Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-05

wearing sash of alternate yellow and
gold stripes. The most remarkable point
about the uniform, however, was not the
sp1endor Of the facings as the prominence
of the oak leaf and acorn decorations: a
curious fact as these supposed to lie
the distinctive military emblems of the
British crown. Gen. Miles, however init
mates that he is going to take the best
features of every other nations dress reg
ulations and incorporate them into his new
system for the clothing of the American
army.
In this connection it is interesting to
recall some Of the curious uniforms which
the brave defenders of our great republic
have from time to time adopted, either
through choice or necessity. Who would
ever imagine that our soldiers once wore
the tall silk hat of the modern society
gentleman? Yet in 1910 an order was is
sued directing that all the prvates be sup
piled with a hat identical in shape and
form with the "chimney-pot hat of today.
and this extraordinary kind of military
headgear continued until 1872, when it
was replaced by a mere ornate covering,
described in the regulations as "a leather
cap, bell-crowned, adorned in front with
a yellow eagle made of brass work, en-
bossed with the regimental number; a
white pompon in front and a black cockaie
at the side, made of leather Certainly
it was a more SeryiCeable hat than its
predecessor, and more suggestive of the
martial spirit that inspired its wearers to
their brilliant deeds of valor in the strug
gle of that year But the day of the pot
hat was not yet done: in 1921 the cadets
of the Military Academy at West Point
we're requested to adopt the pattern which
had been condemned as an unsoldierike
head covering but nine years before, and
great was the wrath of these embryo
WaShingtons and Jacksons at the indg
nifty which, they declared. had been put
MT fheir ikn "a
way to feeling of respect for the uni
fern, and perhaps to this fact is due the
Ell ormous popularity of the tall hat among
American citizens.
Leather Hunting Shirts.
In the stirring times of the revolution
airy period the dress of many of the patriot
regiments was at once quaint and pictur-
esque. Many of the troops prominent
among them the LIST Virginia Regiment in
1775. were clothed Cat thir own expense)
in leather hunting shirts, 1eggings and
caps trimmed with fur-a dress that
Washington recommended to ali those who
were unable to obtain the regular uniform,
saying that 1.-The leather hunting shirt in
spired terror in the heart of the British
soldier, as the latter believed that its wear
er must necessarily be a sharpshooter, in
fact another Misunderstanding. On ref1ec-
ton, one can hardly blame the Britisher
for his timldity in approaching the fear
less backwoodsmen. The Pennsylvania
regiments, facetfously dubbed the Quaker
brigade" were remarkable for the exces-
Sive plainneSS of their uniforms, which
were modestly made of buff-colored cloth.
trimmed and faced with brown. What
contrast to the gay trappings of the troop
ers known as Moylan's dragons, describ-
ed as wearing green short coats turned
Up with red, waistcoats of red cloth, buck
skin breeches and leather cap, trimmed
with bearskin, flowing name of horse hair
hanging from curved brass crest at the
top
High Collars and Stocks.
In 1902 The then commander-in-chief is
sued an order that the collars of all pri-
Yates coats should not be less than three
inches high nor more than three and
half; ten years later the height was in
creased ito reach as far as the tip of the
ear at the side and back, and I'm front as
high as the chin would permit in turning
the head These preposterous collars were
afterward replaced by the equally uncom-
Portable stocks, but more rational meas
ure brought into vogue the present low
collar of soft CLOTH supplemented in the
case Of officers by ordinary civilian
collar.
President Monroe decided. toward the end
of 1921, that the uniforms of the various
regiments should all be dark blue in col
or, and that this was to be in future the
national color; the West Point cadets TO
have gray coats and trousers, while the
regimental musicians were to be distin-
lamentations of every description We're
abolished But in 1892 the facings were
readopted and shortly afterward the long
coat gave way to the dark blue jacket or
"coatee," as it was called, which came in
with the sky-blue pantaloons. Perhaps no
more remarkable uniform was ever worn
than that Of 1856, remarkable for its un-
soldierlike appearance and want of smart
ness on body of troops that were as
tonishing, and had already astonished the
world by their wonderful discipline and
a~~l-x
the appearance of a regiment of them
dressed, like so many Turks. in long, loose
baggy trousers and long coats with wide
bell skirts, and to still further increase the
resemblance the long coat was discarded
again in favor of the loosely fitting
''coatee" mentioned above. At this date,
also, the soft felt hat. with q broad brim
turned up at the sides, was introduced
and three years later 1t became universal
throughout the establishment.
4, Continental Uniforms.
T. Some Of the uniforms In the old conti-
mental army days were undoubtedly very
S&Inf~t IT,