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US Army and National Guard Cavalry Headgear


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Here are several pieces of headgear used by the US Army and National Guard. These include an original and complete 1881 Cavalry dress helmet, an 1880-1890 New York National Guard Busby a 1930 period National Lancers lance cap and an enlisted 1880’s period kepi. The 1881 Dress Helmet is unusual since it is not put together from Bannerman pieces. I bought this in a central Pennsylvania antique shop in 1967. It was filthy and the brass black. I took it all apart, carefully brushed the wool and cleaned the brass. Today I would have left the brass with a patina but it was black with lots of green verdigris. It now has a 50 year old patina. I think I put the chords on backwards but at this point I will leave it alone. The plate patina matched everything else so it is original to the helmet however it has no number and there are no holes. The helmet may have never been issued. The New York National Guard busby was bought from a Norm Flayderman catalog in the 1960’s. The National Lancers cap is pre-war.

 

 

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The Indian Wars medal was issued to Private Samuel Bismukes who was a Buffalo Soldier with the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry in the Indian Wars, Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection.

Samuel Bismukes was born in 1863. He served in Troop E, 9th Cavalry and Troop I, 10th Cavalry, United States Army, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, during the Indian Wars. He received the Indian Wars Campaign Medal number 759. In 1885, the 10th Regiment transferred to Arizona and was involved in the pursuit of Apaches who left the reservations under the leadership of Geronimo, Nana, Nachez, Chihuahua and Magnus. After Geronimo's surrender in 1886 the 10th Cavalry continued to fight the Apaches. A detachment of 10th Cavalry fought one of last battles of the Apache Wars north of Globe at the Salt River during an expedition on March 7, 1890. Bismukes served in many different areas of the west between 1883 and 1893 including Fort Apache, Flagstaff, Arizona Territory, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Bonita Canon, Arizona Territory, Fort Verde, Arizona Territory among others. Bismukes also served in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection. He died in Nashville, Tennessee on January 21, 1926.

 

 

 

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Very impressive and a delight to see.

I really like the Cavalry M1881 and that Busby looks in fantastic condition.

It must be a major plus to your collection.

That is a awesome grouping.

 

Semper Fi

Phil

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