^DRAGOON CAP, 1833-1851i^ 



\yRDER NO. 3 8, HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, 2 May 



1833, which described the uniform of the newly au- 

 thorized United States Regiment of Dragoons, pre- 

 scribed the officer's cap as follows: ". . . of the same 

 material as that for the Infantry, but according to a 

 pattern furnished; to be ornamented with a gilt star, 

 silver eagle, and gold cord; the star to be worn in 

 front, with a drooping white horsehair pompon; the 

 Field Officers to have a small strip of red hair, to show 

 in front of their pompons." For the enlisted men the 

 same order states: "Cap — Same material as for other 

 Corps, but the pattern, ornaments and trimmings, like 

 the one furnished the Clothing Bureau. Drooping white 

 horsehair pompon." "'' The only known detailed de- 

 scription of this cap is in a letter from Callender Irvine 

 to a prospective supplier : 



The tops of the uniform caps are of pretty stout 

 jacked leather made to fit . . . precisely. They extend 

 down the bodies of the caps one inch and are neatly 

 stitched to the lower edge. . . . The Dragoon cap is 

 level on top, the poke ... is patent leather. The 

 bodies . . . are made of imported materials, so said, 

 from South America and coney fur or wool is the 

 principal thereof. There is a strap of patent leather 

 with a slide . . ., so fixed as to be brought under the 

 chin to secure the cap to the head. . . "^ 



An element of the cap trimming not prescribed in the 

 original order is the "brass grenade" mentioned in the 

 cost of clothing list of the same year.'"" A variation of 

 the well-known "flaming bomb" device with a plume 

 holder attached behind, it is the equivalent of the 

 infantry and artillery "tulip," although somewhat 

 smaller. Similarly, although the original order did men- 

 tion a gold "cord" for officers it omitted the "band" 

 for the enlisted men.'-' Following the general u.sage in 

 the Army at the time, it is probable that the officers' 

 "cord" was of gold colored metallic cord. The enlisted 



version was of yellow worsted.' "■' No description of this 

 "cord," "band," or "band and tassel," as it was vari- 

 ously termed, has been found. The only contemporary 

 illustrations giving any appreciable detail show this cord 

 fastened on either side of the top of the crown, falling 

 in plaited form in front and behind and extending 

 down the left side as two single cords with a tassel near 

 the top, continuing down the back, coming under the 

 right arm, and terminating in two rather elaborate 

 knots and tassels attached to the breast of the wearer.'"' 

 In this form, it added much color to the uniform and 

 .served to attach the cap in the same manner as a 

 pistol lanyard. 



A number of identical specimens of this cap have 

 survived (figs. 27-29). Generally similar to the 1832 

 infantry and artillery pattern, of the same heavy felted 

 woolen material, and indicating the same French influ- 

 ence, there is nonetheless a definite visible difference. 

 While the infantry-artillery cap is cylindrical, the dra- 

 goon cap is taller and somewhat conical, being 8^ 

 inches high and measuring but 6/2 inches across the 

 crown, which is flat rather than "sunken" and 7 or 

 more inches across the base depending on size. The 

 visor, rather than pointed and convex, is flat, 3;4 

 inches wide at the center and 1 1 /2 inches from side 

 to side, and the chin strap terminates in regulation 

 dragoon rather than plain buttons. In other respects 

 the caps are similar. They were made by, among others, 

 Cressman, Gratacap, and Erne.st C. Smith of Phila- 

 delphia.'" The gold or yellow "bands and tassels" 

 with the specimens described arc very similar to the 

 "cords and bands" worn on the helmets from 1872 

 to 1902 and minutely described in specifications pub- 

 lished by the Quartermaster General in 1887."' It is 

 possible that these bands and ta.ssels are not original 

 but the 1872 pattern added to the.se caps at a later date. 

 The price for the enlisted men's model was 70 cents.'='' 



31 



