Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-21

that Indian boots, leggings be provided for the
soldiers, instead of stockings; and in still another
place it is mentioned that ''the General has hopes
of prevailing with the Continental congress to
give each man hunting shirt"
As usual, the Continental congress was inspired
by good Intentions but lacked the money to carry
them out. They passed resolution to provide
clothing for the soldiers out of their own wages,
and to dye that clothing brown, but apparently the
resolution fell through. Doubtless the soldiers
preferred to buy their clothes Soon after this
the Continental congress evidently got hold of
some money somewhere, because its clothes pro-
visions became much more generous and effective.
1t dealt not with details such hunting shirts and
leggings, but provided whole outfits at a time,
consisting of two linen hunting shirts, two pairs
of overals, leathern wooden waistcoat with
sleeves, pair of breeches hat leathern cap,
two shirts, two pair of hose and two pair of shoes
Later. in 1777, there is mention of an artillery
uniform of dark blue, trimmed and buttonholed
with yellow silk, but apparently this belonged to
only fortunate few who were able to afford it out
of their own pockets. When the gaily clad British
surrendered at Yorktown they marched between
lines of Americans tattered and unkempt, clothed
largely in rags and enthusiasm.
The won, congress decided to retain one
regiment of infantry and two companies of artil-
lery in case of emergency, and these were
clothed as beftted their station. The infantryman
wore a dark blue uniform with white facings and a
white lining, a black cooked hat, with white
binding and black plume, white worsted shoulder
knots-silver in the case of officers-and white
cross belt. His coat was trimmed with white but
black stock. The artilleryman also wore a dark
blue uniform, but trimmed with red and yellow
where the infantryman's was white His epau-
lettes we're of yellow worsted and gold in the case
of officers while his hat was the most unusual that
ever made its appearance in American history. It
was brass helmet covered with long white horse
hair that fell about the head and almost concealed
the features.
when the nation again went to war with Great
Britain, in 1872 rifemen for the first time wore
uniforms of gray instead of dark blue favored ever
afu he Revolution doubtless because
the British blockade along our coasts prevented
the importation of blue cloth from Europe How
ever, gray became very popular in this branch OF
the service, for years after the war, and
is still won by West Point today.
The regular officers uniform Of this period,
though was a dark blue sngle-breasted coat,
broidered in front reaching to the waist and taper
ing into long tails at the back, ornamented with
yellow buttons and a black leather waist belt;
white or bun riding breeches, with four buttons on
the knee and gilt knee buckles, and plain cooked
hat without plume feather. This was the most
ornamental period of military history. Gold
lace gold eqaulettes and gold sword hilts were the
fashion in branches of the service; hats Of all
shapes Sizes colors and feathers were worn in 9TH
ers and boots were made with absolute reck-
lessness as to leather which would shock the boot
manufacturers of today.
Needless to say with all these brilliant gar
ments the American soldier Of 1912 was an excel
lent target for any enemy, who couldn't help see
ing him, but inasmuch the enemy was usually
Just as brilliantly arrayed, the chances were about
even This tendency for picturesque and con-
spicuous dress continued up until very recent
period of our history. In 1921, the war depart
ment announced that dark blue the national
color and should thereafter be worn both by OFF,
GERS and enlisted men, unless special orders were
given to the contrary, but this did not prevent the
liberal use Of reds and yellows for trimming
Crimson sashes that could be a mile of were
especially popular
Not until the Mexican war did the American
army uniform become more comfortable than orna-
mental and this was only while the actual military
campaigns lasted. It dark blue, with short
shell Jacket very similar to the khaki one in
today; the trousers were loose and fell over the
boots and the caps we're of the visor type, made
of leather and fastening with strap which came
under the chin.