1^1851 CAPi^ 



XaLTHOUGH THE 185 UNIFORM REGULATION WITH 



its emphasis on simplicity was suspended before it 

 could be put into effect, the widespread demand of 

 the officers of the Army for a more practical uniform 

 led to the establishment of a new Uniform Board 

 which met early in 1851.^'''' After examining the com- 

 plaints that had been made regarding the old uniform 

 as well as ". . . various collections of dra\vings ex- 

 hibiting dress in use in Foreign Services, and having 

 in \iew the character of the frontier service most likely 

 to be required of American troops for many years to 

 come . . ."' this board submitted its report on 22 Feb- 

 ruary 1 85 1 . Their recommendations were in large part 

 approved by the Secretary of War ^'"' and published in 

 General Orders, No. 31, 12 June 1851."' The cap 

 and its trimmings are described as follows in the orig- 

 inal order: 



Cap 



39. For all officers and enlisted men — dark blue 

 cloth, according to pattern; crown of four upright 

 pieces, height in front from five and three-fourths to 

 six and one-fourth inches along the front seam: length 

 behind, from seven and one-fourth to seven and three- 

 fourths inches along the back seam; tip from fi\e and 

 one-half to si.\ inches in diameter, and inclining down- 

 ward slightly from rear to front when the cap is worn, 

 ( the dimensions given to vary with the circumference 

 of the head;) vizor of strong neat's leather, two and 

 one-fourth inches wide at the middle, black on the 

 upper and green on the under sides, to be put on at 

 right angles to the front of the cap, or in other words, 

 to be horizontal when the cap is worn; strap of strong 

 black leather fastening under the chin by a yellow 

 metal buckle and leather slide; band two inches wide 

 from the lower edge of the cap, and pointed in front 

 according to pattern, of material, color, and with 

 ornaments as follows: 



40. For General Officers — band of dark blue velvet; 

 with a gold embroidered wreath in front, encircling 

 the letters U. S. in old English characters, in silver. 



41. For Officers of the Adjutant General's, Inspec- 

 tor General's, Quartermaster's, Subsistence, Medical 

 and Pay Departments, and the Judge Advocate of the 

 Ai-my — band of the same material and color as the 

 cap, welted at the edges; the same ornament in front 

 as for General Officers, (40.) 



42. For Officers of the Corps of Engineers — the 

 same as for the General Staff, (41,) except the orna- 

 ment in front, which will be a gold embroidered wreath 

 of laurel and palm encircling a silver turretted castle. 

 43. For Officers of the Corps of Topographical En- 

 gineers — the same as for the General Staff, (41,) 

 except the ornament in front, which will be a gold 

 embroidered wreath of oak leaves encircling a gold 

 embroidered shield. 



44. For Officers of the Ordnance Department — the 

 same as for the General Staff, (41,) except the orna- 

 ment in front, which will be a gold embroidered shell 

 and flame. 



45. For Officers of Artillery — the same as for the 

 General Staff, (41,) except the ornament in front, 

 which will be gold embroidered cross cannon, with 

 the number of the regiment in silver, above their 

 intersection. 



46. For Officers of Infantry- — the same as for the 

 General Staff, (41,) except the ornament in front, 

 which will be a gold embroidered bugle, widi the num- 

 ber of the regiment in silver, within the bend. 



47. For Officers of Riflemen — the same as for the 

 General Staff, (41,) except the ornament in front, 

 which will be a trumpet, perpendicular, embroidered 

 in gold, with the number of the regiment in silver, 

 within the bend. 



48. For Officers of Dragoons — the same as for the 

 General Staff, (41,) except the ornament in front, 

 which will be two sabres crossed, (edges upward,) 

 embroidered in gold, with the number of the regiment 

 in silver, in the upper angle. 



49. For enlisted men of Artiller)', Infantr\', Riflemen 

 and Dragoons — bands of scarlet, light or Saxony blue, 

 medium or emerald green, and orange-colored cloth. 



59 



