Osprey, Men-at-Arms #352 The United States Army 1783-1811 (2001) OCR 8.12

1m

MEN-AT-ARMS

1m

THE UNITED STATES ARMY 1783-1811

CONTENTS CHRONOLOGY

3

• Organis:llion and opcr.1lions of United SLlteS troops, 1783--1811

UNIFORMS: J _ Itocun -.pent Marty two ~ _ • m_m dlre<:tor and eunlor, prlnclpllily wtth tIM

us ~ P.rI< Servlc. and Ivmy

~

Syst...., .nd

-,.-It1.t~ W ~..

Mount V.rnon

'''1'11 190 1M

~te. Twe JonnecI hie own

..,tlq_

- . . . - 8nd hi"~l --..tt.IInc:y, lnckidlng film and ~t_hnal~

--"- wtIIdI .. lNlHd .t ....,... Feny, W. .t Vlrgln'-o. 1M ~ o t Don Tro'-nl'. ScNdiJw1:,"~, 1754-IBaS,

he,... -m..,

Inn~b"

.nlc1M and I'In orpn~ imporWd edllbltloM, Including

n-re.1'nJm ~nt V.rnon: 0-.. "'eMIngton R.nMed.

THE FRONTIER CONSTABULARY FORCE, 1784-91

THE LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES, 1792-96

THE QUASI-WAR PERIOD, 1797-1800 • Washington. Hamilton. and the 1799 recollunendalions • de\{~lopment of the 1799 specifications

•

colloectMtnI of the Netlon.1 Pertt Servk:e, PlrI<, Cllnedl end ...1ricKIs other mUHYm, end historic tit... Th. eon 01 I US "-..y

iltor. Oe'tkl

~

hili Itwed In

up In CII/fon'I&I, and _

~

n-In~

DeIIW_

wtttI hie ...., DebcN'Ih.

21

Secret:ll)' Dearborn - inanh"il}' and parSilllOll\ minor modifications and reforms to old pallerns 180-1 - reappcardl1CC of the coalee light arlille!)' and rine unifonns

THE ARMY ON THE EVE OF WAR, 1809-11

,..tOI'l.nd fIIml'h .n AnterlcIfl eMt War-.1'1I - - . t fortr AI other U..-IM .. I 1 I.ne. I"",t,.lor epec:1.tl,lng In hl'tor\CIl and .Ihnogrllphlc IUbject.. HI, wom Ire In 11M

15

• The 1796 & 1797 regulations

• • • •

,g"

13

• Secreta" Knox's plans - shonjadets and round hats • unit distinclions • Anthom \\'a,"ne·s ·b.1.ttle of the caps·

JEFFERSON'S REPUBLICAN ARMY, 1801-00

O'... ld Rlckm.n I. Ihe .xhlblt. co·ortiln.tor lor 11'1. Delaware p.arl<••,.tem, where I'll. I• .,ourlt. pnlject I. h.lpillil to

7

• Josiah Ilarmar and the 1st American Regiment • the contrac of 1785 & 1786 • ~Ir Secreta Knox and :\Iajor Fish • the 1787 circular

33

~I;!jor

McComb. Secrctar)' Eustis, and the circulation or lhc 1809 prOlot)'pcS • the confused cmcrgence Oflhc 1810 patterns

CONCLUSION

36

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

37

THE PLATES

39

INDEX

48

SERIES EDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW

THE UNITED STATES ARMY 1783-1811

TEXT BY

JAMES KOCHAN

~

MILITARY

3

Fnl put>l
way,

Dr OI4ny~, Elma Courl,

Dedication

801..,., OlclOl'll 0)(2 9lP UnotMl l(>ngdom

AfJiwl

.... ngtns _

fn;m MI)' ,...

- . g lor !he ~ 01 p.MU. SlU
_ , ~ 01_." pIIm'lII1ed....-!lle~,Deeogns end Pel_ Act. 11188, no pen 01 _

~

mey lie ~

_

In.

.......... ..,-n, OI~" In.-.y form 01 Dr '"' - . ooIecIftlnoc, ~ a.r.:aI.~,~,

~-.lingOlo:xrw-,

-...... !lie pro ..nn.-. poem-.. 01 !lie 0Cl(Iyng/Il_ ~ shouIlllle

_ro!lle-'" 158N18417e0l10

-.----

Ulndon. Uk

"""*' 11'1 a- !hr'oI.9l- PM! lid

0102000'05

101'7'~.]21

FOR It CATAlOGUE Of ....... mus PU8U5HEO BY 0Sf'AEY MVIAA'I' NItJ A'Ml'ION PU.A5E 'MlJT'E TO The ~-"",,~""""ltO, PO &o.1~ _ ............... ~ HNlI~"""'" KIngdom EnW: ~"O __ .l'dioacLco'" The -...w.g -..0-, ~ 0lrac1 USA,

rJO McKofboob ~

EmIlI:

Acknowledgements SpeaIlIhank3 from both artISt and IIllI!hol" 10 TnII_ Crowder. Chudl FitIlI3Il, and John l/virIgston lot ~ Iond assostanee dumg the PfllPl"lIOn 01 the eoIour p1at_, t have ~ed from the generoIlly of P'fSOtlll too IlUIMrOUS 10 name, both lnlltltUIIOnilI staff and~, dumg my on tt.1IUbfecI 01* mal'f ~ but • woukI be ....".,. not to srogle out • leW of the ITIOSl helpful: Alan AImone, BnlWl 0unnIgwI. the "" 0etm8r Finke. BlI GutI'man. Peter ~on, the lilt. H.Cha1es McBarron, EIen ~, Dave Sommons. John S I " Don TroIIf1I, and lastly Ma1ul Zlatdl (wtw3 I1IloeIled ItlIo ~ 'HattW!on c:trawwlgs' reproduced lor the lnt III'TlIIn tt. wcrt). h was • distJna pleastn to W'Cril: IIQIIII'l wf\tll'llstoncal .-till and tnend 0eVld AIckman: and _ both exlend our deep and ~ Ih8nks to editor Mao1Ifl

-en

EdIu:r ,..,... WncIIOW

~ by Coloo.JrpeIh,

To my parents, Jakub and Georgene Kochan, lot tr-love and encouragemenl, as well as ll'leor pal~ and gUIdance duMg ~ family vacations thaI alWays InCluded VISIts 10 a myriad of museums, I'lIstoric SItes, forts and tlattlelields

~

PO &0. I,

Wndrow, __ patlInI.

~

and good-humored.

Artist's Note Reader1I ~ ca'e to noee Iha1Itl1o 0f9NII plJIfIIlngI from wtw;::h the eoIour plat_ In tt. book __ ~ _ ........ lor pnYlIIII sale. All repoductton copynght ~ • .....-:l by the Put*shltrl. AI ~ should be Ilbessed to'

WI !5402D-0001, USA

lnIoe_.,..ac-.-n

Dav>d Rickman, 1000 NcwttI Morvoe SIAtIl:, WinWogton, 0ttIaware 19801, USA.; or by e---m.I .,. rckr3akOspmtmal.com The PublIshers regret thlt they c.n

upon Itvs matt_

em_ mo no ~

Capt John Pritt w . . comml..loned In 17111 and . .rved In the hI Inlanlry (aubuquenll'y Ihe 1at SUb Legion} until December 17113, He apent moat 01 hla time in the e81l, where he ovel'1lw r8Cl'\litlnll and aupply matten Ind _ a. is evident In this 17I1Z pol1nlt by Ralph EaI1 - did not encounter the .hamlle. of food and clolhing which p1a9ued the lroopa on lhe lrontler. HI. unlfoml cantomla to 1787 regulallon., thoUgh the collar I. of the '11. . and falt' 10ml rather than the almple at.ndlng colla••peclfled, The acal1el lapets Ire ..nbuttoned, and hll b~ oltn. Society of the Clnclnnall _ Indlc1lting hi. prior . .rvice aa an of'fk:.. in !tie Contlnent.l Army _ Is proudly worn on the left tapel, The single aitftr .-pa..lette on hb rlght ahoukter Indic.at. . hi. rank, In _ h.and he holda a aI'Iort *,tver- or .teel-mounted Nber; In Ihe other, • 1791 inlPlCtlon retum of lhe regiment, The 'aprangwof'k' "-,, of cl1maon ailk, wtloM weave gave 11 el. .tic properties. Is aeeured al lop cent.. to a v. .t button _ perna,", an affect.tlon. but _ likely • nee.....ry mHfilre 10 ~ I It allcl9lng below his pronounced t1omach. ICcKiI1_y Dalta. Mu-..m of Art)

29 September 1789 Cnder the ne\\ Consti-

4

Huional gm'crnlllent, Congress passes an act lO recognise the lIlilitan establishment prC\ioush founded, consisting of 700 uoops originalh raised for ..enicc on the fronticr, plus the additional IWO companies ofarlillen rai-.ed under the resoh'e of20 October 1786, 30 April 1790 Congress passe~ an aCI to regulate and eSL."lbli~h (in lieu of the former act) the militan forces of the L'niwd States, to consisl of: I battalion of anillen (of" comp. Two ad\,mced detachments are defealed on 19 and 21 October llith nearh 200 regulars and militia killed. 3 March 1791 Congre<;s atll hori<;es an additional regiment orinfanlr\', lO be orWllli...cd as the preceding one. The president is empowered to raise, in addili011 10 or ill place oflhe militia, ,ix-month lroops enlisted under 11Ie denomination of'Levies', not to exceed 2,000 rank and rile. Summer 1791 1'\\0 raids alonl{ the \\';tbash River are conduCled by Kctlluck\ IllOllllled militia with partial success, destroying Indian lawns and crop.... 3 November 1791 A force of 1,'100 n:glll:u''i. lc\~e'i and mililia under ~laiGL"l1 Arthur 51 f:lair. governor of the Nonh\\cst Territon', is rOUled ill all allack on Iheir camp 011 the ea~lcrn branch of the Wabash River (ill pre~elH..d a\ \\estern Ohio) b\ Indians numbering between 1.000 and 1,500. In \-Iml has become kllo\\n as 'St Clair's Defeat' more than llOO officers and men are killed and some 300 wounded - relative LO Lhe ,iLL" of the force, the greatest ddeat ~ulTcred 1)\ the L'S Arm\ in its hi\lOn, 5 March 1792 Congress passes an act to rai-.e 'al the discrerion of we pre~ident', lor lhree \'ears: I ..quadron of dragoolH (of I troops) ~ l"eg-illlents of infamn- in addition to the IWO in sen;ce (each of goO rank and file and org
Another robuaUr built offic:er _ UCol WIlliam Dartte, who c:ommanded a battalion 01 Levlea rlll.ect from the VirgInia militia during the dlallilroua ngl c:ampllign. In thla painting by Frederick K-.nmelmeyer hla uniform la cllt In Ihe atyle of the day, .Ithough the Karlet·faced blue COllt haa a f.ll-down collar rllther than the more faahlonable atandln.g 0' rI"-lInd-fall lorma. Note the ailve, or whit. edging to hla 'Klnga, the two alive, epiIluletl_ Indk:aUng field rllnk, and Ihe allver plate on the white awordbelt; M (:llmea a ..ber and a dirt<. In the bec:kground troopa with 'blld bayonet. are ahown ctNU'V!n.g Indians; Dartte led th... suc:h chargon., all Inefleeti\le, during St Ctal... clefeal, yel mlrll(:ulouaty ... nrlvlld with only a slight wound, The _Id..... - d.......ed In blue <:oat_ w;u, red fKlng.. whit. 'lftt.. brown linen overall.. round nata, and 'belly bo.es' - IIlm"t c:ertalnly repreaent hh LevleL (Courteay The MlrMUm of Early Southem Decoralhte Arta)

27 December 1792 Thc preside III directs the reorgani~tdon of Ihe milil and Engineers' 10 be incorporated wilh the aniller) already in sen;ce, 10 be fOI"l11(.'d in I hattaliom of 10 companies each. 30 June 1794 Following the successful ambush of a sllppl} lrain, SOllle I ,~OO Indians engage the relief lorce 1>Cnt from nearby Fort Recovery and thell alti.u:k the poSt, but arc fOllgh! ofrb~ the garri'on of u'giotl regulars. 20 August 1794 Afler advancing against the :\'Iiallli \'illap;es 011 tht· I\latlllH~e River, Way Ill: and 1,000 Legion troops and KClltucky 11101l111l'd voltlll!eers defeat an Indian lorce of approximately 1,000 (including wnl(' 100 Canadian \ulunteers disguised as Indians) at the ballic of Fallen Timbers, breaking tht: slrt:nglll oftht: allied tribcs. 3 AUgtL'i1 1795 The Treaty of Gret:nvillt: is signed with tilt.' Indians. who cede most of the lands thai comprise prt:scllt-da} Ollio and eastenl Indiana. 31 October 1796 The military establishment of the L'nited Stales is reduced 10: The corps of arlil1eri~t.s and engincers 2 troops of light dragoons, 10 serve on horse or fOOl -I regiments of infantry (each of 8 companies) 27 April 1797 C.ongre'iS passes an an 10 prmidc for an additional (2nd) regimenl of artillerists .md el1hrlneers of 3 bauaJions, each with 12 companies.

5

16 July 1798 [n the opening davs of lhe 'Qua~i·\\'ar' \\'itb France, Congress passes an act to auglllclll the anm by l~li,ing: 12 additional regimellts of infallln (giving a lotal of 16) I regiment of dragoons (2 of its 8 troops alrea(h in <;('r"ice) 14 May 1800 The threat of pos~ibtc \\711' or ill\"asiotl having passed, C.ongress di.schargc..'S all onicers and men I~li,ed under the acts 10 augmelll the arm}', except: 2 regiments of artillerists and engineers 2 troops of dragoons 4 regiments of infantr... 16 March 1802 Congress fixe~ the Militar\ Peace Establishment of the eSA to consist of: 1 regimelll of artillen of 5 battalions (each of" comp.'mics) 2 regiments of infanu... (each of 10 companies) A corps of engineers (nOl to exceed 20 officcl'~ and cadets) A military acadenn, to be supcnised b\ the chief engineer 28 February 1803 C..nngress alilholise~ additional teaching st
6

While Wayne and his Legion mounted their campaign agalnat the Ohio Indlenl In 17g4, Prnldent Washington callad oul II volunteer army lrom the militia 10 IUpp.... the 'Whiskey Insurrec:tlon' In weltern Pennsylvania _.n .grarlan revolt aplnlt the Feder.1 eldse talon locally produced liquor. M.ny 01 the volunleera we.. armed, equipped and even unllormed by the FedllralllOvllmmenl. Washington" ~ 01 the Virginia and Maryland wing of the army at Fort Cumberland on 2 O<:tober t 7a4 la depleted here by Fredllrlc:k I(emmel~.... (Courtesy, WInterthur Museuml

I regiment of liglll dragoons (of 8 troop:.) I regiment ofrinemen (of 10 companies) 5 additional regiments of infantl"\ (each of 10 companies) 7 Nm'cmber 1811 Al the battle ofTippecanOt'. Governor \\ilJiam Ilenn Harrison and his anm (consisting of the 4th CS Infamn. Indiana militia and Kemuc,,", \"olumccrs) are surprised in their encampment In an earh-morning att;.lcK b\ Indians under The Prophet. but succeed in sah-dging a \'ino!'} from ncar-defeat. This breaks the po.... er of the confederated Indian tribes in tile l':orthwest Terrilon·.

UNIFORMS: THE FRONTIER CONSTABULARY FORCE, 1784-91 --DUI;ng 178+-85 lhe handful of regular troops lefl in me sen;ce of the United Stales were clothed in me same 1\1>C of unifonns that tilt:' had pn:vioush 1'001 in the Continental Anm at the close of the War for Independence. II had been directed. b\ General Orders of 6 December 1782, that 'the Cnifonn of the American Ca\'all"\ and Infantn shall in futurc be, blue ground, \,'itll red facings and ....hite linings and buttons', while thc anillen would 'retain it!> present uniform' (blue 'lith scarlet or red facings and linings and ~ellow tl;mmings). This initial attcmpt to provide a consistelll llnifonn dr~ss of blue \\'ith scarlet or red facings for UniH'd Stales troops would he followed in practice. 10 a large degree, lllllilllle War of 1812. In ~la}' 1783. during the waning- months of the war and in anticipalion of lhe impending trcat\' \\;th Creal Ikitain. Cen George \\'a~hingtoll directed Cell Ilenl"\' Knox to pro\;de the l..ondnental Congress \\;th cost estimate~ for troops intended to be raised (or kept in sen;ce) to OCCUP\ the frontier posts of the ne\\ nation. Included in me resulting (:stimates was a statemelll of the nccess.ln anicles of unifonn dress \,'i1h componelll brCill..downs and their associated costs. This

Detail from the Kemmelmey.r p.lnllng of the Fort Cumberland .....I.w. Oespit. the nal.... execution of the bKkllround tlgu u.. ¥Oluntea..• bh~e c_t with red tKlne•• white ......ts and o...eralts ck>sely ~b" those wom by regu,,"r Int.... tty. and m.y h.aYa baRn pn:wlded from ....rplu. legion slockS; nole the round hats and lhe u.. of belly bo•••• The

office.. W.ar tull-aklrte
7

c~tin];lte rrovide~

addition;11 imi!{llls imu the form ofclolhill!{ l\picllh furnished for l'l\li~lt'd (:otllincntal infalllry at the clos<-' of the 1\;lr. In ket.'pill!{ \\ith the 17R2 direni\·e. uniform com.'> wen: to be of bllll' cloth with '\C'lrlt.'t lapcl~, cllfT~ and collar and white ~hallooJl Iinillg~. With on Iv ,Ill il\l'I'age of 1 I. \'mds of blue "/. (E'·lin width) cloth illIo\\ed per coal. we know that th(·\ I\t.'re fairh shon !{arlllellL';. probabh onh coming down to mid·thigh. although lhe skins had full tumb,leks join('d u>gether b\ a hook-and-c\e arrangemenL With on Iv V, \"anl of cloth prmided for f.ICing" (ill' oppo"Cd 10 the V. "ard .lllowed ill Brili~h ;\rnn coaL~ lIl.lcle according to lhe 1768 warr.nu). Wl' 1I1il\ deduct.' th,ll lhe '\Carll'l lap(_·I... CliO" and cape were probabh fairh Jlarrml. The H'commelHkd .1Ilnll.11 i...~u(' .11'iO included a ·\e.t with skin."; or \\;Ii,lcu.ll and a pair of hrcl'cll('~. oolh of "hite cloth: a pair ofbille wool o\erall.... a pail' of linen O\l'rall~. a fell hal. and a hllllling shin of bro\\'n Iinl'n completed Ihe i-.slle. in addition 10 <;hins. shoc
Thl' detail from s d..wlnll 01 the mllll.ry .,tsbllshment sl W.sl Polnl has be.n v.,lously dated betw••n 17i2 snd 17i7, but I' no earll., than 17i2 - the year lis arttst, Archibald Robert,on, Ilrst amved In New York from SColland. In front of the barraeks t.n be . . .n s company of troops (Infantry 0' .rtillary)In round hats, short coats snd ov...II" commanded by an offie.r In coal snd co<:ked hat. Of great Int.....1 .... the dst1l spots purposely pl~ed on the knees of the ove""s, which suggest the uN of patcn.. or ... infon;:ements msde from coat perine. cI.Plsle B3. (COurtesy US Milibry

10""

Aclt6emy M .......m. West

Point!

lighl-colored cockade, wt:rt' impraclical. illstead decided upon mort· durable aud cheaper ones ...tamped from black leather. which had 'a respectable appear-mce \1 hell the\' were polished'. The limiled ~mcks of \\'.lrtillle c10lhing were fast dimini~hing, hO\lc\l'f. forcing tilt" Board of TreasLlr\ 10 achertise in ~I,l\ IiSS for bids to furnish Ihe deficient clothing articles. These included. among other il('I11~. 120 aniller\' and -198 infant" coats: 110 artille" haL~ trimllled with lellO\\ cord lo()ping~ and ;')C)() inf,mtro ont'S with whitl' loopin h....: II hite woollen and linen O\er-tlls: and blad. lealher ~tocls and c1a..~p\. The ::"ew York mercamile linn of LlwTence ~. Morris slicct.'Ssflllh sccured the contraCI. which h;ld been modified in time to include the traditional distinnion<; accorded 10 .)('rgeantS and 11l1l~ician<;. thank.<; 10 the w,nchful c\t~<; of ~l,ti :"icholas Fish. This officer reminded the Hoard that '\erge;uwi drl'SS \\,1~ ·...imilar 10 that of pn,.ue\· although with a 'small difference in the qualil\ of the CIOlh' and 'with uifling badge<; on their Shoulders': while the 'Colour of the Drummer<; & fifers Coats. is dctennined b\ that of the facings on the CoalS of the Banln. ~Ien - and lhe facing... regulated b\ the same rule'. :'1:01 onh were the sergeants' coats of betle,' nMtcrial<;. the\ were also longer (in imitation of the cOlllmi~ioned officer.... wh~c <;kirts came dOlm to the knee). with I Y. \,ard... of blue c101h pro\'ided for the bod\' rather than Ibe I Y: \ COI11l<\Cl clothing: rccei\'ed less Ihan stellar relit.'ws when i'isned that fall. Captain Douglll\' of lhe anillel') inf
MajGen 'Mad Antnony' Wa~. Laoglon command and vlctcM' of Fallen Tlmbe p8lnted In Philadelphia by Jean-Pia,.,... Henri El_lsln 11M only months belore hi. death. Now 50 and gout-ridden, Wa~ Is.tlown pointing to a copy of the Treaty of Greanville; again, tha Cincinnati eagle on hi. lapel commemorllt. . . .,..,Ice In the W.r for lnd.pendence. The general olflc:er'. unlfo"" i. blue with buff lacing. and smallclothe., trimmed with gilt buttons and two gold epauletles each bearing the two stars of his r.nk. HI. walstco.t or 'vest' has a sl.ndlng eoltar and short skirts, 11111 ~ulatlon for most olflce... Inlo the 1.le 17lKls. .Ithough 'round' or IIklrtless v..ts _re .Ire.dy part of the .nllsted men" Issue .nd WIllf1l sported by m.ny of the monI f.shlonabl. offlc.... (Court..y Tom P....... Collectlonl

9

remained of whiLe "00) cloth, a~ did the willter breeches and meralls (one pair of cach !x-ing fllrni~hed an 1U1.11l1', alollg" Idth twO pairs arlinen O\erall~ for hOl I\'calher), ;\learH\hik, Ihe lllajoritl of the troops wefe now scning in the Ohio Vallt'\ and ill the process of conslfucling and Of rcpairing fronLier fonificaliom ,md barracks - demanding and afduous labor which woule! ha\'e worn 0111 better qu,llit\ c10lhing lhan that prmided b\ COnLracl. The 'Sufplm IUlIlIjng 'Shirts i:>sued in I i8-t--85 had long ago been used up lor faligut> dUlie~, and during I i86-8i mam troops labored 'under lhe di~,d\'anlagcof h:wing nc\cr rccei\ed faligue coab lO sa\·c lheir long one~', Some comp
10

Although rather crude, thl' carlcalure or 'doodle' of an unknown officer from a L89lon orderl~ book falthfutl~ record. the detalt' 01 Legionary dre.. c.1794, HI. coatee hili a ,landing collar decorated with a button each .Ide. narrow lapela, and short ,klrt. wllh diagonal "lashed' pocket flaps, The epauleUe on his shoulder I' of the older 'ro.e knot' form perhaps lett over from hi. aervlce durln9 the Revolutlon? I'lliher than the .Imple stl'llP style Hen In molt edant mll1tary portl'llit. 01 thl, period, HI' h.lr Is wom 'clubbed'; .t left eIln be Hen what eppea,.. to be • cocked hal (or perhaps • round h.1 with the left brim cocked up). with a circular cockade surmounted by a feather plume. ICourt. .~ The FUson Clubl

.,~,

'i{'\

.~

',"

" t

.-

1,

"

,,~h

f-

I

\

g....

Antoony Wayne wore thl. gener.l office'" coat while commanding the US Legion and for hi. 17Vt5 portrait by flout. , _ pege gl. Of blU4l cloth with butt faclOiJ', It ha. the rise-and· fall collar popular until c.17ga. Each wnctlonat lapel I. flnlsned with nl... gilt buttona with 'wor1led' hoi••; 1M nlIlTOW cuffs each ha",. th,.. larva button. placed crosswl.., wh[l. a smaller button clo... the slit In the unde,..am. On the hlp. are pocht nap. edged with buff and bearing thnHl 'bllnd' buttonhole., conespon
when cOlllraning for arm\ clothing during that and and are extraClcd belo\\':

~llbseqllelll \cars,

/-Ials rork,d, and whil~ lrim/lllllgs (for illfilll/l)', )'t'flolll for llrll/in')1- Coob bIlle, long mui r'(lehi,,/{ 10 Ihf kllff, s((lrl~llalH'II,~. ruffs allii stamiing ca/H', whit~ bill/OilS (HId lillings [for if/fill/II), wilh )'t'flow bill/OIlS ami ua,ut /illill~ for Mill/try} .... \nts oj Ihf' Artilin')' ami II/falltl)' (0 IJf' whilt', .\'fl/llIJ.! bullfJ/lS for (hf artilkry (Imi while for 0" illfallll), short flaps, (h,," bill/OilS 011 fach podut. OWTalls - to 01/ SjJ«ifi oj IroopS.... l..aptlls oj Ihl' whok, ami slmlding mjNs, hj'f) inrh'5 wid~, cuffs th,," illchn

(,,"!'/. Sloclrs - al/lh~ lroops to w~ar blark storlrs or rrf/1!a(s. Corkadts - Infallll)' alld Artl//n)', blark ImO,", muml, wilh painb, Jour illeh~ III dimnJ'tn:. Sholl/lln- straps - aI/1M troops 10 hat¥ bllll'. Mgf'd with mJ 011 boih shouldnJ. Th~ ullijonn oj tl" lIlusiciallJ (0 IN mi, Jarnlll'Ilh blllf'.

From reading me abuH~. there appears lO ha\'e 1x,'Cn blllliuJe change in the dress from lhal pre\ioush issued. ahhough for lile first time lIe find lhe mention of 'standing capes' (collars) "uher lhan the flal or fall-down collar :" uscd in bulh the British and American militM"\ during the \rar for Independence and I>c~ond. Ahhough some fashion
"

explainecllhal the colored mt:r.lll, wen- due to unavailability of white goocl~ on the market. and that in future winter ow'ralls would he of while 'if lO Ill' obtained', Ilowc\er, he dis.-.grced with 1l.II"lI1ar\ 110liom of proper military dre~s. noting that while 'O\t~r.llls are conceh'ed to be preferable to breeches' for ICf.,'1\car, shon coats were prcfer.lblc to long 'for the scn;ce of the frontiers', and 'Iong coaLs and cod.ed hats are in 1m opinion an lInseemh association', Kno" closed lhe di"Clission Wilh lhc following paragraph: 'It htu bl-nl 111\ fl,slr, that Ih,. .\llIt'I1mn troops SllOlilr/ Iwt" a rhamrlmstimll\' ,wtion,,1 llIliJontl, blr'lllitiK IItilitl (II1f1 ap/Jf'lIrllllr,. withollt impliritl), JoilowiliK tIlt' nulolll$ oJ th,. f..llro/Jf'flIH, I hIlI" hlld tilt' ho/Jf' that sol1VtlllllK IIIlg11/1N atloptM ill this mp«t, mighl n'inu II Jllllg"IIIn1t oJo"r OWtl. although I rOtifm tlmt t~ Prf'S'tlt ""iform is 1.", difJ,",1f Jrom m) R'iSMs and Jlldgp''''''ll, .\'I'IIOlIgcoolf find rO(kf'd IwLf IItfmlti not IN part.! oJtIlt' ""iforlll. I hO/Jl' th,./lIn,. 11'111 nmt." lI'hf'll tf ~ stnn oJthis kim! I1W\' IN mloptM agrN'flbl,. to troops and hOtlQmbb- to t~ IwtiOlI.

Capt Griffith Jonn MeRee, who t"- Co."' of Artllleri,t. and Engineers 111l~, ptllnted In 11e5 by Jamet Peale. HI' bl.... unlfonn, fKed Kanet, I. trimmed with Ililt button., and a IlOld ',tnlP' ePlllulette on hi' right shoulder a. appropriate to hi' bnloch and grade. Note th.llt the white ve.t ha. a .tandlng eollar while that on the eoat I. of rl.e-and-fall form. ICourt•• y Mead Art Museum, Amherst College}

MfVfiI In

12

This insight would foretell <;Ollle changes that Knox intended to implemelll in the not-loo·distant fUlUre. as well as the (Iue:.l for an ideal 'national uniform' Ih.1t \\'ould continue to plague American mililan leaders for decade~ 10 come, \1 Fort HannaI' and other western IX)~t.s of Ihe ht .\merican Regimelll, hO\\('\'er, the lielilenalll-eoionel commandalll did his best to bdng about a uniform and marti.ll :lppearance among his troops. de:.pite sporadic isslles Qf :.ometirnes '~Ie:ll\' anicles of clothing. All hough Hannar had hoped for h:lIS I\'ith brims wide enough to be cocked up with the bad. fan higher than Ihe front. the 1\001 felt hats recl'i\ l'd were app:lrcnth narrow- and l'\t.'n·hrimmed and M:arce1\ able to be cocked al all. ,\s detachments of recruils arri\cd from the cast during 1788, Harmar ordered oflicers to haH' 'the \\'h itc binding taken orr their mens l-IaLS', II hich I\ere Irimmed in~tcad with bear!>kin cre~ts and plumes made of red-(I\ed blld. tail~ - hoth readih available from local rl':'Ollrces. This headg('ar cominucd 10 be Il'om b, the original [:.1 Regiment, and apparently by tlw ncwh rai".'d ~nd [nfantry in Ji91, alllloug-h a red fealher replaced 11H" huck tail plume in 1790. The artillery and two r('gular infantry rl'g'illll'ms were dressed very milch a~ prescribed in the 1787 uniform rl'gulalion~ when 1her took the fidd ill 1791, with the exception Oflhl' hcadg:ear noted alx)\e for the inE.ll1tn regiments. I-Io\\('\cr, the Feder';ll gmt'f1Unelll abo had the rcspomibilit\ of clothing and l'quipping the 1~1 and 2nd Regiments of Lc\'ic!>. Raised lor ani} six months' ""rvicc. the'l.' tlOOPS recei\cd a cheap uniform dre:.s consi~ting of "hor! blue CO,IIS or 'ccMteeS' \Iith vests and o\el':llls. The coatecs had red facings and lapel:. blll these Ilere probabl~ 'fabl", i.e. incapable of buttoning aero,s. in:'lCad being mereh sewn dOI\'n 10 the breast for decorathe purposc~. I hel were abo apparenth unlincd or onh parth lined, and made of coal'se materials. The gmenllnelll realised substamial 'i:l\ ing~ in doth .llld "lboI'. bUllhe cheap uniform:. subscquemh wore Ollt long befol'e lhe enlislment-. of their

Wt'arl'rs. The k'vic~ I't'n'i'ed 1"001 f.. ll round baLS: it i... doubtful Ihal embelli hllH:nl' ,ucll a, thl' bearskin creSL'i and feather... u ...l,d b\ Iltl' regular (\\ ho paid for ~uch 1hrOllgh wlli~ke\ or par sloppage,) weI t' t'\t'l' applied.

THE LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES,

1792-96 Fol\O"'ing 51 Clair's di"''itfOIlS Ji91 Indian campaign, Sent'l
Consld.m ••uperlor c.v.try offlc.r, SOlomon V.n R.ns. .liHlf .nl....d ......Ic••s e cornet in 11112, we. e captain the following y.ar, and wa. . .nlor meJor wh.n dl"htlrgacI •• a conMquenc. 01 the ermy" mUoCtlon In June 1800, This mlnlatu'" of c,11117 by Robert FleIcI llho_ him In lhe pre-171l1l IIl1ht dragoon unlf_ worn during the legion and . .tty 'Quasl-Wa" pef'IodL The blue cosl .. laced scarlet and trimmed with sliver butt_ end ~ulett.; not. the scarlet wings on lhe sl'toulders, .nd the two .,.,all buttonl on the rbe-snd-fell cotler - delel" nol I'I'I
~nls

an

O'Ial

Illver fl'et. bearing an eagle

ctevk:•• (Courtesy The Albany Instltut. of History and Art)

Thl' Ojfirl'l"~ bring /\""'IIIj{N/ fo /lIr jOllr Sub J.RgiQIIS, il /lOW bfrQI/I('J r.'1Jf,tlil'lll /0 gillr I hrsr /,f'g;OIlS d isl i IIrl il'r " tfI rkl, whirh art! 10 IJe as jO/{OIl'I' _ I'i:; Thl' first SlIb /.Pf;l01I whilr !Jillfli"j{ lipan IlInr Gil/H, lI.illl whilr phi ill'S mil/ Wark /wir. Till' wand ,'wh /.rgiOIl - f{r(/ binding 10 Ihnr UI/J.f, Iff/ pllllflr<;, wilh Il?lilriwir. Thr Ihi,.d 5mb /Rf!:ion - ),/{OllJ BII/tlill/{ to Ihtir C{//H - ),UOll' phllllrf. alld mark /lair. Th, jOlll"lh Sllb /..I'f{lOIl - (;,.,n1 him/in/{ 10 IIlnr C.{lP5 - lI'JOI (;,,"" Plllln'5 am/nth ii' hair.

C.oll\cning old, di,ligur('d hal.'> into uniforllllight infantn-I\'I>C cap, \"ts a technique that \\'a\'l1(" had

13

14

succe..., fulh Clllploverl wllcn commanding Pennsylvania troops during lhc War l()r Independence. The brim was trimmed off excepl for Ihal in frOlll. which remained to form ,I \·isor. and Ihe parings \\cn: uscd LO make small, vertical '~hidds' or frollt plale~. Although Warne attempted 10 presene Ihe color di\linnions pre~ribcd b\ Knox for the firsl Ihree Sub l..t'j{ion'i. he had illStiUlled "'....een binrling and plllllWS in Iiell of plain black for the Fourth. probabh 10 pre\ent am perception of a ~Iighl ,lIllong it'l officer'S and men. \\'avne ordered the officer.. 10 ...·e their form', he 'causcd 10 be in some dq{rt't' remedied b\ a strong binding & adding "I)t'ar skin cmer in the form ofa cresl O\er tile Cro\\11 \\hich nOI onh kecps the heads of the IHt'n dn & warm but has a :\lilit<:ln & :\Iartial Appearancc·.

Thoma. C~lng wae ....jor of tM ht Inlantry when he At In 17" for tnle mlnlMIInl by Jamn Peale. Hie coat conform. fo the

Infenfry unIform regulatioM of 1187 and 111M. and'" disploayt the CincinnatI eagle on It, blue 'rid white r11M)orl. HI, wttlte ."..t Ie double-bre.,ted, a, orderecl In January 17" for en Inlantry olllee,.. ..rvlng under I'" command of BogGen Jame. Willdnaon. BOlh coat end ."..t h,."e ,tanding colla,.., the former with a ,n."er button end worked hole on each aide. ICourt..y Indlenapolle Mu..um of Art, gift of Jo,lah K,lIl1y JrJ

Geof\1e Wa.hln"ton Parlle Cu.tI•• the adopted son and .tep·"rand.on of Oeof\1e Washington, received. cornet'. commi••ion In fhe U"ht dra"oon. In t 1M, In accordance with the ori"lnal 11 January unJlorm cin:ular, which .peclfied whIte flCing. and trimmIng. for the light dragoon•• W..hington procured .Ilve...mounfed arm. .nd ec:cOlJtrement., a. _II a. e uniform. lor his ~O&lng ward, Painted in 180 t b~ Robert Field following hi. dlKharv- a. lievt_nt during the 1800 reduction. Cu.tl. Is .hown hera In a green COIIt wfth the bl.ac:k facing. which had I"89laced tM original whita by October 1188. However, hi. epaulette. buttons .nd ~ 1111 altvtlf" .nd the hoWls p~ed In pal.... rathtlf" than of yellow metal and alngly 5plCed a. llnalised for ItwIt corp. by the ciON of the year. Cle.rty. Cu.tl. WOf1I this uniform throughout hi. snort SIf'Vlce eump" 01 the ",.riou. Interpret.tlon. and uncertainti. . _ .rmy office...• d.... that p.......iled during the Quasl.Wa. period .nd beyond. (Court..y The Vlrvln1a HI.tork.1 Society)

.rmy"

.n

At lh..., SolOW lime, Warne propo'iCd lltal in lilt' fonhcoming cloLhing the \, hile woollen o\'cralls lhcl1 in ll~ Ix' l'('pla('C"d .....ilh ont"~ of browll or blue clOlh (II hicb maskcd din ;lIld 'tai n~) :lIld - a'. had Ilarmar before him - he requesled long coal~ and cockcd It.llS in preference to the coalee~ and 'flim~~ round' hat.s inlrodll(,('c1 b\ Knox. lie explained lhat 'long CoalS 1\'iIl keep [lhe men] warm & comfortable during the Winter & be curtailing lhem in the ~pring, Iht"\ ,,'ill afford p.·uches or matt:rials for repairing or mending thelll "hcll reduct"d 10 Coalees', President Wa~hington Lhought tlte 'ideas cOllullunicated ... [b\ Wa\lle rdati\e) to long and ~hort Coats are nol. I concei\e, had'. RumON abounded concerning a po~ible change in dress, and on(> infantn offict..r, writing to Samuel Hodgdon in lall' s...'plcmher, enquired aoom 'Whal Fonn the l1e\\ L:niform will be' and .lssured the Superintendent of lIlililan Stores thaI 'Should \OU 5ucceed In gelling a Long ('..oat, and Cod.1. Hatt the \\11ole Anm \,'ill Feel lhem<;ehcs L'ndel' Obligations 10 'ou' . Ilowe\er, there were sufficient Mod.s of Ca.1.d. i'~lll:

THE QUASI-WAR PERIOD,

1797-1800 In anlicipation of nev. infantry coat.s with longer skins, regulatioll' \,eri' i!>.'Slled frolll headquarters on 12 FC'hruan I i96 prescribing the new uniform for inf,mln officers. which W,IS 10 consist of a blue coat 'reaching to lhe knee and full trimmed' wilh 2in·wide sialiding collar and lapels, 3in-wide cuffs, whilC llleial blitlOnS and trimmings, and worn with \lhilC smallclolhes. black boots and cocked haK On 19 Jalman 1;99, Brig-Gen Wilkinson fUrlher clarified the 'llllCkr dO
15

nil. the uniform \\il~ 1'~M'ntialh IInchilnHcd from thai of ,lit.' 1iSi reg-III,lIion". It \\ould not bt, ulltil late 1797. 1100\l'\cr. lhal the enlisted infillltnmcn would finalh rl'Cci\e their Ill'\\ paucrn coaL~.•md it is qllc'lionable Idlt'llll'r lhe wail wa..~ wonh it. It appear~ LO haH' been a ratlH:r plain garment of blue. \\ith 'i("arlt't facings con~i5tinK of ~(dndinK coll.lr. lapels with '>('\cn large pewter billion... and cufT~ lhat \\('re slil on lhe tlnder-~'Hl1 and -.ccured there with one small Inillon and hole lheir ,ole cmlx-lIi,h11lent. II had lx-en intcnded LO trim lhe coal.'i with narrow, while \\or~1Cd binding and lhi, appears 1.0 hale been done durinA' the firSI )'('ar, hut Wilh lhe creal ion of 12 additiollal infamn reg-itllcnt" in I i9H to '!Illpplel11clu the fOil l' standing' regilllCI1l.'i, such lime- and mone\-
the Aegt of LIght O.-goonl. The coat Is greet'l lalthough u.. .aterc:oIoo" .... now faded 10 • I»ulatl &hadel. with b1Kk lacing. and yellow buttons; the ,l_es and skirts are trimmed with

herringbone holes 01 yeHow 'ferret'. This d,.".lng. end other1l prepared at the pme lime to .ccompany another proposed vllrslon of the 178e regulations, constitute the ••rU•• t known "hemalicsofUSArmyunltorma ",tanl. (Courtesy Library of COftSIress'

,.

Modlflcatlon. to the e January 17ee unllorm 'regulation' were al..ady under con.lderatlon when thl. 'broad.lde' wa. being printed, although some at ib guideline. particularly thoM concerning officers' d ..... and inslognla __ ... at

UN1FORMfar

the

ARMY

if the UNITED

STATES

dll~ commander in chi~f, to ~ U1u~ cnat, with ydlowbu[. and gold cpaulets, each having threc filver llan, widl lining, cape :!nd cult•• >of buff-in winler buff veft a.nd breeches j-in (ummer, Il wbiLe veft and breeches of nUlkeen.-.,.The coat to ~ without lappels, and combroidered ou the >cape and culfs and -pocket~ A whir.r: plume in tOe hat, to be a furtller dillinllion. The Adjutant GenenI, the aids, amt(ecre{aries, of !he commander in ehitr. to be jikewj(e difIinguilhcd by a white plume, The uniform of Ihe atha gencril offiem, to be a blue coat.. 'Wllh yellow butlons, gold epaulets, linings and facings of buff--the underc le:ven.lly dllringuilhed by thc lik£ plurr.es, whidl art: worn by Ihe gt:neral officen, to whom they arc refpcd:ivcly utached. . The ulliform of the aidl of {he commander in chief, when not taken from f"C'g:. ments. to be a blue co:u, with yellow bUIIOns, :lnd gold epaulet, buff licing and f.u:ings ---(he !;tme under·c1oll[h~ with tbe comm:mrlcr in chief. Tbe.lnfpell:or g~e~l.his aids, 'and the officen of infpcfl"ion gencraIly, to be dif. tinguillicd br a bruc plume. The 02~rt.er M~ncr General, and od1cf.-nl.ililary e!E~ c.l:liin;n bil-depHlmCftf, to bc:: difliuguifhciby:l. green plume. The uniform of the infantry and aMiIlcry to be a blue COl.!, wuh white hultons, and red faeinS', white under-cloo.thes and cocked hats-the length of tbe officer's rom to rea.th to the knees, the coatS of the infantry, to be lined with white, of the util· lery Wilh red. Tbe uniform of the cavalry, t~ be 3. gree:! COlt. witb w.hite buttous lining~nd facings; white: yen and brecchC'l, and _btlmet caps. Each Cone on the left ihoulder ~ Cadets., by a finp on the right lhouldt:r, The epaulets and flr-aP1 of the regimental,officers to be of liIver.· Serjeant-majors and .Quartt:r.maner:ferjeants. to be difiinguilhed by tWO ted worned. <:pauleu j SerJeant1 by alike epaulet on the right IhouMcr ; Corporals, by a like epau· let on the left !houldcr; the flank companies. 10 be dif'linguilhed by red w;ngs 0:1 the fuouldeu. The coats 0·( the M\llieian~· to be of the coloun of tht: f;lcings of the corps to which they fcveral1y belong. The Chief Mulicians [0 woar two white wor!l:ed epaulets. All the Civil Staff of the Anny, to wear plJin blue coats, wid} ydlow buttons, a.nd white under.e1oathes. No no1d or !iiver lace, except in the epaulets and lfraps (0 be worn~ The commiffiQn;d:offi.cw... aurl cadet-s, te we?t-r flV'OTds. .A!I perfon~ belonging to the nrmy. to wear a black cockade. with a fmall while :Eagle in Ihe centre, 'T'he cockilde of n2D·~lIioliedfl.fflCas, muficians :md -pri. 'Wt~, lUbe of Teatncr, wiin Eaglcs of,tm. The regiments to be tliniPguilhed from each other, numt:ricaily. The number of ach regiment to be eltprdfcd on the buttons. THE uniform of

ItODS,

lea.t partly Implemented. ICOlJrte.y Llbnlry 01

Cong.....)

0PP0SrTE $ehematlc drawing olan artlltery enU.ted man's unltorm prepared to accompany a propond revl.1on 01 the 1789 regulation•• The coat Is blue with red laclnes and linings and yellow buttons. Red-edged pocket flapa a....et vertically on the .klrt.; the .houider • trap. end In blue wing., and both are edged red. Thl. unllorm wa. actually made up and luued during 17e9-1801, and continued In ule, with the addition of yellow binding and a lew other minor change., lor a number 01 years. (Courteay Library of Cong....,

By Commaml of the Prdident GlVE~ at the

Wilt. Office of the Unite,d Siates. in Philadelphta,lhis 9th day of Januarr, 10.. D. 1799, 2nd in the twt:nty.[bird year of the Independence of [he faid fiates. J.-\.1\1ES MCHENRY, Secretary of Wu.

L

17

Ill(" round hal 'decor-lied \\ith 1001" ,mel bC'ar~"in·. ahhough lhl' distinctive color('(t binding ;Ippear~ 10 have been discolllinued wilh the di~solUlion of the suh It.--gions in 1796. The h.1l \\,',> lefl ..:Hiler pbin. Idlh onh lhe \Ihill' 'siring' loopillg~ that secured the 1001(.'<1 It-athl'f cod.,uk 10 the ('ockcd-up kit brim pnwiding" SOI1H' comr,lq m the black kll and fur cn·~l. th the United Stall'" prepared to plLlIIg-l' into war Idlh Ill..: RCH)llllionan French gO\l'IIlIIICIlI. iLS three ....,Ilim· militan (elder<;GC."Olltl' \\'ashington. who rdUClamh came Ollt of f{'lirl:"ment 10 ~nc hi.. COllllln once again as ne\lh appoillletl 'Commander of the .\..rlllies of the Lnitecl Slale~". and \1'YGcns CllCd as mall\ qlle'ition...~ it ,mS\\l'rcd conN'rning the llnifnnn'i the\ and their mcn were to \\car. Inulldatcd wilh fc.'quests for additional details, .\leI lenr)' tasJ"I'd Ilamiitoll 10 de\'clop detailed spccificaljon~ aud paltern~ far lhe arm>'s uniforms, In the iTltcrim, unifi.)rm~ had alrcach been contracted ill 1798 for the 12 additional n:Kimenls as \\t'll a~ the H'tel
,.

BELOW LEFT The 'frog,+egged' or 'turke,' eagle lorm popula. during the Federal period I' ... ery e...ldent on thl, engr....ed ,lIye. belt pl.t. wom between 1189 and 180 1 b)' Lt Thomaa eaatl.nd of the 4th Infantry, IP...... t. coUectiofl b)' famity ~ t j BELOW Anotneo' version of the eagle bell plate Is known to heYe been wom b)' officers In some of the 'Additional' regiments raised In New Engl.nd during

t199-18oo; thl. e-.ample belonged to Enl.... Babbllt of the t4th Infantry.(Couf1.., ",Duncan Campbell; photognpn Mike O'Donnell}

u.

Fevrel 5t Memln mUll have executed thl, profile protralt 0' lICol Henry Burbeck of the 1,t Regt of Artillerlsls & Engineers befortl 1802, as his hal, I, ,tltl worn long; tne bunon, II'" silO of a pllnarn used by both rtl9lments ollhls "OfllS from c:.17liHl-1801. The

c:o{lll, ha, two button, with aoJd-1ac.cI ho{_, whit. lhe I.pel, hllY. holes of scanet 'twIst' -

known f. .tu,.. of artillery oftit;en' unifonn' during thl, period. (COurtesy Natlonsl Portrait Gelle..... Smithsonian Instl1ut1onj

tht: infantry rt:gimenL~ from olle :lnm her pewter bLlltons were struck with 'the number of t:ach regiment .. , expressed on Ihe bUllons', replacing the frog-legged eagle de\'ice formerh u~d, Due 10 the mdden and massi\""e demands in the marI..etplace for cloth suilable for militan lInifomls. supplies of suimble ....hite and blue cloth or kelW\ for o\"eralls ,,'ere hard to come b\ in 1799 and. as a SIOp-g;:lp. \"rious other hues \\erc acccpled. C...aptain Shaumburg of the 2nd InfalllT\ complained to his colonel Ihal his compan\ hi.ld been issued 'Woolen Ch·enilis of all Colours imaginable and those of the wurst kind'. nOling thai it was 'the firsl inslance to 111\· Recolle<:tion I.hal. olle Comp,"l!l\ has been Qoathcd so FalllastiGllh '. The stamped leal.her cockadt.'S were now 10 bear a small eagle in the center. original I\" orden.'iments. were disbanded in 1800, The uniform thaI. Hamilton pruposed for the infantry included blue COillS which extended to lhe knee and had <;earlet facings wilh worked hultonholcs. horizontal pocket flaps and full linings. Pantaloons of blue with red edging. or all-white olles for parade. would be worn inside black w,iters. \\hile broad cocked hats completed lhe uniform. ~lcHenl"\­ ball..ed at I.he estimal.ed costs: .50 per coat and 1.23 for the hat. as opposed LO 5-1.50 and .80 respeetheh for coats and hats 'under the Old fonn'. B\ late April 1800 McHenf\, callglll between a persllashe

19

LEFT Honorably discharved lrom the army In June 1802 during the Jelfenonian purge of oKH;ers either fOfWign born or Itrongly Feder1Ill,t in ,ympclthy, LtCol Louie T_rd _ars the fully Iaeed uniform first apeclfled for the artinery in April 1801. This 5t Memin eneravlng abo thowt him witt! clOfl'PMl hIIir, furthef" tupportlng a uta of 180t-02. (Aulhor's collection)

BELOW Adopted in 177g, Von Sleuben" Blue 8ooA' g.ovemed tM 'order and di.cipllne' of the US Army until replaced during Ihe War 01 1812. Thi.l. a delail Irom a plate .howing the 'manual e ..rclse' prepared lor the 1803 edition. Clearly vlslbl. are the new-patt.rn round hat' and pantaloons with gall.... introduced during 1801-02, a, well as the use of cro..belt, and bayonet scabbard, - a practice which had fallen from favor and was only al this time being gradually ,.......bbU.hed. (Allthof"s collecllon)

Hamilton and all irale Prc"idcllt John Adalm, Iinalh ordered the ~Iililal"\ Store Keeper to 'produce lhe fOr!w.:r patlern Garments, as tho'ie by which 111(' Clothing now ordered are to Iw ClIt out'. \\'ilh Ibe red'lction of Ihe anm' no addil ional illf"antn unif()rlll~ were lleCC'isan. as sufficient were on hand f(lr the old r('gimcllt.s: bill b\' the lime the contl.lcts were countermanded Ihe Pune\"or of Public Supplie"i reponed that al least mOSI of lhe infantn 'Coat" were all cut out & pan of lhe other aniclc~', In the mealllime I3ligGen Junes Wilkinson. who commanded the troop" that had fonnerl\ comprised Ihe Legion - now 'iCn'ing on the Great Lakes and along Ihe ~Iississippi - had recei\"ed a copy of Ilamihon's propmed uniform regulation of Decemht'r [799. Belie\·inj.;" it (or wishing it) final!) apprO\'Cd. he published il ill his general ordef'! 0130 :\larch IROO and ordered 'all olficers ... to conform accordingh'. Al lhe War Depanmem Ihings \\ere in an t....·en more confused stale. Ilamihon had Ix-en discharged as Inspeclor General in June, and thaI S<'ll1C month, in a final breal \\;th .\dams, \ld lenn resigned as Secretan ofWal·. In September the new Inspector General wrote to the confused COlllmander of the 2nd Infantn Ihat:

I Ram dn-C'

Return - H"

I

.... t\ dlflllgt' oj whitt! Jor )'t!lluw JJllllmlS, tpallktS t!lr., was /Jro/JOsn! dllnng Iht! lift!lill/!' oj tht! twdlN' Nl'gimnzlJ (IIlf} tht! }(/(I' had 1H'f'1I /Jll'IJiou.sl)' (I})o/i.shed b)'

20

Mu\1r1If'fII)' who jmbli5hl'f/ (/ srhl'llll' Jor'ht' IIl1ifarm of

-

rixJ3avonel

Shoulder F!

III,. a,.,,,), bul neillwr of 1I,,.v pllllu IIl1T'lII~ IH'f'II mninl mto 11"1. th,. will br Il'l'nwl. find {/ particular llivnplion IlIIifann ofSillet) of n.orry' part of II" dlT.ll Will ~/1O,.tl\ hi' pliblilllni HI (;"/n'al OnlnJ, '

.VI""

JEFFERSON'S REPUBLICAN ARMY, 1801-08 The prollli\ed gClleral order had still not been i:.:.ucd I\'hen lhe Federali~r admillislration wa:. oU~led br the..: RepLlb1icall~, The..: ne\\ SecreLar\ of War. Ilcnr\' Dearborn. following til(' lead of Presidenl ThomasJdfermn. focused his immediate attenlion on purging as m,un federalists from the anned force~ as possible. and finalh addressed lite subjeCi ofunifonnson 17 April ISO I. He fono.-ardt"d a pallem infantf''- COOt 10 lhe PUr\·!.-"or. app.,relllh one of LhO:>(' mMlc up carlier 10 Hamilton's specifications. Winter meralls rcmained ;u, ocforc one pair blue and one pair \1 hilc, although nm\ edged on lhe outseam \\;Lh a welt of while or blue c10lh respecti\eh, 11le while ~Ilmiller mer'all~ (also \\'ilh blue edgilll{) were m,lde wilhout 'tonglle~' or gaiter-bottom.., heing de~igllcd ilHtead (() be worn inside blackened duck gaiter.. thal butlulled with four (laler nine) small bUlIon.. , The rOllnd hal'" bearskin cn·..t formed a pronounced arch oyer the flal-LOppcd crown, creatcd from 'wires' mOllflll'd 10 lhe be-af"kin. The hal was 'bound ,,;th :.lrong \I hill' binding', the '~ide of Lhe hal nol to be mmed lip C(l cocked ha..... ",illl .., cockades, and red plumes .., bound \I;lh strong \ello" binding..... XC" paHem bullons of stamped )'ello,," metal \,ere to be made for lhe artillel)', bearing the device of all cagle on a fieldpiece. \\hile pewter infantl) bullons were to be cast bearing an eagle with the lllllllher of Lhe regiment. There still being significant "tocks of Lhe old paltern infallLl'\ and artillery o\er;lll" on haml. the Sccre.., r\ still hoped LhaL the Purveyor would endeavor LO prmide each soldier \\;th at lea.'>l one pair each of new pauem summer and w;nler o\eralls, Lhe remainder of the soldier's annual allowance being compleled \I'ilh k"g"ear of Lhe old fonn during 1801-02, TIle PUr\'(.'yor, \.ho feared tilt" infuntn unifonns '.ould !)rU\e 100 expensi\c 10 make, appended Llle remarls of principal Lailol"l. who lhoughl Lhe 'forepan i" cm 100 roullding' and Lhe 'Collar & Lpper pan of the L'ppds [being) bro.,der than the lmH r pan or Lhe Cliff .., {were} out of proportion', 111e) thought the lapels Il.Id too mall\ bUlIons. 'set 8 on each side \I'ould look bellcr than 10'. \\hilc the three IarKc bllllons placed crosswise on each cllfr should 1)(' made witholll blluonhole~. o

The coat worn by Jacob Kingsbury In this mlnleture conform, to that known to have been established lor Infantry otfk:e,. by the second pan of HUH. n.. cut generally 10110_ the ~bef" 1789 'Hamilton' NgUtatlons, wIttI the addition of laced buttonholes and edged faclnp. Kingsbury . .nred as a major in the 3rd Inlantry lrom 17tH until promoted lieutenant. col_1 of the 15t Infantry in 1803, and the p.alntlng wa, probably done to commemorate hIs new rank. The Cincinnati eagle I. aWl being worn on hi, left lapel. ICounesy The National SocIety of the CincInnati, Anderson Hou. . Mu. .uml

o

21

When St Memln took this profite Wade Hampton In 1809 he had just been promoted from cotonel of the Regt of LIght Dragoons to brlgadler-generat In tha army. Ha Is shown stUt dressed tn his dragoon untform, including a blue 'hussar' jacket with sltver trim and edgtngs, and a helmet with a blue and white ptume, Offtcers' hetmets were made in a dtfferent fashion from enlisted headgear, and were trimmed wilh bearskin crests and leopardskin turbans. The silver chain apparently served as a chlnstrap when necessary, ICourtesy Nattonal Portrait Gallery, Smtthsonian Institutionl 01

24

principally for the ediliGHion oflhc new offict'rs and their tailors. Printed diagrams or paltern~ were suppoM"d 10 he forwarded I,'ith the wrinen descriptions, but there is no evidence that these were evcr produced, The lig-ht ;tnillery coal was similar to that of the 'old' or 1st Regimem of Artilkry, although skins were to he ~hont'ncd lO coatcc lenglh. Lighl dra,l\"oons n~cciw:d an all-blue jackel ha!'>Cd on that worn b\' Eng1i~h lig:ht draW)o1l and hussar corps. closed in from from neck to waisl by hooks and eres, \,"ith false lilpels on the hreast and profuseh uirnmed th rou,l\"hout b} loopings of whitl' cord, ed,l\"ings of llaITO\,' while tape amI a profusion of ~l1lall pewtcr ball or 'buck-e\l" buttons, Rilkmen were to receive a gra..s gn.Tll coat('e, similar in O'erall Cllt to the infamr\' coatee, with black facings and yellow trimming's (including bra~s buttons marked 'RR'). The three Ilel\-s1\led corps I,'ere soon referred to as the 'helmet corps'. as t'ach had been alllhorised a specific fonn of leather cap, suitably trimllled and with distineti\'e corps plllmes. Leb>"\,ear followed the SaITH: form as had been ('slablidlCd for the infant!"} and 1001 ;trtillery in IH02. alt.hough the lig-ht artil1ef\'s }lO"IIO"'-piped wimer 'overalls' or pantaloom were 10 be made like the lincn ones. e,g. without gaitt'r bonotlls for wear with boots when mounted or with gaiters whcn Oil foot. Drag-oon pantaloons werl' of blue for willter and white linen for slimmer. edged with whitc or blue cord respeCli\·ely. but similarly witholll gaiter bOIlOI11S, The riflemen receiw~d vdlow-edged green overalls wil h gaiter bottoms for wimer service, and lor hOI \\ealher green-dyed linen ones ,,'ith bun' or 'str";:l\,'-coloured' fringing set in tbe outseam, to be \\"orn with the coal or with a green hunting shin si11lilarh trimmed (for a more detailed description and illu.'>tnJtion 01 this garment, M::e ~lAA 345, pp.l8. 4.. ). . and Plate 01). Unlike the otht'r troops, who \I'ore ~1ee\"ele~s while woollen \"ests all the \car rollnd (the~e having standing collru"S. welt pockeLS and nine-button fronL~ since at lea.'>! 1802). the ritlemen received burr wool \ests for \,'intcr and white linen ones for Slimmer u~e. While the troops of Lhe US Army were perhaps bettcr and more handsomely clothed than at any lime in their prc\"ioLls sef\~cc. there was still a w-eat deal of disS proposed 'SeamansJackct', and the malleI' was dropped for the time being. (colltillllfl/ Ollj)(lgt' 33)

1: Sergeant. 1St American Regt, 1784-a5 2: Artilleryman. tatlgue dress, 1785 3: FlIer. lSI American Regt, 1785-87

A

1: Private, tighllnlantry, 3rd Sub Legion, 1794-96 2: Pnvate, lsi American Regt, 178&-91 3: Pnvale, 2nd Sub Legion. 1192~

2

3

•

, I: RIfleman. 1st Sub legion, 1794-96 2: light Ontgoon, 1792-97 3: Matron, Corps of Artllle
c

\

1: Inl1l0tryman, 1801-01

2: Li{lhl Or8900f\. 1199-'80 3: Pr;"al", 1sllnlantry; w.... te< dress. 1801...()3

3

1

,

•

•

•

• •

D

-

1: Matross, ArtJl!ensts & Eng"._s. 1800-()1 2: Officer. Istlnlantry; surtout, 1801-<:.1803 3: Private. Corps 01 Engineers, 1801-10

,

I

j

E

1: Di~led Light Dragoon, 1806-11

2: Private, Alfie Regiment. lllO6-10 3: Priwate, 'nlantry, 1806-10

F

,

I: Sergeant. Consolidated RegImMlt, 1810 2: Offic:ef",lnlantry, 1806-10 3: Matrou, Ught Artillery Regt, 1808-1'

G

1: Po..-ale, _Ih lnl...,tly, 1810-11 2: Pmlale, Iale WhItney's Rille Co, 181 I

3: Matron,

H

~I

of Artillery, 1810-11

THE ARMY ON THE EVE OF WAR, 1809-11 Other~

ProbIIbty painted ~ tlm. between t810 and 1812. thl, detail lrom a portrait of Mal JllClnth L..-",al shows what appea.. to be an und.... uniform adopted by light dragoon ottice.. lanother portrait depict, L..-"'al In full d.... unilorm, a. worn by Wad. Hampton). Thll all-blue Jacket Or coat II cloled In lront by hookl and eyel and trimmed on the b....t with 'lI",er cording and ball button" arranged In the ...me I..hlon III found on the lapell 01 the 'unllorm' lacket. The colla' hal all"'er cord edging and an embroidered IhI·polnt 'tar, rather than th. two ,11",.,.lac.d buttonholeIJ of th. full drell Jacket. The popular cl1llllan round hat wal autho,l-.ed for wear by off-duty offlc... In all corp" trimmed with a mllIIary cockad. and loop .. he... In th. backgro..md can be seen La",al" In",e,. 0' Iteel-mounted uber with I1Iory grips. P-guard and blrd"-h.ad pomm.l. ICourt.,y ....S.K.Brown Military Collection, Brown Unl"'....ty)

wen' equalh di~ .... lti~lll'd with the anm's c10lbing and. wilh lht' Chall!{t.' of ;tdmini~Il'ltiol1'> in 1809. too\.,. il upon thell1crt'lar\ in Jau" June. followl-'t-'ning-;I~ ~Iinister to Fnmc(') appear to haw 1)('('1\ other ringleaders in thi.. fa ..hiun cabal. On II j.llluan 1810 till' Secretan of War infortll('d lhe Pun('\or lh,lt Ill' would recei\'e 'PanerllS for lilt" L'lIilOlm CO,II of Infamn. Old Artillef'. Li~ht Anillen·. Light Drngoom and Riflelllen' COll\('H'd b, (~t'll Clarl... They were to ~r\'e as pallertlS for lIlt" ensuing- \e;\I·s c101hing contraCL~, with Ihe exception of'lhe InfarHI\ Coal in which ,"ou will adopt ~uch alrel'llions as may be suggested hv Gelwr:d Clark'. l\lIlefll buuons were also submitted. bearing new deviccs for c('l'lain corps, those 'for the Old Anillerr \\·ith R.A., for Ibe Lil{hc Al'lillel'\, with L.A: for Ihe Lighl Dl'af{oons. with L.D; and for the Riflelllen, with R. [on an eagle) on I} " Afler a ~real deal of comrnllnication, mi"commlillication, changes, and \\teuled and tbc new paneI'll un iform .. \\l'rt· in prodllCI ion. Initialh, all fi\e patlern coaL'! had been made lip with ..Ir.-lighl hreasLs Ihal hUlIoned close to the \\
33

This 1808 engraving of BrigGsn Jemes Wilkinson was made from II now unlocated profile portrait by 51 Memln. It shows a single-

breasted coat Or surtout, most likely of blue with a buff 'flowing' colla, and edging, and gold epau'ettes bearing Ihe single silve, sta, of his rank, The undress uniform fa' general officers waa not officially prascrlbed and was probably made according to IndivIdual tasle, (Courtesy Nationa' Port,ait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution)

Mill Alexander Macomb was not only a talented engineer, and the author of the army'. first manual on military Justice; he .lso eontrlbuted greatly to the modemlsallon of uniforms during the Ilrsl decade of the 19th century. He is shown In this 1809 engraving by 51 Memln In the undress coat of blue, with black velvet collar and cuffs. worn by mOlt engineer officers for their normal dulles. The full dress uniform was of the same

cui but with embroidered collar and (before 18071 buttonholes. For a detailed description of

Engineers uniforms see

MAA 345, pp.31-38.

34

(Author'. collection)

commentaries for Platcs G and H herein,) In addition, contracts had already been let for the lSI 0 clothing and many had already been cut out or completed according to the earlier specifications, [n order to provide for some uniformit} in issues, thc Secretary directed that most of the stocks of old pattern uniforms be delivered to troops serving on the Mississippi River and at western posts until deplctcd, while eastern troops received priority in the distribution of the new+slyled coals. This practice was not religiousl)' adhered to during the aClllal packing, shipping, and issue - frequently through the inter- cession of influential commanding officers, but just as often through human error. At Fort Wayne, Indiana Territory, Capt James Rhea acknowledged the arrival of clothing for his company of the 1st Infantn, nOling the inclusion of 'thirteen Coats of a ncw Uniform' which he described as hadng 'a lillie piece of white Ye caps sent by i\lacomb to the SecretaI') for
Capt Clarence Mulford 01 the Regt of Artillerl.tli••hown In this 5t Memln profile weerlng the Iqua...-b.....ted but .tlll I.pelled coat .dopted c. 1aoe .nd worn by m.ny offlcen until the War 01 1812; the button..... 1802 artillery pattern. The sc.rlet facing. a,.. edged and tn. blltlonholn bound with narrow told lace. Hote that only tn. bottom of the coll.r I. edged. lCourtny National Portr1Ilt Gallery, Smithsonian In.tltutlonl

MOIII' Hook of the 1.t Inf.ntry lit lor thl. mlnl8tu,.. lOme time between hI. promotion to c.pt.ln In 1805 (note hi••Ingle sliver rlght·hand epauletfe) end his re.lgnatlon of hi. com million In 1808, He wear. hi••carlet Japel. fa.hlonably buttoned aeross, rather than folded back and la.tened down the center with hook. and eye., Unlike hi. commending officer Col Hunt laee p,221 he 1•• hown without either gorget or .wordbelt. A. on most officers' uniform. 01 the period the IKe or Ulpe trim Ia very narrow - aWrodmately • quarter-Inch wide, (Courte.y Loulmna SUIte Un.....rslty Art Galtlll'Yl

01'

COil on conI. As II'itll the uniform coaLS, hO\leler. it lIlrned Out that there \Iere ~ufficielll round hats still on hand or being delilered bv contractors to fill the needs of most of the infantn throughout

1810. It had been the cuStom to pro\ide round hats wilh the ...·ired bearskin cresll> to troops scning north of Virginia• ... hile the southern troops and those on Ihe ... estern frontiers ...ere expected to prO\;de cn,'slS for their halS from local soUl'ces of supph, as the bea....."in could not be Slore<1 or shipped am distance \\;tholll a strong chance of in.sect infestation or Dlher damage. The Sc:.-cretan informed the Punelor thai il ",as immaterial Ilhelher lhe bearskin crests be provided foJ' am of lhe halS that lear due '10 the lateness' of the season, although most hats \\eJ'e still trimmed in Ih.1l fa~hion m appearalln"-consciolls commandCI'S once th~ had been receill-od. Others. ~uch as the colonel of lhe 4th Infallln. cOll\erted their mcn'~ round hats into caps of the Ilew fashion b\ clIlling a\\,;n the brim except in from and providing for the appropliaw plumes and trimmings through P;I~ or \\'hiske\ stoppages. The coded halS of the fOOL anillen. unchanged III form and trimmings since 1802. continucd to be issued despitc their now-oulllloded form and the frequent complaints of the anillen officcrs, many of whom purchased hats of more fashionable style for their men, or altered the hals 'by clilling and constructing one hat from 1\\'0 of their fantail hats cxpenshe to the o;oldieJ' [and not] durable" The plumes or falst.' fe'llhers of red 'worsted raH:llings'. ne\er popular. \\ere sometimes replaced I:» J'eal feathers of red or whiLC, depending on the whim of tht.' local commanding officer.

35

There was liule change in the O\erall clothing ami headdress of the army in ISII from that adoptcd the previous year. Although small stocks of the pre-181O uniform were still on hand, most troops recei\'cd the 1810 pattern uniforms of their rcspective corps. although still closed at the breast with hooks and eyes rather than buttoned fronts. and \,'ith falsc cord buttonholes instead of lace or binding. One Ilotable exception were the light dra~oons, who had apparently succeeded in keeping: their all-blue uniforms of the IS08 form despite a redesigned blue uniform faced with red, first proposed in 1810 and in production b\ lSI\. Sufficient stocks of the felt caps were now m"ailable to enable most infantry in 181 I to appear in the Ilew headgear without resorting to local modifications. although the foot arlillen werc not so fortunate - it wOllld not be llntilthe War of 18 I 2 that their impractical and unpopular cocked hat would finally be replaced through oflicial supply channels. In 1801-11 Infantry offic81ll In lIome regiments were permined to wear II plain uniform similar 10 thai of thei, men when they were on command, fallgue or other

service. This 1808 portrait of Col John Whiting, 4th Infantry, shows

such a coal, with bunonholes of scarlet 'twIst' On the lapels rather than silver lace. The straps of his silver epaulettes are mounted on red ground, and the front of his white vest is edged red. He holds the same sliver-mounted hunting sword which he had eanied In the War for Independence While en artiest of the M...achusetts Line. A year later his successor would write to a subordinate

that the price 0' 'lace al present Is so 8Keesslvely high' that he

recommended the purchase of a 'very handsome' unlaced coat In

Its stead. (E.-author's colleclion; courtesy Craig Bell Colleclion)

CONCLUSION Larg:dy ig-llOred or forg:ottcn b} the public which it served. the lledgling United States Army protected the vast frontier and coastal boundaries of the new nation to the best ofits abilities. despite its limited resources and minuscule sileo Under thc ncw constitutional gO\ernrnell1. soldiers rccci\"l'd (on paper) a rather generous annual allowance of military clothing:, although the arcane and ineffective system of supply and tran'port by comractlcd to shoddy materials and production slandards. ami frcquclllly to late and muddled deih"eries. The uniforms. equipmcllt ami tactical doctrine of the Federal army were bill little changcd from those of the War of Independence. \\"hich though perhaps adequate lor constabulary service on the rroruier would prove inadequate again~t a well-equipped modern army. Despite the efforts of Washington and Hamilton to keep up wilh European advances. few of lhe intended rerorms had been implemented by the conclusion of the Quasi-War. although some of them \\·ere laler accomplished during the JcO'erson administration. The arm)' was still outmoded in most ofthe~e respects in 1812. and lillIe prepared for iL~ impendinR war \\ith Creat Britain.

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

36

Primary Sources: Unfortunaleh, man> or the Conrederation and Federalist period records of the ann} \\ere destroyed in an early fire that gUlled War Department oOkes. while olher official records and correspondence have become ~eparat('d and widely scattered. A.. in !\lAA 345. The United States Arm)'

Infanlty 0"'1(;."

_re ottlelloUy

.uthoriHd whit.

,a.houlderbelt.

with ov.1 allv.r pl.t.. from 1789 10 1812, .It~h tM pre&crlbed eagle d.... lc. WOYId .... 01.... o....r time. Thll plat. w.. prob.bly made betw..... 1805.nd 1812, b.&ed on the 'orm Ih••agl., the dlm.nalona, .nd m.lhod m.nu'lIClu.... Th. am.1I bl.nk IJP
0'

0'

/812-1815, milch of Ihi~ hoo,," i~ based on lhe rich and \t'archer.l',pace does not lX'nnil listing the mUSl"lllll and pri\ale collections of artifact:. and al"l\\o,"1. relaled 10 this subjl"C1. ahhollg-h sOllie of the mOSl imponam objeclS are reproduced as illustration.. and credited 10 the appropriate institution 0'" indi\'iclual herein. Useful Secondary Works: Compam of ~liIital") HiSloriam, journal of. Till' .\Idl(flf)' Collfflor & His/orial/ I-X LI (1949-2000) and the companion un if01111 platt' serie.., '1'111' "'ifilar)' Uniform il/ /lmeriw Crackel, Theodore. J\frJifP-fSon /Ifill)' (Nl'\\' York U. Prns, 1987) GUlhman, William 1-1., Mardi /0 MfI'iWU'I"I' (~lcGra\\-11il1 Boo,," Co., NY, 1970) Guthman, William 1-1 .. US /11"11/)' I\pajmll'i, 17R-I-1 i91 (pri\':w:h printed,

s

1975)

Jacobs,James Ripley, He Ikginnin/.,r
37

Duncan lamonI Clinch of the 3rd Infantry prob.bly At lor this portrait IJhortIy .tt•• hiS Pf'O"lOtlon 10 captain In Oecembef' 1810. Atthough some offlc:en, ~h .. thoM In the COnsolich.ted Regiment, .ttempted to ItCq.. l....nlform. that resembled the n.w 1810 .nUsled co. la, It la IIk.1y that most retalrted the long, lapelled co.t Hen he....ntIl1812. The .... of • 'Chapea.. brei, wllh a white plain fe"her 14 Inche. lon.g' Is firsl mentioned In 1808; tha hat tucked ..nde. Clinch's arm has non-reg..latlon sllve. blooing. (C01Jrtuy Fort Clinch Stata Part!. FamandlNl aaltCh, FL; a.. ttIor' photographl

38

Anna and Eliza LnJla w... paid 75 doll.... on 8 Novembef' 1809 for embroidermg the d~. on thtl .tandard of 'The fI... t Regiment 0' LIght Attlllery.' The gro..nd I. bl..a and mea....... two y.rds In the hol.t by two aoo a half rard' In the fir. (Courte'r US Military Academr M..se..m. W.st Polnl)

THE PLATES A1: Sergeant, 1st American Regiment,

1784-85 Handsomely clothed and accoutred. this velamn noncommISSIoned officer IS wearing a uniform drawn from stocks on hand at the close 01 the War for Indepeodeoce. Aftill' a few weeks of marching and fatigue duty on the frootlet his appearance would be much altered. The cocked hal, tnmmed WIth white blncllng and cord IoopIngs, bears a 'Union' cockade of white nbbon or cloth over black introduced II'l 1780 but sllli worn in the 1st Amencan Reg! as late as 1785. Accoutrements are also wartime surplus, the cartndge boll being one of the 'new constructed' form copied from a Bnllsh model and WIdely used by the Coolm&nlal Army dunng 1778-83. HIS musket IS a French MOOel 1766. on whICh the fnt US-pmduced Iongatm, lhe MOOel1795. was based. Two white WOfSted epaulettes denote hIS rank; mal 01 a corpotaI wouk:l be maf1Ied by a SIOQIe epaulene on the nght shoulder. On his left sleeve can be seen a chevron of scaf1et

tape. another vesttgL3l device of wartIme Vintage. While Harmar officl3lty decreed In Jooe 1787 that 'Old Soldiers who nave served doong the late War are to nave Badges of DlslJnctlOn on their left arm, one Badge for ewJ('f three years seMC8', there IS evidence of thrs practICe '" the I'eQlment much eal1ier. The 'badge of ment' was Ofl9Inally InStItuted IfI the Continental Army In 1782 by Gao Washington to recogmse I'lclnol'able and faithful S8fVIC8 one chevron for tine years and two for SIll years. Many former Contmental soldiers. displaced In post-war American SOCIety or enamored of a soldier's life. re-enlisted in the Infant Unned States Amly, and these badges conllnued lfl use for at least another decade. A2: Artilleryman in fatigue dress, 1785 The cloth used for many late and post-war coats was of Indifferent quality at best, and soon became ragged from the rigors of duty on the frontier, When Hannar marched the first troops westward in 1784 they wore hunting shirts drawn from wartime stocks to save their clothing, but these supplies soon ran out. During his company's march to Fort Pitt in 1785, Capt Doughty of the artillery purchased materials for fatigue jackets or 'roundabouts' for daily duties and fatigues, in order to save his mens' coats for parades and guard duty. Faced With scariet at the 'cape', closed with brass buttons, and lined with scariet baize, It proved a warm and serviceable garment, Harmar tried to have it adopted throughout the 1st American Regt (presumably With white linings for Infantry), but supplies were always Insufficient to the demand and many companies went without, It Is known that in 1791 the 2nd Infantry (and very likely the 1st) wore similar jackets of undyed linen for hot weather service. Hunting shirts. when available, were temporarily issued from stores for 'fatigue during the time of Hut[t]ing, & fortifying' dunng Wayne's command of the Legion: he wanted 'sufficterlt for all the infantry - there ever ought to be in all AnnI&S a kind of fatlQue dress..,'. Onty nfle troops in the LeglOfl drew the hunting shirt as part of their regular clothing. and It would be 1802 before latlQue frocks or roundabout )8Ckets would become part of a soldier's annual issue. A large nandkerdllef wrapped around the head was a COl'l'WTIOfl and readlty contriv9d form of headdress, espeaaIty on the

frontier, In lieu of a forage cap (the first rnentlOfl of whICh among US troops occurs In 1801), One of the two original artillery companies had origlOalty been armed With short fusUs, but these were replaced with French muskets and the fuslls gIVen to company-grade infantry officers 'as Fuzees are much better weapons for the Officers on the frontl8f than Spontoons', A3: Fifer, 1st American Regiment, 1785-87 As wartime stocks of clothlng dWIndled, the Board of Treasury let therr first contract lor uniforms in 1785. Included In a later amendment were specl8l uniforms for the 'rTIUSIC', made up in tradillonal 'reversed' colors to that worn by the rest of the regunent. Included lfl the matenals breakdown was blue serge 10 fulty bne the coat; and 20 yards of binding, sufflCleOt to bind the buttonholes, cover !he long seams and provide chevrons to the sleeves Il'I a fashion borrowed from lhe Bntlsh and other European arml8S, There is no menbon of the binding on /TlUSICl8nS' coats In the 1787 urvform mgulalJons, and It may have been dropped at that lIlTIe to save the additlOOal expense, Wlf1ter overalls were white or blue (to the dlSffi8y of the regunent's COl'l'Il'I'\8Od. while w3Jstcoats were of white doth. The fifer wears a whitened buff leather swordbelt. supporting a captured 'HessIan' hanger lfl its brown leather scabbard (drawn from the West PoInt arsenaI); t1ls newly made tInned IfOI'l fife case on a sling of the same matenal has nol yet been japanned or pamted - thIS was posSIbly done later Il'I some now-unknown reglffiE!fltal style The cocked hat sports the looM!d leather cockade first adopted by the regment 10 1785. HIS hall'" IS worn plarted and tucked up under the hat, a practICe known to have been employed dunng at least 1786-87; this was probably derwed from the Bnllsh Nmy, whose flank compaOles onglOally wore thew" half In thIS fashion WIth thell'" distInctive caps, and later conllnued the practICe even as caps fell out of favor. 81: Private, light infantry, 3rd Sub Legion, 1794-96 thIS soldier is marching at the 'trail anTIS' poSition in whICh the Legion advanced through tile open woods - strewn with trees felled earlier by a tornado - dunng the deciSIve Battle of Fallen TImbers. He wears a 'round nat' with beafskln crest or roach, officially introduced in 1794 to replace the unpopular caps worn earlier by the foot soldiers. In order to build espnt de corps and aid 10 recognition, each Sub Legion in the Legion of the United States was assigned color distinctions for its headgear; those of the 3rd were yellow binding With yellow feathers. The vest was now cut 'round' rather than with skirts and had welted pockets Instead of naps, resultmg in substantial savings in matenaJs, Gone also was the full-skirted coat, replaced instead during 1792-93 With a coatee of Similar cut, but With 'slashed' or diagonal pocket flaps rather than 'cross' pockets. thiS form of light infantry dress was worn by all LeglOfl Infantry (all of whom were trained to act In that role) from c, 1793 until 1797, Wayne created special light infantry COfllpanteS 10 each of the Sub LeglOfls in August 1793, formed from among the better marXsr'neo and more agile solchers, and armeC with 'improved' muskets capable of an Increased rate of fire. The Improvement COflSISted 'of an alteratlOO lfl the touch hole, Ie by fillmg up the old. and dniling a new one, pretty large lfl an Oblique, Ifl place of a nght angular dlf8CllOfl ... whlch WIth

39

a very fine grained powder, will most certainiy preclude the necessity of priming, the concussion of the air, in forcing down the charge, will cause each Musket to pnme Itself; the eye of the soldier will therefore be constantly upon his Enemy, and he can pursue & load in full trot without danger of loosing any part of his powdef...'. Wayne also instituted a special cartridge for use with this arm, made with buckshot and fine-grain powder. to further e)(pedlte the loading process and to achieve SOme degree of effective fire in a running action against a fast-moving or hidden foe. This man's 'belly bolt' carries 24 rounds and is supported by a suspension strap around the neck as well as a waist belt. Those contracted In 1794 had tin 'pipes' or holes bored so shallow as to 'scarcely contain a Cartridge made of a single ball ... a Cartridge that I never did, nor nevy will use in Action', according to Wayne; he noted that the 'general Cartridge lor actual service will be composed of One ball & three heavy buck shot..... The defective bo)(es were modified or replaced. and bayonet belts and scabbards were discarded as needless encumbrances; bayonets were to be kept permanently fi)(ed to the muskets, with fines levied should a soldier happen to lose his 'cold steel'. 82: Private, 1st American Regiment, 1788-91 Josiah Harmar found the hats furnished by contract too small in the brim to admit a handsome cock, and too shoddy in materials 10 readily hoid up. He had his men remove the tape binding from the hats, which were trimmed instead with a bearskin crest and a red-dyed 'buck' or deer's-tail plume; the oily nature 01 both fur embellishments resisted water damage and contributed to the preservation of the cheap headgear. ThiS private's uniform coat. vest and overalls conform to the 1787 regulations, His cross belts are of whitened buff leather; some of the companies of the 1st American Regt (1st Infantry, from 1791) were still uSing black crossbelts in 1791, which the commanding officer replaced by requIsitioning the buff leather belts issued to many of the Levies. The knapsack is covered with bearskin, first issued in 1784 and retained in use by the regiment through at least 1791. Despite being faced with sporadic and inadequate issues of clothing, the officers of fhe 1st sfrove to maintain a smart. Uniform appearance among their men when within their means. B3; Private, 2nd Sub Legion, 1792-93 Formed from the surviving remnants of the 2nd Infantry, soldiers of the 2nd Sub Legion were to have distinctive hat trimmings of red binding and plumes. However, Wayne ordered the miserable hats converted Into caps in 1792 by cutting them down and adding a front 'plate' from the

40

The standard of the Legion was 10 have been a silver eagle on a staff, Inspired - as was Ihe legionary concepl ilself _ by those of Imperial Rome. Each Sub Legion Initially received a blue silk standard, altered from those originally made for the 1st and 2nd Infantry and the 1st and 2nd Levies In 1791. However, new standards were procured late In 1795, made In the distinguishing colors of the 1st to 41h Sub Legions - respectively white, red, yellow and 9reen. This surviving color of the 3rd Bn, 151 Sub Legion has a while ground bearing a red shield and sc:roll, both edged gold, surmounted by a knotted green ribbon motlf. Note the fringe on the fly (left) and Ihe sleeve for the staff (right). (Courtesy US Military Academy Museum, West Polnl)

trimmings. with the further embellishment of a 'comb' of white hair collected from the tails of slaughtered cattle. This private's cap is shown Without the feather, which was normally reserved for parades and guard details_ Until their new Legion clothing arrived the soldiers' old regimentals were patched and refurbished, probably achieved in at least some cases by docking the Skirts, a technique Wayne had ear1ier employed among his troops during the War for Independence. This man's musket is French. while his cartridge bolt IS one of 'new constructed' fashion, with block bored to accommodate 29 cartridges and capable (by storing the remainder underneath the block) of carrying a full combat load of 40 rounds. C1: Rifleman, 1st Sub Legion, 1794-96 Each Sub Legion was authorised one nfle battalion in addifion to two infantry battalions, the former being furnished wifh rifles made by various Pennsylvania gunsmiths under 1792 contracts let by the War Department. Even before this time the 1st American Regt had armed a detachment of ItS best maritsmen With this arm, of proven value in frontief warfare. Based on his previous wartime expemaflce, Wayne believed 'Musquets and Bayonets the most formidable Weapon, Rifles bein9 only Useful in hands of real Riflemen' long accustomed to the use of that slow-loading yet deadly arm. To partly remedy anothef deficiency of the rifle - the inability to mount a bayonet -folding spears with slings Wefe issued to the riflemen (a Pfactlce first instituted by Washington during 1777); these could be unfolded and locked to make short pikes when necessary. Shot pouches with 'hair' flaps, powder horns, tomahawks and scalping knives completed the equipage of the riflemen. When the

understrength Legion was reorganised In August 1793 all companIeS were levelled. and only three nfle companIeS composed of 'the most expert nflemen' were retained pel' nfle banahon; the other companIeS were anned WIth muskets and bayonets and annexed to Infantry battallOl'lS The dIstInctIve nfle unifOl'Tlls are first descnbed In the 1787 regulatlOl'lS 'Hats round, wMe band and loop, a sbp of bears sian to I'lNI across the crown. Coat blue, shoff, round sJart, the lepeRs. cuffs and cape the same WIth the cavalry and If! addItJOn scarlet wmgs on the shouJder and a mtIfglI1 of scarlet the WIdth of the IapeJI {two 1flChesl, to be contmved from the remvnatJOfl of the lower part of the IapeIIs fOt.JOO the sJarts of the coat, a scarlet rose on the hips, '" whrt;h three scariet cords, leadmg from the bottom, urn/e, white buttons and !IfIlngs, waistcoats wMe. no flaps. but a belt at the lower part. This conJeCtural reconStNCtoo of the nfle CoatiS drawn on the above and other penod mlhtary garments that seem in keeping with this descnpbon, especially the shell and jacket combination worn by Bnllsh hght dragoons during the same penod. The lapels may have had hooks and eyes placed down thelf entire length. enabling the jacket to be fully closed in front, or worn in the traditional open or cutaway manner at other times. Sillee a 'beiled' waistcoat or vest was Pfovided underneath. The rose Knot and cord arrangement IS one clearly found on Bntish dragoon shells. which had extremely short slurts with 'false plalts' (sic). from whICh I have denved the CUI Illustrated. Surplus rifle coats were later used as the first umfOl'Tll of the Manne Corps (wlth a change of buttons) when It was established, descnbed In the 1797 Navy ItlgUIatlonS as jackets WIth 'red belts', ll.lrther strengthening my intElfPl'etatoo 01 both the shan slorts and the beIt-fike conrlQUratlOl'l of the 'margin 01 cloth', HuntlOg shIrts We«! fr9cluently worn III II8U of the coats dunng warm weather carnP8J9fllng. Note the 'clubbed' hair, the normal mIlitary fashIOn employed 10 the army untIl 1801, when the long hall" of ofrlCfJrS and men was olficlally ordered to be 'cropped' and worn short thereafter. C2: Ught Dragoon, 1792-97 As WIth the nfle unlfOl'TllS, the dress of the light dragoons appears to have been that first prescnbed in the 1787 regulallons: a short coat With round skirts and no turnbacks, lapelled and faced With scarlet. With white biJltons and lining. A leather 'jockey cap' With bearskin crest was the regulation headdress: this reconstruction is based on a form commonly used by the Continental Army and known to be still in store and issued out to the Legion, With three rows of (supposedly protective) chains around the crown and a turban of soft leather rather than cloth. Although a troop was norrunally attached 10 each Sub Legion they were actually formed as a squadron and used In a more independent fa51'1I0n. It IS uncertain whether the dragoon caps of each troop sported the plume of Its respectIVe Sub Legl()l'l Of whether a SIngle color was adopted lor all the dragoons, ahhough the former IS more Ilkety. However. the plumes were rarely worn for daily dUlleS, IOStead being reserved for parades, guard escorts and other special occaSIOnS. Cavaky arms and accoutrements, mcludlOg sabers, peslols and carbines, were drawn from stocks left over hom the War for Independence; we have shown thIS trooper's pnflClpal arm 10 be a saber 01 'Porter's make', one 01 the more popular fOl'Tlls In use dunng the late conflICt.

w,"

l Stamped leather hat cockades we.. lirst authorlHd In 1185, .Ithough not ofl'i(;lally deKribed until 1187, when they we.. spec:llled to be 41ns In diamet.r. In 1789 the SlIm. cockade w. . .galn preKribed, althougtl now to be made with 'whIte e.gl_, In the center' - thoM of enll,led m.n 10 be 01 'tIn' lot'.11 branc:hes. Aa ac:tualty contrac:ted, however, Infantry .-st we.. made of pawlet', 8nd t n - for the .rtillety of bra on this c:oc:bde 01 c. 1802 found at Fort MKklnac:, MktHpn. (Couttesy MKI
41

I

U

The bra.. 'US LO'

letten made 'or df'lt9OOn cap. beginning In 1808

were 1 hin. high, 85 were the equivalent 'or the light Artillery, .tt~h

those 0' the

Rl,le R81lt _re a quarter-ineh smaller. They were attached

to the eap front plates by 'good pliable boon tong..... to bend and

c:llneh'. _

of wtllch

Is visible here In the bend of the letter U. (Courtesy Don T~ni Collectionl

epaulenes 01 yellow worsted. The new pattern leather artillefy 'helmets' W«8 trimmed WIth beal'sIm crests, red leather plumes. and leather cockades, and In 'point of appearance' - according to secretary 01 War PlCkenng, who had authonsed their pu'Chase - W«8 vastly to be preferred to hats'. However. 'As to Caps I never wiSh 10 see any at this place nor no olher". WYOle Maj Hewy Burback from Fort Mackmac In 1797, when he learned of thew amval at western posts; and he refused to issue them 10 the artllJefy under his command. By late 1797 they had fallen into disuse even at the eastern posts, and cocked hats once agam predomlfl3ted.

42

01: Infantryman, 1801-02 When long coats were restored to the Infantry In late 179711798. they Wet'e tnmmed with eight yards of narrow whlte tape, sufficient fOf making bound buttonholes to correspond with the buttons on the facings. A year later the binding was disallowed on the coats - at least fO( the uniforms under contract for the 12 additional Infantry regiments, and (although the point Is not qUite clear) most likely fO( those furnished to the four onginal regiments. The surplus clothing made up for the additional infantry regiments (discharged In May 1800) would be wO(n by the remaining troops untli stocks were depleted. With the exception of unlaced facings. a cockade eagle (first issued in 1799). and a while dOOf's-taii plume (authorised for all infantry regiments in 1801). this soldier's Uniform and equipment are virtually unchanged from those worn In 1797. 02: Light Dragoon, 1799-1801 Through the impatience of a frustrated tailO(-contraclOl". who went ahead and made up new pattern coats before they were offICially sanctioned by the dithering authorities. the light dragoons Wtlfa the first of only two corps to recelve the army uniforms redesigned dunng 1799 The coat was green, faced and lapelled wrth black. 'each Lappe! having seven buttons', while the cuffs were 'Indented attha upper part haVIng three blind button holes double and forming an angle WIth one button at the point, and one at each extremrty of the sides'. Shouldef straps were edged WIth black, and the skirts were tnmmed in a Similar manner to the cuffs. WIth three hemngbooe CIt chevron-shaped 'blind' buttoMoles. BInding

was yellow. to conform to the color of the button metal, those of the officers to be of gold vellum. The lining. vest and breeches were white, the latter to be made of 'white teather'. AlthoUgh helmets 01 a new form were specified they were never made up, sufficient quantities of the old bearslcmcrested model still being on hand. Presumably the new 'ribband or sach [sic] of narrow green' was procured and attached to the old caps. The dragoons were intended to functlOO as IlQht cavalry and the carbine had long ago been put IIltO store; each trooper was armed instead WIth the newly prDCUflld Starr pattern saber of 1798, and a pall" of hofse pistols saddle-mounted Il'l black leather hcXsters WIth beafSlon 'caps' Of covers. By mld-1801 the two lroops 01 dragoons stil on the establishment were ordered to be dlsmounted, clothed and armed 10 act as nfantry, n which capacity they served unbl dISCharged the folowlng year. 03: Private, 1st Infantry; winter dress, 1801-03 Colonel John F.Hamtramck of the 1Sl Infantry first ISSUed a set 01 standing orders to govern the order and disapline of his regiment, Including Its IXllforms and dress, Il'l OCtober 1801 The sectlon dealing WIth uMOfTns was Iargety based on the 'fmal' draft regulation 01 19 December 1799, WIth supplemental changes Il'ltroduced by the new Sec::ret
the pocket lIaps on the skirts were placed vertically and similarly edged, and linished with three large brass bullons. The scarlet culls were slashed, with blue lIaps edged in red and closed by three large buttons, Each lapel had nine large buIlons, and a small bullon was apparently added to each SIde 01 the standing collar. Although allempts had been made to provide bull crossbelts to bring unllonmty to the accoutrements, at least one company still wore 'old black ones [that were] dlsligUf'd & worn out' itll800. P1aJn cocked hats, tnmmed since 1797 With a white plume, leather cockade and eagle, and yetlow cockade loop, were ffiOOJiied by the addition of yetlow bindJng and red plumes (initially to be of dyed deef's' tSlls, but later made fmm worsted 'ravellings') 11'I April 1801 After thIS date yeI10w binding was atso adOed to the enlisted art~1ery coats, and gold but1onho1es and edglOQ to those of the offICers. The sok:liers' coat was otherwtse unchanged In 1000000, desprte complaints from some 01 the otllcers, whose own coats had cross pockets and cuffs, being modeDed on the UOIlorm prescribed 1'1 the draft 1799 regutatJ()lls stJllln CIrculation. E2: Officer, 1St Infantry; surtout, 1801-c.1803 Although the 1799 Infantry clothll'lQ was I"I8'Vef made up or ISSUed, vanous VElfSlOflS althe 1799 'regulallons' had made their way Into the field and most offICerS had !her urnforms made up to confOl'Tll with the CUI and lnSlQllIa recommended for thetr branch and grade. The use of a unlfOl'Tll 'surtout' (essenllally a taIlored overcoat) by dJsmOIJntad infantry officers dunng cold weather IS first mentioned ,n the 1799 regutatlOOS With some changes 11'I CUI and tnrmTNng, surtouts were actually adopted and used as early as October 1801, at least by the 'platoon' offICerS 01 the 1st Infantry. Made 01 blue cloth With a SC8I1et standing collar and hat! lapels (shown here buttoned across, exposing the blue undet'Sldesl, It had cross pockets 'the same as the Regimental Coats' and 4111-deep blue cuffs, WIth 8 scalloped 'slit' closed With two large butlons. The surtout had two blue 'scalloped' capes, the upper one 9ins deep In back and the lower one 1Dins deep. Sergeants were also authonsed to wear surtouts oltha

Coat wom by Lt William S.Hamllton, who Hrved In the 3n1 Inlantry 1808-No...ember 1812; In 1810 he was part 01 a detachment from the 3n1 servin" with the 'Conlolldated Regiment' at Cantonment Washln"ton, Thes. officers p.tltloned to ho ...e their 'pr.sent Unllorml ... ad ... anta"eously alt.reeI, both as to Appearance and Convenl.nce', by changing the Ion" coat to 'II short one, bearln" some ruemblonc. to that of the Pri...ate'. Careful • .lllmination ......als that thil coat was mad. by alterln" an .arller lapelled uniform to conform clos.ly to the single-brealted coat.e first Issued to enllsled Infantrymen in 1810. It II trimmed In the same way as the 1810 enlisted eoat, althou"h with sU...er lac. rather Ihan white coni and eloth ed"ln". and Is similarly closed at the breast with hooks and eyes. Th.re Is provision lor I lieutenant's .paul.n. on the IeI1 ShOlJld.r, and the cOlJntel"Strap on the right il edg.ed with sll....r lac•. The Iklrts, somewhat lon"er th.an the .nlisted m.ns'. l.ature fal ... lull tumbllcks 01 Karl.t rath.r than 'hsll·tumbacks' (i.•. with only the front edge turned upj IS on the coatee, '"'- Iow.r ed". of the collar w.. ori9!nally edg.ed with sllv.r lac., .s wal the front edge 01 the left bre." to correspond with thll on the right. (Courtesy lOlJisi.na Stat. Museum, .utho... pholOlj

43

same form, but 'of an Inferior cloth', rather than the blanket coats worn by the other ranks, Field oHicefs (belng mounted) WO(f) blue cloaks lmed red, WIth the same collar and capes as worn on the surtout. Our company-grade officer IS shown armed with an espontoon (re-establlshed for N1fantry offICerS by Wayne in 1792), WIth a staff '51)1; feet, and two inches' Ioog; and a steel-mounted regunental sword wrth 30In blade (slightly Iongef for mounted offk:ers), tnmmed With a non-regUlatlOf1 sword knot -the established pallem, if ever 19Ceived, was to be of 'red & Silver'. HIS cocked hat IS trimmed WIth black silk blndmg and cockade, a silvef tassel, and white plume. On duty, 'round' vests and pantaloons went 10 be white. the Ianer worn If\Slde black haH-boots (ful boots WIth black lops for mounted OffICers), aJong With buckskm gloves described as 'buff' colored in 1801 and of 'whitened leather' the folloWing year. When on duty a crimson Silk sash was worn around the waist, knotted on the nght Slde. E3: Private, Corps of Engineers, 1807-10 In 1802 the secretary of War gave the Chief Engineer the privilege of establishmg the uniform for this new corps. The Engineers set themselves apart from the rest 01 the army by adopting single-breasted, closed-front coats of the current European military fashion. The coats were deep blue with black velvet collar and cuffs - a traclitlonal color scheme employed by engineers in many armies, including those of France and Great Bntsm. As speclfl«l in 1804, the enlisted coats had etght artdlel)' buttons down the breast, trimmed Wlth false buttonholes of narrow yellow tape extending 4ms beyond the button on each side. A button and buttonhole of the same form was placed on each side of the collar. while three chevron-shaped buttonholes were 10 be placed on the sleeve, lhe klwer one butted down 11"110 the Indented black cuff, and Slmllat 'hermgbone' buttonholes on each skirt. When inspected in 1805 It was found thai the coals were not made 'to the original pattern', the hemngbone tnmmlngs of sleeve and sIort having been omitted Vests and Iegwear were the same as used In the artillery, and although special headgear was prescnbed in 1803 (a cylindrical round hat WIth 2ln-Wlde bnm, tnmmed WIth yellow btndlng and button loop, leather cockade and a black plume), artillery 'fantail' hats and red plumes were issueclthrough 1805. In 1807 the Engineers' round hat was made With a 'yeoman' crown - tapering in Width, wider at the top than the bottom; the yellow binding was replaced With black, and black feathers replaced worsted plumes. In 1810 cylindrical felt (shako) caps of the form just approved for the infantry were ISSUed to the engineer troops, but were rejected by the Chief of Engineers - presumably round hats conllnued in use until the War of 1812. F1: Dismounted Light Dragoon, 1808-11 Due to a parsHTlOOIOUS Pmsident and Congress and a waning ltkellhood of war, very few of the light dragoons rllIS8d In

44

In o.... rall dimensions, form end trimming this bot_ cocked hat closely metches those duerlbed for otficet$ of the 1st Intentty In 1802. How......., the eagle In the cent... of the cocke6e Is gold rather therI slhl.r, end of e form which beoeeme popular e f_ )'CtOIra lat.,. N.e,.bkom In Its form, the IuIt wes pIObebty used by en ertillery or steff oKIC.r bote-n 1804 end 1808. (Court.sy Don 'TtcMenl Coll.c:tlonl

1808 ever served on horseback. Instead they were armed and accoutred as foot troops, S8Mng In a light Infantry capacJty until the need for mounted I100PS tT"IlQht arISe. The all-blue 'hussar' jacket had lapels framed WIth narrow wlwte taPe, WIth white cord formlng a vgzag pattern between two rows 01 baR buttons. The collar was smIarty edged and tnmmed, while the breast was closed by hooks and eyes. His horsehalf-<:rested helmet. the crown tnmmed WIth brass rtWlfcmng stnps and iden!Jfylng leners, IS based on the OflgInai troot plate pattern. penocI descnptJOns and excavated helmet fitIlngs, along WIth an extant cap befl8V8d 10 have been of this pattern (~lustrated on p.34, MIlA 345). Its turban was to have been IeopardskIn, but the scarcrty and expense of that fur led to bearskin being SUbstJlUled 11"1 1808 (aIthougtI there IS ElVlderICe to suggest that false leopardsIoo made of pamted cloth may have been used N1 subsequent years). He IS armed WIth a Model 1795 musket; his cartridge boll and crossbelts are of the form first approved In 1807 and now known as 'Moclel1808' accoutrements - the anginal contract belts were made of blackened hamess leather, as shown here. F2: Private, Rifle Regiment, 1808-10 The rille company of Capt Benjamin Forsyth were described in May 1809 wearing 'handsome' summer uniforms of 'green coats, faced and turned up with brown lonce black - a major problem WIth early 19!h--century dyes, especially green and black, was a lack of color fastness] and yellow; green pantaloons, fnnged; whrte vests; leather caps, hlQh In troot, on which were In IaIge characters, U.S.R R, WIth tall nodding black plumes' The form of the nile cap IS a con,ectural IlICOOSlructlOf1 based on various contempomry descriptlOllS and archeologICal fragments. h had an upnght troot plate beanng brass II"Illlals 'US RR' for 'UnIted States Atfle ReQlmerlt' and an nctI-wide band of brass at ItS base. The bearsIun emst over the klw aown 01 )lICked leather IS based on a /tlCOI'l'llTIeftJOn to replace the Wlf8 of the cap WIth 'NhaIebooe Strips - suggestIng that It had 8 WIRICI emst of bearskln like the II1fantry's round hat The rather srnple coatee of gtaSS green cloth had black facings edged WIth yellow btndlng. WIth false buttonholes of cord and blackedged shoulder straps. He IS annecI WIth a MOOeI 1803 nile, and would also carry a scalPing kmfe and hatchet suspended

In pl.ac. of the ahoddll, made

'US LA' c.ap lentln worn by enlisted men of the Reg{ 0' light Ar1illef'y, this .aeav.ted crest of tilOed bnlu wnests that at least some offic.,. opted for a dl"erent cap devlc., (Courtes, Don Troiani ColJe<:flon)

from his 3tn-Wlde w3!stbelt. whieh also mounts a 'pocket' of green-paJnted linen In front. F3: Private, Infantry, 1808-10 With Ihe exception of the new pattern accoutrements introduced in 1808, Ih,s soldier wears a uniform lillie changed Since ils firsl issue to the 1st and 2nd Infanlry in 1804. The scarlet faCings are edged wilh while clolh, as are Ihe shouldef" s!taps and pocket flaps: all Ihe large-SIzed regimental buttons are tnmmed With mock buttonholes of cord, WIth the exception of those on the hips and slort pleats. The lapels and pockets are 'false', e.g. non-ftxlcttonal, as IS lhe haIf-turnback of red, decorated With a whlte-edged blue hear'!. ThIS relallVeIy smart yet SImple uruform had Its share of admirers and detractors, although It was the qualrty 01 matenals and finIsh rather than the cut (with the exceptton of Ihe overalls) whICh was lhe principal cause for complaint. G1: Sergeant, Consolidated Regiment, 1810 Detachments from the 3m, 5th and 7th Infanlry Regiments, stationed on Ihe Mississippi River at Cantonment Washington, were formed IfIIO a 'Consolidated RegimenI' In January 1810; and gr-88t ellort was devoted to meldlflg lhe dIsparate elements Into a corps uniform In both dnll and anlr8. Although ISSUed coats of the 1804 panern In 1810, their commanding officer was determined to convert these to a more contemporary fashlOO, based 00 the new Iflfantry uniform approved lhat year. USlng a pattern coat of lhe 1810 form which was to hand Ihat summef, the lapelled coats were recut and made up into single-breasted ones by the company tailors. Breasts ware only 11-12ins long depending on the soldier's size, which still allowed the bottom of the vests to be seen underneath. Lace was disallowed on the uruforms of the privates, With the eKceptlOO of samor 1T1USlClallS. Sergeants' coats were 10 be fully laced, while those 01 corporals w«e laced only on the collar and culls, we read thaI a 'large ma,onty of the 5ergeants ... [petJtlOOed and I'8C\eIVedJ perml$SM)fl 10 put SIlver cord and plated buttons on their Coats' In IteIJ of white lace and pewter buttons BesIdes the plated bunons and silver cord holes on hIS fully tnmmed coat, our sergeanl's rank IS readily apparent by the worsted epaulelles worn on both shoulders (corporals haVing but one on Ihe righl shoulder). From c.1800 the epaulelles of mfantry NCOs were red, while the ar1li1ery shll wore yellow. There being insuffiCient winter overalls for all the men in one color. non-commlsSlOOed officers drew the white ones first after which the troops were ordered to eachange their

overalls With one anolher 'so that a company shall be all blue or all wtute'. WhIte linen summer OVtIraIIs were ordered always to be worn tucked Inside brackened gaiters. The use of bayonet belts had first been prohlb!ted ,n 1793 and this practice conllnued among most of Ihe troops, especlaily those at the western and southern stations, for many years. Thousands of muskets had their bayonets permanently brazed to the muzzles In 1802. and while we do not know if anns of thls form were used at Cantonment Washington, the gamson still wore the.- bayonets always fixed Ifl 1810. Cartndge boxes Ifl use during 1799-1808 InCluded the 'belly box' form as wei as the '8ntJsh. pouch suspended by a crossbelI of white webbing or leather (either bull Of harness leather, blackened or sometunes pamted white). The laller form of Carlndge box must have predominated at the Cantonment, as black belting was ordered to be worn With accoutrements for regular duties, and 'white crossbelts' were obtained for use on parade and guard mounts. It is doubtful that any of the new 1808 accoutrements (Including bayonet bells) had found their way to this remote post by 1810, although sergeants would certamly have had belts for the.- swords. BearsJon-cresled hats WIth their normal tnmmmgs remained the offICial headdress In this 'regunent'. although the white feathefs pr8YtOUSIy worn by many of the troops were dISallowed after late October except among non-commJSSIOned officers and the mUSIC, the remall'!der belng reqUired 10 wear lhe 'regulatlOl1' plumes 01 white dears' tails G2: Officer, Infanlry, 1806-10 The dress of infantry officers was largely governed by vaned interpretations of the incomplete and unoffICial 1799 uniform regulations. supplemented (as in the case of the 1st Infantry) by regimental StandIng orders. By c.l806 the CUI of the coat had changed from the aJlaway form to a straight, though sill double-breasted front The scar1et lapels could be displayed fully and the front closed by pairs of I'looks and eyes placed on the lIYlemlOSt edges of the lapels: or the lapels could be fastwooably lapped ae:tOSS each other, as shown here. Narrow Sliver lace was used to edge and bind the false buttonholes on the facIngs and pocket flaps. The sklr1S. tumed up WIth false white turn backs iolned at thelr juncture WIth a red cloth diamond. stili reached down to the back of the knee Underneath were worn a white vest and pantaloons, the laller tucked Into black half·boots or 'Hes&ans' (When on foot). A 3m·wlde shoulderbelt of bull leather was mounted with a Sliver belt plate beanng an eagle device. and supported a

45

Thl. coel belon"ad to Adem urrabea, who w•• comml••lonad e •• aecond lIeulenent In lhe Regl LI"ht Artillery In 1811. Mltde in the tashlon of c. 1805-' 0, with • I.pelled .'tlIl"ht brea,l, it h•• on Ihe left shoulder. lI'Old lace slrap and button for en epaulette _ the proper Insl"nla for a lieutenant, The skirts are Ion", rather than short as prescribed lor the regiment, and are trimmed with the hemn"bone 'buttonhQles' frequently ...ocl.ted with mountad troop•. These del.lIs, couplad with the lack leced hole. enywhere but on the collar, .ug"e.t a regimental undress uniform. Another po. . lbillty Is that LarTetJe. WOfll thl. coat whUe a cedet at the US Military Academy, 1808-11; cadeta tuld been allowad 10 _.r artillery unltorms, Including a 'lI'Old str1lp with fringe on tM "'ft shoul~, long befOfllan olflcial c.del dre.. was ..'-bUshed. (Courtesy lowa Stale Museum)

0'

0'

steel- or silver-mounted swotd. The cocked hat had generally monl fashionable, to a chapeau bras wllh wtute feathef plume. bound Wllh black silk tape or SlIver lace. nvs full lJI"lIform would contInUe 11"I use WIth little modlficauon unt~ at least 1810.

gwen way, among the

••

G3: Matron, Ught Artillery Regiment, t808-11 Horse or 'flYing' artJllefy, although proposed dunng the Quasi-Waf, Wefe not offICially authonsed until 1808 when the Ught Artillery Reglmef1t was created. Only a small portico of the regiment ever received the proper accoutrements and equipage for such service (not 10 mention the requisite horses): and the bulk of the regiment served as foot artillery or infantry as occasion demanded, Uniforms were similar to those worn by the 'old' Reglm6flt 01 Artillery during 1804-10, although With shorter skirts (the hemngbooe lorm 01 the skirt Inmmlng is conjectural and based on an extant officer's coat). Although a new str3Jght-breasted, closed coat was approved for the regJmef1t in 1810, few appear to have been made up and ISSUed before 181 t.lt was the leather cap, WIth Its blue and red plume and 'US LA' inslgflla, that was the dJstu'lQUlshing feature of thIS corps. In addJtlOtl to a VISOf it had two V9r'IJCaI 'wings', the front pace being edged WIth a margIn of bearskin. In form It appears to have been SlITIiar t~ Bnll$h light .... fantry and forage caps of the 17905-18 t Os, by which II was probably InSpIred. H1: Private, 4th Infantry, 1810-11

One of the first corps to be ISSUed the new Infantry uniform

of 1810, the 4th Infantry stili recelyed the hats of the old pattern in that year; their commanding officer ordered these to be cut and converted to appro_lmate the form of the new fell infantry cap. To complete the caps, he directed two of hiS sergeants to purchase white plumes (their 'rent' for the year, In exchange for the privilege of operating a reglmeotal sutler's establishment). and acqUired 'bands' and tassels as wen. For parade the 4th wore whIte pantaloons tucked into whrte gaJtefS, but for general duty black galtefS were worn WIth the summer pantaloons. Despite prohlblllOflS in orders, many old soldl6rS III thiS reglmeot and others frequently cut the tongues or bottoms off their winter ovetalls and instead wore them WIth the Issue summer QaltefS on campaign, as seen here. According to an ey8WItness who saw the 4th at the opemng 01 the War of 1812, still dressed in the UOllorms worn at the battle of Tippecanoe. the 'Colonel was permitted to unrform them to SUit himself, and It was the first lime I ever saw the bucket cap. wrth cord and tassels and the cartridge box worn around the waste, II'lStead of oyer the shoulder of the coatee ..:. AIthoogh the cartlidge box may have been of the 17905 belty box form, rt IS shown here as an 1808 pattern mounted WIth shdlrlg loops to a W31stbelt converted from Its ongtnal sling: based on an example in the author's coIlectlOl1, this was the prtlC:lnOf of a practICe commonty employed dunng the Civil War half a century later. H2: Private, late Whitney's Rifle Company, 1811 DespIte rtS tendency to lade, the gBSS green ...,.form WIth black faoogs was retained for lhe Rifle Regln'lent In 1810, although the new pattern coats had plain, straight breasts closecl wrth hooks and rather than cutaway fronts WIth lapefs. The sklrts had green hnlngs; and black WIngS, wrth green cord edging and fnnge, graced the ends of the blackedged shoulder straps. The long side seams on the backs of the coats were covered wrth black cord, and false buttonholes of green cord were placed on the cuffs. collar and breast. The trefOIl or 'claw' ends of the holes shown here on the breast and collar are meolloned In some of the !etters concerning 18tO unllorms, and their placement is partly based on an extant coat of a volunteer rifle COll1pa11y, beheYed to have been inspired by the regular army version. The continuation of the trefoil-finished cord holes in the 18t 4 nile unilorm (see MAA 345) aiso supports my coniectural reconstruction, One company of the Rifle Regiment, 'late Whltneys' (still known by the name 01 its former commander. who resigned just before the Tippecanoe campaign) was attached to the 4th Infantry in 18t 1. The men's defective rifles were turned in fOf repair and they were armed and accoutred as infantry during the campaign. ConSidering the nature of their service it is most likely that the troops retained thelf tomahawks and knives, which were mounted in sliding 'cases' allached to the waistbelts. The t808lealher cap remained in use among the Rifles until replaced In 18t2.

H3: Matross, Regiment of Artillery, t810-11

The 'old artillery' were to have recetved a new coat decorated on its bl'east With three rows of 'RA' buttons, the middle row to button closed. connected by lalse bullonholes 01 yellow binding. Instead, dunng t8to-t t, as on the new coats of the other corps, the central raw 01 butlons was replaced wrth hooks and eyes down the Single-breasted lront. The coat's mock buttonholes were made of yellow cord ralher than lace, although the collar, breast edges, pocket flaps, and tumbacks were stili edged With yellow blndmg. Its skirts were long, almost reaching to the knee, Imed and laced With scarlet to match the ISClngs Vest and overalls were unchanged, as was the cocked or 'Iantail' hat shown at the leet of thIS off-duty soldl6r; its piu'ne of red WOfSted. reserved for parade and other dutl6S. has been removed. It was a long-standll'lQ custom II'l many amues for soldiers leaving the gamson III uniform to wear their sidearms, III this case bayonet and shoulder bell - a practICe falling lTom favor due to wounds IllCefVed In dram-shop a1tercatlOl"lS.

eves

Although worn by a member 01 a volunteer rifle c:ompany, this g,.... green c:oalee w . . probably c:opled from that adopted lor the US Alfle Aegt In 1810. Closed down the front with ~ka and ey. ., It has la'" buttonholes made of c:ord finished at the Inner -.wIs In 'daws' Of' trefoils c:f Plate H2. (Courtesy US Milltsry Ac:.ademy Museum, West Point; suthof"s photo)

47

INDEX (.,... It"WIn 6. 7. {"rrm,lIc, r......"

II,.. "!,,,,,,,

\rm·"' .... ~_I"~n

11lUl.o!O

:lG_21.2_'.21,1'>.~6

I~J-II

G~

~H2.~H'

(."'.,d)"",, t·.

h."liH-l-'lI

~.'I.II

belt.,.." ..1'1,"18.'7

I~ l.~,

11 12. ~J, -1<1

It~l ... n' 1. '" ~ 7 n,l~u"" [)I. [», 1'3.

'(hi, "

10,·,,,•. (:'11",.1<-,

'\j

n",'

10, 'I'l ~,

111, i, II, 1'1, 21,

~~,

'II,

.....'" h ~ ct.". \I~r" G<'"cr>!

1:'.-1<, :1.1, i2

~.\

-lfH7

3~

".""t",l.. 38 4U ""wh ""..", ~Iti '"""'" rot 3-1 4'-'~

~~.

i

'I'l......... ,. 41.

·t+-l~.

'.M,,,b<,

I~II

h..-..."". R<",rl,~ 'I, '"I

171tl-Jl1 It. !l. 11 17'''1·9/,11.1',111,11',,11 17'J7-lllOl 13.16,16. I" 19 ~I,

l WJ-ll ,,. 5lI,

11

n

~1.:n. ~"

""",. ( ... "cc.1 ( .... "~r, S<-<'W." .,.

,0(

II."

i. K 11·12.

l~

'-'11'"'' ,~ ,lor I' """l ...."" 47

13-)'>. :\".

~'4i).

,h.· III. IU. Ct. ;, 10

\I><,,,,,b. \I.r" Al<."",,,~., ll.,k I...","",,,,, I ......,orl Wollc,," .\

l>C"rbo", 11...,,, '>c
~!,

:1':-21, 2\

~1,:l-1

\I.,...."d",... ""', «,,~, m 17.,; , '" 110,,,,,. I~n,c ........ ,~,." ,J ".,

"",,,,,,, ,,,,,,,k,,,,

~.

8.:n

~""N

l~, "',~",

",,,,,,,,m,

<"11"""'''

"'''H·,"u",i'''''',...1"(I"r,, "I, (;1 ". "',15

11.

Jil-l~,

19-0'!l,

~1

OJ. It

"."J

1~12 (/~t2-1~1

'I.' .... ,

'L.~ ..

'l/i

\,., ,01100<1'""<1..,,",, 1177'>-1<31 7. 'Iti 11',,,10,,,1"'''' (.r",r.1 ("'>rj(c 6. 7, I~. IX

f,

.u. '1. :~,

~'''11

t·)

l ...,,....~1 ..,,,"'.,, 5.9.11

~ I~,

1:\-11. I;.

~.H<'. l~

f.3 ~.l, . .'H 41 ""al""I0",..", '. t.~. 1', 1>7, 21 ~",tI~ W,lh..,... Sc
I.,)' ....', ",I1".,..:r,~ HI F,".. \t•./", \..:h".... Y

'1"""~11" 1(",",

I~, 1:~lh

1~,

Il'(!l......

t,.'"

MAlt,."", Q. [)~. '-I 7, I', 15. 16, 19.!1. 24. ". "'. 41. 12. i4 Il,..,,,", ("lund \\illi.." "

"
'01; I7XPIfj 1. 7 i·.... '~Il).IO·II. I~

,,,,)9.1, 33.31 '."1">< "2. ~I, 10, "'r",tb 8, II 11. Il,. 19, tl. ." ... In

iO -«>41

l.n;", I. 3, 1~·I' Lou,........ /'un h...·. ,hc b

r.",,,"~"',,lll.qcin .. ,,'. 'he Col. I', C.ot"'n.".... An",. tI,e '.7, It

""if"m"

17'17·1"00

24. 55.12.42-41.

<<><:...1<> lI-!I. II, lit. 1'+, ~_ 41

~'O

'onh~ ...,

'hd",.nc•. me,

1'~;

l

~",.,.n"

I....","'" 1', ,n,,",~",,'"

\""',,, 17"1 ;. ~I

ulfKe" lil'I-l-'II •. 3 I 7't~·96 7. 9. 10, II IlIM 17"i·1HlIll I ~ ''''11 ...... U. ~I !~. , .• -W. .(U_,.6

,.ti( .. "

rl.

FI,,").'\'4iJ.H 11

ril..... -lQ "'~",,'. t3. H

\\"I",~,",

10""" "'''' I',·n".,"-'''''' 5 lIri", ''''' ( ... ,......1I.""", ~), ~ 1. 3-1

\, oI~",~,,,.

COMPANION SERIES FROM OSPREY CAMPAIGN Concise, authoritathe accounts of histor~'s d~'Cisilc rnilitar~ e(lcounters. Each 96-page bool.: cont~ins o\er 90 illustrations including maps, ordcrs of hank, colour platcs, and thret:-dimensional bmlc maps. WARRIOR Dcfiniti,e anal) sis of the apl'I-·~rdnce, "capons, equIpment, tactics, charJcter and conditions of sen icc of th.., indi,'idual fighting maR throughout histo~. Each 64-page bool.: includes full-("(llnur uniform slUdi..,s in c1use dclail, and ->cctional artworl.: of the soldier's cquipl1wnl. NEWVANGUARD Cornprchenshe histories of th.., design. dClclopment and upcrdtional use of thc "orld's armuured "ehidl'S and arriller)·. Each .,8-pagc bool contains cight pag~"S of full-colour atT"ork including a delailcd Cllla"
4.

47

,"'d""

1.. ,,1<- of. 7

Til'l""'"~r>o<.

CIUL)""g ,',""",",,'" 9,'1

..

"'~~"... (~

rilk",.." Cl Ft H2

<...1>

11lUI-lJI' :tel

1',1...·. 'I-'r~ I..b~lPI"-~,"'" ~~'.21 ~1·2'~.33

r."k

I~

1!lli'~ll 2<.3+~:' ~'.38.+1.

I~,,,,,,,,

d"u,~*"" '1-7 Il.. ~.Il<1~"'!I<'~"'''
~\

17'",·% 10. II. 15. I') 17"'-I!lO') 1~.4~ ]1.01 ..... 21, ~I, n. I~, 14. +1

1/3.'1.'.:15,'"'.·..... 17

'(Jo<-,n~I""",m

t.

" ....r

11."""". b"".".,," (, ..."',I} ......h 3 11.",.~,,,, Ililli,,,,, II,·"" 7

178-1-9:' Alt. II. 12, lb. :f
17'.J&-11lOO 0.1:1.16. IQ, 19.

17":, .',

R"~",l,r,.{",,,,·~.1

H~"'''~''H''

,~

.",11."

2~

,oj

ORDER OF BATTLE The most derailed informatio(l c'er published on the units "hich foughl histor~ 's gr~·Jt baults. Each 9(,.. page b
ELITE Detaikd infomlation on the organisation, appo."~ ..... n~'e and fighfi(lg r~'COrd of the "'orld's most famous miliuf) bgraph~ a>ailable.

lIlIImD MILITARY

MEN-AT-ARi\lS

m:tAIJIJ MILITARY

THE UNITED STATES ARMY 1783-1811 When the Rc\olutionar)' War ended George Washington's ,iccorloUS Cominemal Arm~ ",as disbanded. The infant L:nitoo Slates had leT) mi\.cd feelings aboll[ standing armies, but years of Indian-fighting on the frontier emphasised the need for a force larger than Josiah llarmar's original iOO-man 1st American Regimenl. In the c\cnt Secretary I [amilton's far-sighted reforms, \\ hich produced 'Wayne's Legion' in the early 17905, were [Q be shorl-li\cd, and it lOOl: lalcr threats of international ",ar (0 stimulate the e\'cntual expansion of the )oung US Arm).James Kochan's meticulous)) researched stud) of a dramatic and com pIe,; period in American milirar) histor) - rhe rears of Sl Clair's disasrer, '.\lad .-\nlhon)' \\'a) ne's \ icror) al Fallen Timbers, and Ilarrison 's at Tippecanoe - is iIIusrT'ared \\ith man) rare and imporranl pain rings and dray, ings.

MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES • The unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, uniforms, equipment and organisation of the world's military forces, past and present. • SpeCially commissioned full colour artwork and diagrams combine to

www.ospreypublishing.com

m:mm MILITARY

provide a unique visual approach. • Authoritative and accessible for

ISBN 1-84176-087-0

history enthusiasts of all ages. 9

J'~'U~JI