The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-09-04

There is li,tlc in the buGlnesslikc,
simple uniform Of the American sol
dicr reminiscent Of the colorful, hi
Zarrc Gnrb OF the carly army Of the
United states.
From the time OF the Revolutionary
war or soon thereafter The tendency
was steadily toward simplicity, but if
was not until after the war with Spain
that khaki was adopted ana the easily
visible blue trousers and shirt dis,
carGel.
Today the American soldiers uniform
is designed for comfort. serviccubility,
protection from both weather and dis
coyery by the cnemy-in short for cf
ticicnt service. What some OF the pic
turesque OLD uniforms were devised for
is more than one can say unless it was
for their picturesqueness.
Washington's armies. when they had
uniforms, wore the familiar Cont
ncntals' Of bluff and blue or gray. but
regiments from different states had for
the most part uniforms of their own.
Tile ma iUHty wore whatever clothes
would protect them without regard for
uniformity. Ono part OF the American
troops who received the surrender of
CORVALLIS ut Yorktown were in uni
form, but the most Of them still wore
rags of honeapun.
The uniform for the period between
f502 ana e." Wag OF 1912 reflects the
style adOW. by Elroro"n armies for
the time. lHr three C0rncrcd cooked hat
of the revolution haI been abandoned,
and the officers wore chapcauX bras,
whilC the enlisted men OF the infantry
and artillery wore round leather hats
with hcarslin crcsts, creating Il very
picturesque effect
During the war of 1912 several types
3f uniform were worn by the American
forces. There was little left to remind
one OF the Revolutionary war. Instead
OF the long cutaway, enlisted men wore
single breasted, close buttoncd coats,
with the skirts fashioned after the ci-
william dress coat Of the day. Facings
disappeared, and the collars became
enormously high, rising to the tip OF
the ear. Hats were high, some infan-
try wearing headpicces much like those
worn ly the cabmcn of the days just
preceding the taNicab.
Coats of the infantry and artillery
were uniformly blue and were modified
somewhat in shape by an order issued
in 1913. the long tails being found in
convenient in The field and in fighting
through wooded country ana under-
for the new garment, and the only
trimming consisted OF tape on the col
lar. The high hat was changed to the
bell crowned leather shake and worst
ell or leather pompoms replaced feath-
ers
Distinction between dress and field
uniforms began to be made about the
time of the war Of 1912. The full dress
consisted Of tho hussar jacket, and the
skirt lad double plait in each fold.
The collar ana sleeves were worked
with silver braid. The trousers were
white cashmere or bucllskin for pa
radc and darl; blue for service.
Knee breechrs sometimes were worn
on social occasion, with yellow knee
.
klcs in the shoes and chapCau bras
instead of II cap. The wnistcoats were
Of white cloth in winter and of jean or
nauBcen in the summer.
When the Mexican war began dis
tinctiye campaign uniform was adopt
ed. The flat, soft forage cap came into
prominence, and the frock coat was
II al NUi
alike discarded cross belts. but wore one
body belt and n waist belt, The artil-
iCry wore jackets which did not entire
ly disappear from the service until
after the war between the states.
The influence of the French victories
in Italy was reflected in the zouave
dress that was fashionable when the
war of the sixties began, and the dark
blue. blouse ana sky blue trousers of
our own service of that time fixed for
years the fashion of state troops from
one end of the country 90 the other.
After that war it was some time be-
fore the trappings which had been
abandoned for field work were re-
stored.
In the eighties the uniform was much
as ii was during the Spanish-American
war, except that men and officers wore
helmets much Ike those of the London
bobby OF today, iusiead of the slOuch
felt campaign hats used in Cuba. The
coats were dark blue short frock coats
and the trousers light blue Stripes on
the trousers denoted the branch of the
service, ana in the case of the officers
plumos on the helmets were used
In the Spanish-American war the uni
form consisted OF dark blue coat
(Shortcr than tie frock coaD, blue fan
mel shirt and light blue trousers.
Stripes on tie trousers denoted the
Fcrvice-whte for infantry, yellow for
cavalry and red for artillery.
1t was not unin after the Spanish
war that khaki and olive drab came
into vogue, although the marines and
few infantry units tested it in the
war with Spain. The light blue trous-
ers and dark blue coats are still worn
in garrison for semidress uniforms,
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