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Enlisted cotton twill khaki service coat


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US Victory Museum

A trio of some of the better conditioned 1898 enlisted khaki cotton
service coats that I own.

No specification was issued for this article of clothing; instead,
its genesis was found in General Order № 39 on May 09th, 1898.
It was refined by General Order № 51 May 23rd, 1898 which proscribed
it for enlisted men in addition to the officers to whom it had already
been authorized.

The enlisted khaki cotton service coats feature a garrison belt of
identical cotton twill material. A pleat runs along the center rear
the entire length.


The color yellow appears black on old CDV photographs; moreover, it
is difficult to distinguish between red and blue since both appear a
dark tone in black and white film. Absent the presence of insignia,
identification of branch of service in old photographs is questionable,
at best.

On August 6th 1898, the army dropped the branch facings on the collar,
cuffs and pocket flaps leaving only the service designation (color) on
the epaulets, which were required to be detachable.

 

Many times these enlisted coats are found by collectors without their
belts; in the attached photo, only two of the eight soldiers wearing
their khaki cotton service coats are also wearing the coat's cloth
garrison belts. In a higher resolution scan, exceeding the USMForum
size limits, cavalry insignia can be identified on the hats of three
of the recuperating soldiers in the photo.

 

 

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The blue faced infantry cotton service coat is marked in the sleeve
"REC'D Jul 24th 1898 Q.M.D." in the center of the oval. It is too
faded to read the letters around the edge.

 

post-1529-0-91667400-1557804654_thumb.jpg

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The earliest appearance of the red faced artillery cotton service
coats were those provided to the Astor battery of mountain artillery;
the eponymous battery was financed and equipped by Col. John Jacob
Astor, and comprised of seventy-three men. They served in the
Philippines, returning state-side in 1899.

This artillery cotton service coat is inked in the collar, and has
been uniquely identified by name to a soldier in the 1st Pennsylvania
light artillery, aka the Keystone battery. Their overseas duty during
the Spanish-American War was at Ponce, Puerto Rico; however, they saw
no combat as they struggled to keep up with the fast moving skirmishes.

Photos of this coat have been posted here in the past.

 

post-1529-0-05799300-1557804836_thumb.jpg

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This yellow faced cavalry cotton service coat is without oral history.

The use of a camera flash washed out the color of the khaki cotton,
so this photo is captured without it; however, the absence of the flash
reduced the facings to a mustard appearance.

 

post-1529-0-89636000-1557804899_thumb.jpg

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I have included a photo of Kurt H.'s (USMF Dragoon) cavalry khaki
cotton service coat. His photo accurately captures the color of
the cavalry facings.

 

post-1529-0-76174100-1557804950_thumb.jpg

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Additional historical context:

Reuben Griffin, Company L. 6th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry
Image is property of the Worcester Art Museum

END POST

 

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Salvage Sailor

The earliest appearance of the red faced artillery cotton service

coats were those provided to the Astor battery of mountain artillery;

the eponymous battery was financed and equipped by Col. John Jacob

Astor, and comprised of seventy-three men. They served in the

Philippines, returning state-side in 1899.

 

This artillery cotton service coat is inked in the collar, and has

been uniquely identified by name to a soldier in the 1st Pennsylvania

light artillery, aka the Keystone battery. Their overseas duty during

the Spanish-American War was at Ponce, Puerto Rico; however, they saw

no combat as they struggled to keep up with the fast moving skirmishes.

 

Photos of this coat have been posted here in the past.

 

 

Nice presentation of 1898 Enlisted uniforms, thanks for putting it together.

 

This is my Gr. Grandfather's 16th PA Infantry uniform from the "Porto Rico" campaign in 1898. He served at Ponce, Coamo and Aibonito

 

Coamo and Aibonito, Puerto Rico
After the battles in the south around Ponce, the Spanish took up positions in the elevated mountain passes along the Ponce--San Juan road. Generals Brooke and Wilson were sent to attack en route to the capital. By August 9, Wilson's troops had reached the area and General Ernst was able to dislodge the Spanish troops from their positions. Six Americans died and 36 were wounded at Coamo. This was followed by an attack on Aibonito, which was also heavily fortified. This battle was halted when news arrived of the peace agreement.

 

The infantry blue is sun faded and the pants are stained from field use in Puerto Rico. This is sometimes referred to at the 'first pattern' uniform. Note that it does not have colored lower pocket flaps.

09 16th PA Tunic Front buttons.jpg

10 16th PA Tunic Front buttons 2.jpg

01 16th PA Tunic Front.jpg

11 16th PA Uniform full view.jpg

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I found this while looking around on the I-Net

 

From the Wisconsin Veterans Museum

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Great looking 1889 tunics and in great condition. I also like that photo as it shows a mix of the period clothing/jackets worn at the time.

 

Sorry to say, but because of my advancing years I have been selling off my large collection of almost 70 years, At lot has been sold but I still have a couple of 89 hats, sword belts and other related stuff left to sell off. Never thought I would get to that time where I would have to do that. ray

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Here is one that we recently received at the Michigan Military Heritage Museum. It is well used and it has mostly Michigan buttons (4 out of 5 down the front and the two upper pockets). The remaining buttons are the eagle style. Is this common on these? I actually posted in the wanted section for a matching set but perhaps its not necessary as we really like the state connection. I would love to find a set of used blue shoulder straps. Scott

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US Victory Museum, I've been attempting to contact you but you have been off line for a while. If you see this please contact me, Ray

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