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

from the early days when our fore
fathers were minute men to the
present day Of the professional SOL
der is interesting It's vagaries
are many ard appear somewhat in
applicable In the very early days there
were no regulations particularly describing
the dress except as 10 color. During the
colonial wars many volunteer regiments
were employed against the French and In
dams. Many Of these provincial troops
wore the red coats OF the British army
while others wore plain clothes. Afterward
the provincial authorities substituted blue
coats for red coats, except for those serv-
Ing as ridemen and rangers.
IL 100 the Jersey Blues had a blue uni
form faced with red. gray stockings and
buckskin breeches Colonel Washingtons
Virginia foot regiments wore blue and buff
IN the wars from 1886 to 1853. In New
York city in 1924 the troopers coat was
scarlet trimmed with silver lace and ff-
teen years later the color Of the coat was
changed to blue. Still later the coat and
brooches were blue. the waistcoats scarlet
and the hats trimmed with silver lace. IN
1T72 the uniform of the Independent foot
companies of New York was, for the gren-
adiers. blue with red facings, and the
fusi.eers wore. ia addition. bearskin caps
The fOresters and the rangers wore short
green coats with bun or crimson facings.
About the same time the Connecticut foot
guards wore scarlet coats with buff waist
coats and breeches and bearskin hats. The
1st Troop. Philadelphia Light Horse of
IVA wore dark brown short coats faced
with white. white breeches and vest, high
top boots and round black hats ornamented
with silver cord and buck stall. The Light
Infantry OF Pennsylvania were uniformed
in light blue and bun.
Not long after the commencement of the
revolutionary war and the organization Of
the American army blue became the pre-
scrbed color for coats. The reason as
signed for the adoption Of that color was
that it had always been the insignia OF the
wings Orange or buff and dark blue were
the insignia of Holland. and the particular
shade Of dark blue prescribed for coats of
the American army was called Dutch
blue AZ Lexington las well as at Con-
cord, the p-ovlncials were without uni
forms IL has been stated that at Bunker
Hi not an officer or a soldier of the Cont
mental army was in uniform, all wearing
ordinary civilian clothing In ITO the
First Virginia regiment of infantry was
uniformed at It's own expense In hunting
shirts and legsius, with white birding on
the hats.
when Gen. Washington was made COM
,nauGer-iu-cI-ef Of the American army IN
July. 1913. his uniform consisted of blue
coat with bun-co.orel faCings. his rank be-
ing indicated 10y a light blue ribband worn
across the breast between coat and waist
coat shortly aiterward an order was is
sued calling attention 20 the Inconvenience
arising from the lack Of uniforms and the
difficulty of distinguishing between the Off
ceAs and the privates. To correct that con-
dillon 30 was prescribed that field officers
wear red or pink-colored cockades in their
hats. the captains yellow or bun and the
suualtsrus green. SeCEeants were distin-
guisaed by stripe or red cloth on their
right shoulder and c5rporals by stripe OF
green cloth
In November. 1TT5. Congress provided that
the uniform ul the army should be brown,
with tie distinctions OF regiments made in
the faciurs. In the same year four New
York infantry regiments were uniformed in
short coats of blue light brown. gray and
dark brown. respectively. Later in the same
year Gen Washington encouraged the sol
dicrs uupr1ylled with uniforms tC wear
hunting shirts with long hreeches made Of
the same cloth. Eaitcr fashion about the
legs Il is said that the British seeing the
advantage of thls shirt adopted il for their
Service.