U.S. Uniforms #2
1865-1898
If you have a Spanish American War
or Indian War uniform photograph you would like to share with other
viewers,
please
send a sharp print, negative or e-mail a JPG image
so I can
insert
it on this page. Also, send as much information as you have about the
picture. Doug McChristian's critique of the uniform
will be posted on this page. For details,
email me at afrasca@erinet.com
On the back of this cabinet card of the standing soldier with sword
and helmet is a St. Louis studio mark. The studio is ink stamped on the
back and the first letter is missing. The remaining letters of the studio
name is "ennerro" and they were located on North Broadway. I always
believed him to be an enlisted man because of the US belt plate.
Photograph
from
Keith Anderson.
I believe this is an early
Indian Wars photo, and a good one. On the back of this CDV is the studio
name and address.
It is B. F. Reynolds, Corner of Eleventh and Salisbury Streets, St. Louis.
I have never seen another helmet like this man is wearing. His belt plate
looks like a US officer type and the sword looks like an 1840 model. He
may be State Militia?
Photograph
from
Keith Anderson.
Doug
McChristian's critique: An infantry sergeant, c.1872-73. The "definitely
unmilitary" blouse he
wears is the regulation 1872-pattern for enlisted men. The absence of
chevrons is proper, according to the regulations, as is the use of the
company letter, sans branch insignia on the forage cap. A nice and rare
image.
Photograph
from
Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.
3rd Cavalryman in his 1872 dress uniform and helmet. Backmark on the
card is "Howard Photographers, Ft. Sanders, Wyoming Ty". Company E of the
3rd Cavalry was stationed at Ft. Sanders in April 1874. Doug
McChristian's assessment: As noted, this photo is of a 3rd
Cavalryman. It was taken during the
time the regiment was posted in Wyoming Territory 1872-85, which
virtually
covers the entire period the 1872 uniforms was in use. The 1872 dress
helmet suggests that the image dates prior to 1882.
Photograph from
Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.
Spanish American soldier ready for war. Note the Model 1892 Krag in his
hand!! This is about as good a picture as I have seen for the period.
Doug McChristian's assessment: This infantryman also appears to be
a regular. He has the regulation
blanket bag equipments, Model 1892 Krag rifle, 1889 campaign hat, and
1888-pattern leggings, all of which suggest to me that the image was
taken
in the mid-1890s.
Photograph
from
Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.
Photograph of Lt. Col. (Brevet General) Washington Lafayette Elliott,
1st U.S. Cavalry. Elliott entered service as a 2nd Lt. of Mounted
Rifles in the Mexican War. He was Col. of the 2nd Iowa Cavalry then
Brig. General of Volunteers in 1862. He commanded the 3rd Division
of Sickles' Corps at Gettysberg. He became Col. of the 3rd Cavalry in
1878. Doug McChristian's assessment: The Elliott image shows a
regulation field officer's uniform 1872-81.
Photograph from Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.
Ordnance Sgt. with a state belt buckle and the ordnance symbol on his
kepi. Doug McChristian's assessment of the uniform: The image of the
ordnance sergeant probably dates to the 1890s. My
opinion is more a gut reaction than anything I see in the photo. The
soldier could be regular army, but the non-regulation sword suggests
(though not conclusively) that he is a state guardsman. The caption states
that the belt plate is non-reg, but I cannot see it well enough to make
that determination. Ordnance sergeants wore the Pattern 1851 eagle plate.
Photograph from
Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.
