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1898 Infantry Officer's Khaki Blouse


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US Victory Museum

This is an 1898 infantry officer's blouse.

On May 7th 1898 All infantry officers were precribed the Blue Wool P1898 uniform.
Two days later, on May 9th, 1898 a Khaki blouse was prescribed for general officers
and officers of the general staff, corps, and departments per General Orders No. 39.

G.O. No. 39 also stipulated that the cuffs, epaulets, and collar of the new khaki
uniforms were to be of the same material as the coat and of the color facings of the
force of arm. Officers were expected to purchase their own uniforms; therefore, the
officers uniforms were private purchase items and not from Government stock.

Under General Order No. 51, enlisted men were proscribed the first pattern 5-button khaki
uniforms on May 23rd, 1898. Colored facings on their collars, epaulets, cuffs and pocket
flaps designated branch of service: yellow for cavalry, blue for infantry and red for
artillery. Blouses were issued with matching khaki parade belts secured by two enlisted
man’s brass eagle buttons.

General Order No. 51 lasted 75 days ending August 6th 1898. After only 75 days the army
dropped the branch facings on the collar, cuffs and pocket flaps leaving only a service
designation on the epaulets, which were required to be detachable.

Circular No. 25 issued by Adjutant General's Office 20 July 1898 authorized metal insignia
on the collar.


post-1529-0-13828000-1386883981.jpg

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The Officer's differed from the enlisted men's uniforms in the following ways:

The pockets flaps of the blouse were without color facings, and it did not have
belt loops; moreover, the collar stood noticeably higher than that of the enlisted
men's blouse.

Both were constructed with a box pleat in the rear, as well as pleated upper pockets
and box lower pockets.

In this particular image, the blouse is displayed with the following accouterments:
* A Relic condition P1889 Campaign Hat
* An undated P1878 Spheriod Canteen
* An 1878 Haversack marked to M Co. 20th Inf.
* A double row 100 rnd .30-40 Krag cartridge belt.

Please observe the early stencil 'broken' letters
on the canteen and haversack.

post-1529-0-73588100-1386884051.jpg

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Tomorrow, I shall photograph and post the 1898 1st pattern
enlisted men's uniform and append it to this post.

 

 

 

 

Historic photo:

Capt Woodbury Kane Rough Riders 1st US Vol Cav K Troop

post-1529-0-45724500-1386884164.jpg

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Mike,

 

Thank you for always taking the time to make such an educational post. Your collection is top notch.

 

Mario

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Here is a second infantry officer's blouse; this one is faced with
a Sky-Blue shade upon the epaulets, cuffs, and collar.

(Formerly from the Gil Sanow Collection)

 

post-1529-0-24752900-1386970307.jpg

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This is a first pattern 1898 infantry enlistedman's blouse.

It has sky-blue facings upon its short collar, sleeve cuffs,
epaulets, and upper pocket flaps. Like the officer's blouse,
this one has a box pleat in the rear; however, unlike the
officer's blouse, it also has belt loops for the enlistedman's
parade belt, which was composed of identical khaki material
and was retained by two enlistedmen's gilt buttons.

On the occasions that a uniform should appear on Ebay, the
vast majority are found without their belts.

Shortly after I photographed this blouse, I demoted the soldier
by replacing his staff officer's buttons with the proper
enlistedman's type.

 

post-1529-0-47722400-1386970403.jpg

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In this display, which I found somewhere on the I-Net, the
parade belt can be seen. A darker shade of blue is noted.

Although many uniforms have been faded by sun bleaching due
extensive field use, and by repeated launderings, it must be
noted that sky-blue and dark blue are different colors.
One does not fade into the other.

In May of 1898, Dark Blue kersy trousers were allowed to be
worn in lieu of the Sky Blue, so whether there was a shortage
of the proper dyes or some other reason I have yet to determine,
but this may account for the differing colored *ISSUED*
enlistedman's blouse facings.

 

post-1529-0-75784200-1386970577.jpg

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Yeah, I know... this isn't an a infantryman's blouse like the
topic said, but I'm on a roll...

Besides, it does have the parade belt.

My Enlisted artilleryman's blouse.

 

post-1529-0-75207800-1386970672.jpg

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Although I initially started this post by posting an infantry
officer's blouse, and then posting a corresponding enlistedman's
blouse for comparrison, I have never seen an infantryman's or
cavalryman's uniform with colored facings on *ALL* the pockets.


While trying to learn something about my artilleryman's blouse,
I came across this photgraph of a display from a NJ Museum
(See below).

It's the only other one I've been able to locate.



http://www.cmcmuseum.org/special.htm

The Cape May County Museum,
504 Route 9 North,
Cape May Court House, NJ
08210

 

[END FOLLOW UP]

post-1529-0-12741400-1386970765.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Although I initially started this post by posting an infantry

officer's blouse, and then posting a corresponding enlistedman's

blouse for comparrison, I have never seen an infantryman's or

cavalryman's uniform with colored facings on *ALL* the pockets.

 

 

While trying to learn something about my artilleryman's blouse,

I came across this photgraph of a display from a NJ Museum

(See below).

 

It's the only other one I've been able to locate.

 

 

 

http://www.cmcmuseum.org/special.htm

 

The Cape May County Museum,

504 Route 9 North,

Cape May Court House, NJ

08210

 

[END FOLLOW UP]

you mean like this

post-72-0-32378500-1387900496.jpg

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  • 8 years later...

I love this. This is the ONE uniform of my Militaria Bucket List. As a scale modeler, I'd love even a good 120mm/1:16 scale figure to paint wearing it. Part of me has even toyed with sewing a scale replica of it, like maybe 1/3rd to go with some of the accessories you can find (or make).

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