United States Army Headgear 1855-1902 - Libreria Militare Ares

NUMBER 30this last model made no provision for protectionagainst bad weather, the leather forage cap, whichreplaced it in 1833 (replaced by another patternin 1839), had in the dragoon model (but not thatfor other troops) a flap in the rear, which couldbe let down some 6 inches to protect the neck. Alltroops were prescribed a band of fur to be attachedto the bottom and tied in jEront."" There was nosuch provision for the dress caps. All three typesof the 1839-1851 forage caps had "capes" attachedto the rear as integral parts which provided someprotection against cold/" The all-purpose capadopted in 1851 did have a cap cover, which wasto extend down onto the shoulders 10 inches belowthe lower edge of the cap and tying under the chin;but this was to be of a "suitable water proof material,"which indicates a rather dubious value as protectionagainst cold.'** The forage cap and "Army"hat adopted in 1858 made no provision for suchprotection.Just prior to the Civil War General W. S. Harney'swinter campaign in the Oregon and WashingtonTerritories and the Mormon Expeditionbrought some relief in the form of "great coats withcapotes or hoods" and "caps with ear pieces (oldpattern forage or last pattern cap)." '" During theCivil War the only strictly protective wear issuedin any bulk were mittens.'" The Woodhull Reportof 1868 made several very pointed recommendationsin regard to winter headgear, which were notfollowed in the 1872 uniform change.'""Sometime between 1865 and 1870 a total of 304"fur caps" (not otherwise described) turned up oninventory in the Philadelphia Depot and remainedthere unissued at least through 1873, despite thefact that during the same period considerable numbersof buffalo overshoes and buffalo overcoatswere procured and issued.*** In 1876 a board ofofficers convened to consider certain proposed uniformchanges and recommended the issue of sealskin caps and gauntlets. This was approved fortroops serving at "extreme northern posts" whenrecommended by the department commander concerned,to be issued at the rate of two per five yearenlistment and to be charged to the individual atcontract prices (Figure 55).' The caps were to bemade of "wool seal skin, with ear flaps, cape, andvizor, according to pattern" with a "lining of Turkeyred chintz, padded with cotton wadding." *"The first contract was let on 22 June 1876 withFIGURE 55.—Muskrat fur cap, model 1876. (Drawing byDonald W. Hoist, adapted from illustration in QM SpecificationNo. 6, 12 March 1879, RG 92, NA.)77