US Victory Museum Posted December 12, 2013 Share #1 Posted December 12, 2013 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 officersand 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 khakiuniforms were to be of the same material as the coat and of the color facings of theforce of arm. Officers were expected to purchase their own uniforms; therefore, theofficers uniforms were private purchase items and not from Government stock.Under General Order No. 51, enlisted men were proscribed the first pattern 5-button khakiuniforms on May 23rd, 1898. Colored facings on their collars, epaulets, cuffs and pocketflaps designated branch of service: yellow for cavalry, blue for infantry and red forartillery. Blouses were issued with matching khaki parade belts secured by two enlistedman’s brass eagle buttons.General Order No. 51 lasted 75 days ending August 6th 1898. After only 75 days the armydropped the branch facings on the collar, cuffs and pocket flaps leaving only a servicedesignation on the epaulets, which were required to be detachable.Circular No. 25 issued by Adjutant General's Office 20 July 1898 authorized metal insigniaon the collar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted December 12, 2013 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 havebelt loops; moreover, the collar stood noticeably higher than that of the enlistedmen's blouse.Both were constructed with a box pleat in the rear, as well as pleated upper pocketsand 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' letterson the canteen and haversack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted December 12, 2013 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted December 12, 2013 Tomorrow, I shall photograph and post the 1898 1st patternenlisted men's uniform and append it to this post. Historic photo: Capt Woodbury Kane Rough Riders 1st US Vol Cav K Troop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LtRGFRANK Posted December 12, 2013 Share #5 Posted December 12, 2013 just amazing the stuff you come up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ludwigh1980 Posted December 12, 2013 Share #6 Posted December 12, 2013 Super duper Mike, as always. Great display, Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken1967 Posted December 12, 2013 Share #7 Posted December 12, 2013 Great items!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointedcuffs Posted December 13, 2013 Share #8 Posted December 13, 2013 Mike, Thank you for always taking the time to make such an educational post. Your collection is top notch. Mario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted December 13, 2013 Here is a second infantry officer's blouse; this one is faced witha Sky-Blue shade upon the epaulets, cuffs, and collar.(Formerly from the Gil Sanow Collection) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted December 13, 2013 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 theofficer's blouse, it also has belt loops for the enlistedman'sparade belt, which was composed of identical khaki materialand was retained by two enlistedmen's gilt buttons.On the occasions that a uniform should appear on Ebay, thevast majority are found without their belts.Shortly after I photographed this blouse, I demoted the soldierby replacing his staff officer's buttons with the properenlistedman's type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted December 13, 2013 Note: Belt Loops for parade belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted December 13, 2013 In this display, which I found somewhere on the I-Net, theparade belt can be seen. A darker shade of blue is noted.Although many uniforms have been faded by sun bleaching dueextensive field use, and by repeated launderings, it must benoted 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 beworn in lieu of the Sky Blue, so whether there was a shortageof 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted December 13, 2013 Yeah, I know... this isn't an a infantryman's blouse like thetopic said, but I'm on a roll...Besides, it does have the parade belt.My Enlisted artilleryman's blouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted December 13, 2013 Although I initially started this post by posting an infantryofficer's blouse, and then posting a corresponding enlistedman'sblouse for comparrison, I have never seen an infantryman's orcavalryman'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.htmThe Cape May County Museum,504 Route 9 North,Cape May Court House, NJ08210 [END FOLLOW UP] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SARGE Posted December 14, 2013 Share #15 Posted December 14, 2013 Excellent information. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitter2k1 Posted December 14, 2013 Share #16 Posted December 14, 2013 Sweet Jesus those are awesome! Thanks for sharing them with us. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksp45 Posted December 24, 2013 Share #17 Posted December 24, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDWells Posted July 24, 2022 Share #18 Posted July 24, 2022 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). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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