A knowledge of the uniforms of the few remaining “ancient and honorable”
military organizations, dating back to the early days of the country may
be very useful to shopkeepers on occasions such as visits, celebrations,
etc., and, in a broader way, to any student of costume or anyone having
a professional, business or transient interest in the subject.
The information following was supplied in every case by some member of
the companies listed, usually by the commanding officer. Unfortunately,
the list is not quite complete, as several promises to furnish
descriptiv matter at a later date were apparently forgotten, and a few,
tho repeatedly and courteously requested to do so, gave the matter no
attention. Nevertheless, this is a representativ and measurably useful
list.
It must be remembered, however, that in keeping with the condenst
character of the Dictionary, descriptions are necessarily quite brief.
If more precise information is required by any reader, it may be had,
doubtless, by addressing the commanding officer of the company.
=Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts=, Boston,
Mass. Organized 1638. Each company of this organization retains the
uniform adopted at the time of its organization, the original company
wearing the quaint buff-leather jerkins, flat hats and other
characteristic accessories of that time; the companies organized at the
time of the war for independence wearing the historic buff and blue so
well known to every school boy; those of the time of the late rebellion
wearing the characteristic civil war uniforms; while companies formed
later wear more modern equipment.
=Charleston Light Dragoons=, Charleston, S. C. Organized 1733 (the
oldest cavalry and the second oldest military organization in the U.
S.). Now wearing the regulation U. S. uniform. Former uniform: a full
dress coat of dark green cloth, buttoned to the throat, trimmed with
seven rows of yellow braid across front connecting three rows of
buttons, standing collar trimmed with yellow braid, yellow shoulder
knots; green trousers with yellow stripes; black boots; helmet of black
leather with heavy brass ridge trimmings, horsehair pendant, brass
visor, brass chin scale and brass crest.
=Charlestown Artillery=, Boston, Mass. Organized 1786. For many years
has worn only the regular uniform of the U. S. army and has no longer a
private uniform.
=Chatham Artillery=, Savannah, Ga. Organized 1786. The regular uniform
that of the U. S. army. The dress uniform consists of: a half-frock
artillery coat of gray cloth, single-breasted with a row of nine Georgia
buttons in front, standing collar of scarlet cloth edged with gold lace,
cuffs of scarlet cloth edged with gold lace; trousers of blue cassimere
cloth with stripes of scarlet cloth on outer seams edged with gold lace;
cap of scarlet cloth with gray cloth field on top and with gold band and
insignia; gold shoulder knots with scarlet ground and silver insignia;
belt of gold and scarlet; the same uniform for non-commissioned officers
and privates, except the cuffs of coat edged with scarlet mohair braid
instead of gold, the trousers with narrower stripes, the shoulder knots
of scarlet mohair braid with gray ground, and the cap with scarlet field
and scarlet band. The service uniform consists of a dark blue flannel
shirt, dark gray jeans trousers, U. S. army campaign hat, brown duck
army leggins.
=Columbus Riflemen=, Columbus, Miss. Organized 1837. Present uniform
that of the National Guard. In years past the company has various
uniforms, the most notable and expensiv being a gray cutaway coat with a
double row of buttons across the front fastened with gold bands across
the breast; gold epaulets and white helmet.
=Duquesne Grays=, Pittsburgh, Pa. Organized 1831. A dress uniform of
gray cloth, consisting of a full dress coat piped with white, with three
rows of bell buttons on the breast, white epaulets, white cross belts
and white waistbelt; a broad white stripe on the outerseams of the
trousers; bearskin shako; in general resembling that of West Point and
the Cleveland Grays. The undress uniform consists of a gray blouse with
one row of buttons, gray trousers with white stripes, and a regulation
gray cap with insignia.
=First Company Governor’s Foot Guard=, Hartford, Conn. Organized 1771.
Dress uniform consists of single-breasted cutaway frock coat of scarlet
cloth with standing collar, a shaped plastron of black cloth on front
trimmed with eight rows of silver braid and edged with same, standing
collar and cuffs of black trimmed to match, skirts lined with buff
cloth; waistcoat and breeches of buff cloth; black leggings; black fur
cap with red-tipt pompon and red tassel on sides and gilt blazon in
front; white cross belts.
=First Company Governor’s Horse Guard=, Hartford, Conn. Organized 1778.
The dress uniform consists of a hussar’s jacket of navy blue cloth with
cross rows of black braid in front, fastening with olives, black braid
up the back seams to the shoulders; gold shoulder knots; gold breast
belt over left shoulder with dispatch box attacht behind, gold aigulets;
black astrakhan busby cap with yellow broadcloth top draping over the
right side with hussar plume and insignia of troop.
=First Light Infantry=, Providence, R. I. Organized 1818. The dress
uniform consists of a scarlet swallowtail coat with standing collar;
coat trimmed with white and gold; white epaulets trimmed with red; light
blue trousers of cloth woven especially for the regiment, with stripes
of white broadcloth piped with red, except for officers who wear gold
stripes with red piping; a bearskin hat about 18 in. high with black
leather chin strap and gold wire tassel in front. Equipment: a black
leather waistbelt with plain brass buckle; bayonet scabbard of black
leather with brass trimmings; a white cross belt with cartridge box of
colonial style attacht; in general resembling the uniforms of the Old
Guard of the City of New York, the Governor’s Foot Guards of Hartford,
Conn., and the Washington (D. C.) Light Infantry. The dress uniform
conforms to U. S. army regulations.
=First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry=, Philadelphia, Pa. Organized
1774. Officers mounted full dress uniform: single-breasted jacket of
dark blue cloth with three rows of metal ball buttons, standing collar
of scarlet cloth extending down center of back 3½ in. to point, narrow
silver braiding on back, breast, collar, pocket, sleeves and skirt;
tight-fitting ankle breeches of white stockinet; helmet: body with vizor
and cape of black japanned leather, body 6½ in. high with metal band,
vizor metal bound and metal crest, side leaves, rosets and chin scales,
a jet black grenier with fine short hair; epaulets of silver wire lace;
sabretache of black morocco; baldric of scarlet silk and silver lace,
lined with red leather; gauntlets of white leather; jack boots of black
leather with front reaching above knees when seated; and other details,
insignia, etc., as per regulations. The same uniform with slight
modifications for non-commissioned officers and privates. Dismounted,
wear trousers in place of breeches. Mess uniform: single-breasted jacket
of dark blue cloth, open in front, with standing collar trimmed with
silver braid looping across and fastening in front, pointed cuffs
trimmed with silver braid; white linen waistcoat closed to neck, with
nickelplated buttons, silver shoulder cords. For men, a similar uniform
with slight modifications.
=Georgia Hussars=, Savannah, Ga. Organized 1737. Present uniform that of
the National Guard. The historical uniform, adopted in 1819, was an
adaptation of the uniform of the Austrian army, the coat being a
single-breasted Hussar jacket, with five rows of buttons arranged shield
shape on the front.
=Infantry Battalion State Fencibles=, Philadelphia, Pa. Organized 1813.
Dress uniform: coatee of scarlet cloth with standing collar, trimmed
across breast with seven rows white and gold braid, deep gold breast
cord, cuffs of white cloth with ornamental gold braiding, epaulets of
gold lace; black trousers with white stripes; bearskin shako, with gold
tassel, except for staff officers, who wear blue felt helmets with long
white horse hair plumes. Same uniform for privates except that epaulets
are of cotton cord instead of gold lace. Also the regulation olive-drab
service uniform.
=Kentish Guards=, East Greenwich, R. I. Organized 1774. A
single-breasted coatee of dark blue cloth, closed to throat with nine
brass buttons, the collar of white cloth trimmed with flat gold braid,
the coat trimmed with white and gold braid; trousers of sky-blue cloth
with white stripe on outer seams 1¼ in. wide for officers and ¾ in. wide
for non-commissioned officers and privates. Except for insignia of rank
and trousers stripes the uniform is the same for all officers and men.
Insignia same as U. S. army full dress.
=Lafayette Artillery Company=, South Lyndeboro, N. H. Organized 1804.
Now wears the present dress uniform of the regular artillery of the U.
S. army, with the exceptions as follows: the caps are the older straight
caps instead of the present bell crown; the officers wear the same
uniforms as the men with the exception of the stripes and shoulder
straps; officers wear gilt stripes, but non-commissioned officers wear
the regulation red stripe and chevrons. One of the historic uniforms of
the company, adopted in 1833 or earlier, consisted of “a Bonaparte cap
with a black “ploom”, the coat blue and trimmed with yellow ball buttons
and yellow worsted cord; with white pantaloons, with black “gaters” in
pickets and black stocks, yellow belts for the sword with a belt over
the shoulder, and boots”.
=Macon Volunteers=, Macon, Ga. Organized 1825. Now Co. B., 2nd Regt.
Infantry, National Guard of Georgia and wearing the regular army
uniform.
=Mobile Rifle Company=, Mobile, Ala. Organized 1836. Frock coat and
trousers of olive-green cloth, the coat for men trimmed with a row of
brass buttons on either side of breast, white epaulets and wide white
webbing over the shoulders, meeting at center of breast and fastened
with a large brass buckle; for officers, with rows of gold braid across
breast instead of the brass buttons, and gold shoulder knots. Trousers
with gold stripes at the sides. A high olive-green cap with gold
trimmings and white plume.
=Montgomery True Blues=, Montgomery, Ala. Organized 1836. Dress uniform
consists of a coatee of dark blue cloth, for officers, with seven rows
of gold braid across breast, gold standing collar with center of red,
gold epaulets with red center; enlisted men wearing white cross belts
instead of gold braid across breast and gold epaulets with red fringe;
white waist belts; trousers of light blue cloth with gold stripes with
red center; black shakos with two gold tassels.
=National Lancers=, Boston, Mass. Organized 1836. Dress uniform: a
double-breasted dress coat of scarlet cloth with two rows of nine
buttons on breast, skirts faced back and front with military blue cloth
and lined with scarlet cloth, standing collar, the coat trimmed rather
elaborately with gold braid; trousers for officers, of dark blue cloth
with gold stripe for full dress, and of sky-blue cloth with yellow cloth
stripe for undress, and for troopers of sky-blue cloth with yellow cord
stripe; riding breeches of same material and style; helmet of blue felt,
lancers pattern, with black enamel leather square top with brass bound
corners, brass scalechin strap, gold helmet cord extending to neck and
beneath right shoulder passing under the arm, plume of white swans
feathers; epaulets of scarlet cloth for troopers, shoulder knots of gold
braid for officers; belt and saber straps of white enamel leather,
officers wearing regulation army gold-embroidered dress belt; cape of
dark blue kersey lined with yellow, officers wearing army officer’s
cape. Fatigue uniform: a close-fitting blouse of dark blue cloth
fastened with nine buttons, four outside bellows pockets with flaps;
cap, same as U. S. army.
=New Haven Grays=, New Haven, Conn. Organized 1816. The dress uniform of
iron-gray cloth, consisting of a coatee with nine rows of braid across
the front and three rows of buttons, standing collar, fringed epaulets,
white waist belt and white cross belts, tall stiff felt cap with pompon,
insignia, etc.; trousers to match with two braid stripes; in general
resembling the West Point uniform.
=Old Guard of the City of New York=, New York, N. Y. Organized 1826.
Dress uniform: double-breasted coat of white cloth with ten buttons on a
side, embroidered collar of mazarin blue cloth; mazarin blue cuffs,
edged with scarlet cloth and trimmed with gold braid; skirts turned up
front and back with mazarin blue cloth edged with scarlet and trimmed
with gold braid; trousers of mazarin blue cloth with scarlet stripes and
gold braiding along outer seams; bearskin grenadier hat 15 in. high and
36 in. around at top, with two gold tassels and metallic chin strap; or
a dress cap of dark blue cloth, circular pattern, without visor, with
patent leather chin strap, gold embroidery on red field in front, for
wear with white coat on occasions of ceremony. Overcoat of heavy dark
blue beaver, double-breasted surtout style, with collar, cuffs and side
edges of scarlet cloth edged with white cord. Fatigue uniform: a
single-breasted sack coat of dark blue cloth, closed with flap with
concealed fastenings, standing collar, trimmed along edges, seams, etc.,
with flat black mohair braid; fatigue cap of regulation pattern with
black silk cord. Officers’ dress same as for privates except hat and cap
cords are of gilt; epaulets of fine bullion, plain straps. Shoulder
knots of gold wire cord on scarlet cloth. Other details as per
regulations.
=Republican Rifles=, Savannah, Ga. Organized 1808. No longer uses the
old uniforms of the corps, but is uniformed and equipt under the
National Guard of Georgia.
=Salem Light Infantry=, Salem, Mass. Organized 1805. No private uniform
at the present time, wearing that of the National Guard.
=Second Battery, F. A. N. G., N. Y.=, New York, N. Y. Organized 1833.
Equipt and uniformed exactly as a Field Battery of the U. S. army.
=Second Company Governor’s Foot Guard=, New Haven, Conn. Organized 1775.
Dress uniform consists of scarlet frock coat, single-breasted, cutaway
sharply just below the middle of the chest, the front with a plastron of
light blue cloth, square at the top, and extending in a narrow edging
all along the skirts, trimmed along its edges with silver braid, and
laid across the breast with rows of silver braid, cuffs and standing
collar of blue cloth with silver trimming to match, also a similar
treatment on the skirts over the hips; waistcoat and breeches of white
cloth; black velvet leggings; bearskin shako with silver tassel; white
gloves; white cross belts, black waist belt.
=Second Corps of Cadets=, Salem, Mass. Organized 1785. In its career the
corps has had some sixteen or more uniforms, all of which it wears on
certain occasions, as anniversary celebrations, etc. With the exception
of the uniform worn during the civil war, all the coats were red, with
black, blue or light blue trousers. The present uniform consists of a
red coat with blue facings (collar, cuffs, belt, tabs, shoulder straps,
side edges, etc.) with white edges; trousers of dark blue cloth with
white stripes; waist belt and cross belt of black enamel leather; French
shako cap of beaver with red and blue pompon; gold chevrons; other
details as prescribed.
=Seventh Regiment, N. G., S. N. Y.=, New York, N. Y. Organized 1806.
Full dress coat: of cadet gray cloth, single-breasted with standing
collar, the skirts lined with black cloth and turned up both back and
front, fronts of the coat trimmed with three rows of N. G. buttons
connected across with black mohair braid in double rows. Dress coat,
officers: of dark blue cloth with standing collar; for enlisted men: a
blouse of cadet gray cloth with standing collar and cuffs of black
cloth. Trousers of gray cadet cloth with black stripes; in summer of
white duck. Full dress hat: a shako of black felt or beaver 4½ in. high
in front and 7½ in. high behind, with white worsted pompon and with
ornaments, etc., as prescribed. Fatigue cap for men: of gray cloth, with
black band, etc.; for officers, of dark blue cloth. Field service
uniform, of olive-drab cloth, same as U. S. army.
=Strafford Guards=, Dover, N. H. Organized 1822. Now wearing regulation
U. S. uniform, being “Co. A, Second Infantry, N. H. N. G.”
=Washington Artillery=, New Orleans, La. Organized 1840. Present uniform
conforms to that of U. S. army. The uniform of 1840 consisted of a
single-breasted coatee of deep blue cloth with red standing collar and
red cuffs; light blue trousers with red stripes; gold epaulets for
officers and red for men; gold waist belt for officers and white cross
belts for men; tall white shako caps with red pompon. The uniform of
1861 retained the same colors for coat and trousers but the coat was a
single-breasted sack, buttoned to the neck, with standing collar; red
caps of the forward slant type; gold epaulets for officers and gold
shoulder knots for men; gold waist belt for officers and white waist
belt and white cross belt for men. The uniform of 1875 was entirely of
gray cloth, the coat being a double-breasted frock with standing collar,
two rows of gilt buttons on the breast and edgings of red cloth; red
trousers stripes; officers wore gilt waist belt and men white; officers
wore gold-and-red shoulder knots and men red-and-white; caps of black
felt, French shako pattern, with red plumes. The uniform of 1883
reverted to the two blues of earlier days, somewhat resembling in style
those of 1840, excepting chiefly that the coat had three rows of gilt
buttons on the chest, the men wearing red epaulets and officers
gold-and-red shoulder knots, the men wearing a white waist belt only and
the officers gilt; the headdress was a white helmet with gilt trimmings
and red plume for officers and with gilt chin straps and gilt spike for
men.