The Washington herald., 1908-07-19
By RUDOLPH DE zAPP.

where such IS possible, and the fact thai
the khaki cloth used in the uniforms Of
our soldiers is OF foreign manufacture has
caused violent protest among the manu-
facturers OF this article and the laboriur
element.
The question Of a proper Uniform for the
Amy has occupied the attention OF the
War Department for d number Of years
and the question as to whether a change
IN the uniform Of the naval force Of this
country is advisable has been brourh;
before the authorities at the Navy De
partment for consideration
The PrOverbiaI navy blue has not al.
ways been the color of the American sea
nghter. as the following clearly shows.
The first American naval uniform OF
which there is any Official knowledge is
contained in the following resolution Of
tne Massachusetts Council, April, 177s
one OF several providing for the resula-
ton Of the sea service Of that colony.
Resolved. That the uniform Of the on
GERS be green and white, and that they
furnish themselves accordingly; and that
the colors be a white flag with a green
pine tree and the inscription An Appeal
10 Heaven"
No Prescribed Uniform.
When the Continental navy was formed
one Of the first things thought Of was a
uniform for the officers. but Il seems a
question whether the seamen wore a pre-
scribed dress; probably none was re-
quired- The prevailing colors Of the Con-
tinental army IN I776 were blue, red. and
bun, the facings Of the blue coats were
red, and the plumes white. tipped with
red The bun and blue. commonly re-
garded as the Continental uniform. was
that Of the general officers and not Of
the body Of the troops. In the navy the
same was the case. The prevailing colors
OF the uniforms Of the officers OF the
navy were blue and red; the uniform Of
The marine officers was green and white
the colors Of the Massachusetts flag and
OF the flag Of the floating batteries. II
does not appear, however, that there was
ever issued any official order prescribing
q Uniform for the officers CT the Conti-
mental navy On September 3. I776. the
Marine Committee prescribed the follow
ing Uniform for the navy and marine Off
GERS Of the United States navy. which Is
the first official regulation on the sub
ject- Captain-Blue cloth with red lapels.
slash cuff. stand-up collar, fat yellow
buttons. blue breeches, red waistcOat with
narrow lace. Lieutenant-Blue with red
lapels. round cuT faced with red. stand
up collar. yellow buttons, blue breeches.
and red waistcOat. plain Master-Blue.
with lapels; round cuff blue breeches. and
red waistcoat AIidshipman-Blue lapeled
coat. q round cun faced with red. stand
up collar. with red at the button and
coat Marine Oficers-A green coat faced
with white. round cuf. slashed sleeves
and pockets with buttons around the cuT;
silver epaulet on the right shoulder;
skirts turned back; buttons 10 suit the
1acings5 white waistCoat and breeches.
edged with green; black CATERS and gar
ters, green shirts for the men
Order Coats for Men.
William Jennison. lieutenant Of marines.
on board the L s s Boston. Capt Samuel
Tucker, on April I77s. made a requisition
for forty green coats. faced with white.
forty white waistcoats and forty white
breeches; the buttons of the whole to be
a plain white: coats 10 be open-sleeved-
and a belt for every waistccat." L ap-
pearS from this that the buttons for the
marine uniform at that date were not
gilt but were covered with plain white
Ike the facings- Under date MAY 13 We
find -regimentals for the marines. an
uniform ordered by Congress was
brought on board and distributed 70 all
officers and men It seems from the
following extract from John Adams diary
of May T. T779. that the uniform OF the
marines was changed from green TO red.
the facings being the same in both uni
forms.
After dinner walked out with Cant
Jones and Landais 20 see Jones marines
John Paul jones' dressed in the English
uniform, red and white; a number Of
very active and clever sergeants and cor
porals are employed TO teach them the
exercise. and maneuvers and marches
SC, after which Jones came on board
our ship This IS the most ambitious and
intriguing officer IN the American navy.
Jones has art and secrecy. and aspires
very high You see the character Of the
man IN his uniform. and that Of his Off
GERS and marines variant from the uni
forms established by Congress-goldea
buttons for himself. TWO epaulets: ma
rines In red and white instead Of green.
ECcentTiCities and irregularities are TO be
expected from him. They are in his
character; they are visible In his eve.
His voice IS soft and still and small: his
eye has keenness and wildness and soft
ness in It"
Uniform of Officers.
The Uniform for the officers and the
scarlet dress Of the marines must have
been worn on board the Bon Homme
Richard IN her battle with the Scraps IN
September following
Something Of the character Of the uni
form OF the navy prior TO 1880 can be
gathered from the portraits Of prominent
officers. Commodore Preble's portraits. all
taken between 1904 and 1907. represent him
IN blue double-breasted coat with stand
Up collar. the lapels Of the same color.
buttOned back. The collar. lapels. and
button-hOles all gOld-laced. also the cuffs
around the upper part. with three or four
buttons. the button-hOies gold-laced 10
the end Of the sleeve. He has on a white
vest and a white rUfied shirt, with col
lar turned over 4 white cravat. two epau-
lets. which from their shape are suE-
gestive Of the name. ''swabs." by which
they were often familiarly called Com
modore Preble's cooked hat. which Is pre-
served 10 this day Is Of huge dimensions.
and would make two OF the present one
in use
It IS related OF Commodore Hull that
in the fight between the Constitution
and the Guerriere. he was clad in a
pair Of nankeen pantaloOns. the day be
ing very hot and the excitement OF
the ship 70 get the weather
gauge OF the enemy did not tend to aIlay
a profuse perspiration- Meanwhile his
lieutenants were continually coming 10
him. inqUiring, capt. Hull. shall we
freg-' No he said. When 7 say the