women in that time, ana
.honsh he may disdain tc own it the
so,dar from General Miles down TO the
,ost recruit in Uncle Sam volunteer
my is cutie as deeply interested in
~, c1othes as are the fair ones before
,rbon in parl0r. or ballroom, or when
.bav sit under their flashing parasols
lang the officers line at dress parade
waiting for the sweet notes of retreat
tho thump of the evening gun anu the
fa,, Of the flag that officially announces
he close of the military day, he loves
disport himself. For "maidens. like
,oths were ever caught by glare, and
he man these days, especially ne VINO
mot entitled to wear military uni
.orm. cuts as small a figure in the eyes
! # women as he Will in politics when
/ his cruel war is over.
The Uniform of the soldier may not,
md does not constitute the most I'M
,ortant feature of his life, even in the
Ilational guard during the piping times
| 81 ,,4fi r,-if ok NJ
mysteries. the mystery of which re-
.,,ires some time to study. writes
lieutenant in the United States army
in the Chicago Chronicle. For, as in
-be DAYS of King Arthur a knight was
. DISTINGUISHED from the steel-clad mass
If mounted men about him by the coat
nj arms his king had flung over his
mailed shoulders, so it is possible TO tell
the rank and position and something
/ of the powers, duties and responsible
ties of any one Of the 100000 men who
todav are being modified all over the
United States.
COLORS AND INSIGNIA.
In the first place, it is not by the
shoulder straps alone that an officer is
to he distinguished That most coveted
article of adornment will reveal only
his rank and the bes nch of the service
to which he belongs. Broadly speak
ing. the three great arms of the service,
| the infantry. cavalry and artillery, are
Indicated, primarily, by their respec-
tive celors. White always denotes in
fantry, whether on shoulder strap,
plume stripe, facnes OF cheVron; yell
! how. cavalry, and red artillery. Gen
| eral officers. that is those of the rank
Of hrigadier general and higher, haV-
ing command Of brigade, division, corps
or army, and the officers of their staffs,
save those temporarily detailed from
the line. are distinguished, as to color,
dark blue The color of the cloth
If the shoulder strap indicates the arm
OF service This cloth is edged with
lheavy gold bullion, and on it is worked
! he Insignia Of rank. y strap without
: a bar and plain, signifies a second lieu
tenant, the spending navy grade
being the ensign one silver bar. sig
nifies a first lieutenant in the army and
lieutenant, Junior grade in the navy;
two silver bars a captain in the army
and lieutenant in the navy: a gold leaf,
b. major and lieutenant commander; q
&silvcr leaf a lieutenant colonel and
commander: Il silver eagle, colonel
Hand captain; one silver star, briga-
rdier general and commodore: two sill
Yer stars, a major general and rear ad-
miral; three silver stars, a lieutenant
general and vice admiral, and four sill
yer stars. a general and admiral.
OF THE SHOULDER
STRAP.
The shoulder strap IS gradually pass
hing away. 1t is no longer used in any
of the European armies, nor in The
#navy of the United States. but remains
ssolely in these times to our army and
tthe troops of some of the South Ameri-
Team republics. The rank of officers in
lEurope is designated upon the collar OF
the blouse. a method that was in vogue
| in the confederate army during the wal
| of the Rebellion, and one that Of latf
years has been adopted by our navy.
In the army the shoulder straps are
|rapidly decreasing in size, a fact which
anyone may verify by getting out his
old family Photographs and comparing
The great, cumbrOus straps that Were
| sewn upon the shoulders of those of his
ancestors who fought in AZ and 81
with those he sees today upon tho
fatigue coats of the National Guart
| officer. There is in the war department
at Washington an old heavy pair OF
! first lieutenants straps which have
been worn by many man vino has dis
| tinguished himself on the field Occa
sionally they are sent to fellow WHIT
has won his spurs as an especial mari
OF consideration. one of the men to bt
thus honored is my old friend Lieuten
ant David JeWett Baker of the Twelfth
foot. who received them when he wa
promoted for meritcrious service il
Dakota in 80 and 81 Baker is wei
known in Illinois, and is the thirC
] David JeWett Baker who has made hi
mark in this state. his father havins
been for many years one of the justice
OF the supreme court. JeWett Bake
I preceded Captain Eben Swift of tn
.fItth cavalry, at Springfield, and die
much to build up the Illinois Nationa
Guard.
MILES NEW UNIFORM.
hl