Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23
l77e TO l7z9

plume instead Of cock feather. Dark
| blue single breasted coats were worn by
the enlisted men, and worsted sashes and
epaulettes We're allowed she non-commls-
stoned officers.
The order CT 1871 made bpt few sirera-
lions in the uniform and II was not until
| lS41 that decided change was made for
the regiments raised and equipped for
service during the Mexican war The uni
| form for officers generally was similar in
many respects TO that worn at the time OF
,he spanish war. more than Atty years
| breasted. and the trousers were OF the
| same color, with buff or gold lace stripe.
The uniform also included cooked hat.
| epaulettes' plume and sash. The dress
| coats for the artillery, Dragons and in
fantry were of dark blue CLOTH with red,
| yellow and white trimmings respectively.
| The trousers were of a blue-gray mixture
WIN stripes forage cap was also part
| or the equipment
The general order of 1851 made another
change in the uniform, increasing the
length of the officers blue frock coat and
prescribing that the enlisted men wear a
single-breasted frock coat Of dark blue
cloth, the skirts extending halfway be-
tween the waist and the knee The uni
form trousers for officers and men were OF
cloth of sky-blue mixture made loose
ana spread well over the boots" In head
gear Tor oflcers and men decided change
was made. cap was adopted II was OF
dark blue cloth, six inches high in front
and about seven inches at the back THE
visor was horizontal and leather strap
was fastened under the chin with a yellow
metal buckle.
There was introduced for the different de-
partments the letters in old English charac-
ters, only recently replaced by the present
insignia. A cloak coat was also pre
scribed for commissioned officers and for
the first time braid was used to Indicate
rank The enlisted mans overcoat was a
plue-gray mixture. In this order n vyas
specified that "mustaches are NOT 70 no
worn except by cavalry regiments) by Off
GERS or men under any pretense whatever"
SKY bile was substituted for Saxon blue
TOT all trimmings for the infantry. and me-
tallc scales We're issued to all arms In lieu
OF epaulettes- The cord on the trousers
was dispensed with. jacket was pre-
scribed for all mounted men in lien OF the
frock coat, and for the first time 1s55l
cavalry was used for dragons" The
pattern of the coat and trousers for all foot
troops was prescribed as that of the uni
form OF the French Chausseurs-a-pied.
Inc general order of 1857 made no par-
ucular change. except as regards the army
nat. This was to be of best black felt. with
a brim OF three and one-fourth inches and
crown six and one-quarter inches high.
The trimmings for officers were the gold
cord with acorn-shape ends. eagle and
three black ostrich feathers The enlisted
men were allowed one feather on their
mats The uniform trousers were Of dark
blue cloth made without plaits BY an or
der issued in 1853 officers were pernofttad
to wear "a light French chape3u either
sun crown or fiat" In 1860 there was pre-
Scf1bed for the artillery "A round Jacket or
dark plue cloth trimmed with scarlet with
a Russian shoulder knot.
during the war of the rebellion
changes in uniform were comparatively few
ana the uniforms Of that period are al
most as familiar those OF the present
day. During the civil war the coat for
officers remained before. and for officers
and men the trousers We're OF dark blue
cloth except In the case of the artillery,
where they We're Of sky blue. For the first
time, however appeared the well-knOwn
dark blue flannel sack coat for fatigue pur-
poses. The black felt hat retained. but
the trimmings were slightly altered. The
epaulettes. shoulder knots and chevrons
were also retained The Overcoats for Of
ficers were dark blue and for enlisted men
sky blue. The orders of that time called
for 'the hair to be short. the beard to be
worn at the pleasure of the individual. but
when WORE to be kept short and neatly
trimmed" The same rule obtains today.
It was not until 1863 that II was pre-
scribed that the trousers of officers and
men should be of cloth of sky blue mixture
with welts for officers and stripes for nom
commissioned officers. Forage caps were
also authorized. The double-breasted frock
coat was retained for officers and a single
breasted dark blue basque for enlisted men.
Other changes have been made from time
to time since the civil war with which
every one Is more or less familiar. The
experience Of tho army in Cuba and Porto
Rico during the Spanish war and since
then in the Philippines has resulted In tho
adoption of the present service uniform or
olive drab or khaki colored material with
hats and shoes to match and dark blue
coat and trousers for officers and dark
blue coat and sky blue trousers for men for
dress occasions.
In the words OF Gen Oscar F. Long.
U s. A. retired. from whom most OF tho
data used in this article was obtainedI
THE army is Infinitely better provided to-
day with uniform and equipment than ever
before In its history The uniform is neat,
comfortable and attractive and IL has the
merit of great utility. Taking his general
condition all around. the American soldier
= better clothed. better fed. better housed,
better paid. more comfortable and happier
than tho soldiers o: any other country m
tho world