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I searched for the answer to this, but could not find it.
I am asking this about eastern federal regular army cavalry troopers.
1861 regulations call both for a trimmed "uniform jacket" and a sack coat for "fatigue purposes". What I am wondering is if there was a general order actually authorizing the sack coat for campaign duty? I am not questioning IF it was authorized as this is obvious, but when and if there was a specific order anyone can point me to showing when.
I am also trying to find the same information pertaining to the "dress" hat versus the forage cap. At what point was the Hardee hat replaced by the forage cap for campaign duty, and was there a general order authorizing it? I've often heard that the men hated the dress hat and threw them away ... but that doesn't address the authorization of the forage caps use for anything more than fatigue duty.
Lastly, was there anything in the regulations or general orders calling the "hardee hat" and uniform jacket a "dress" uniform? My understanding is they were designed to be the field (fighting) uniform (and not the sack coat and forage cap).
These are questions I took for granted and never really researched until being faced with early war events and wondering when the forage cap and sack coat became standard wear in the field. I know prior to Dec 1861 I should be wearing dark blue trousers. But what about the mounted services jacket and dress hat, versus the sack coat and forage cap?
Thanks!
Dave
I am asking this about eastern federal regular army cavalry troopers.
1861 regulations call both for a trimmed "uniform jacket" and a sack coat for "fatigue purposes". What I am wondering is if there was a general order actually authorizing the sack coat for campaign duty? I am not questioning IF it was authorized as this is obvious, but when and if there was a specific order anyone can point me to showing when.
I am also trying to find the same information pertaining to the "dress" hat versus the forage cap. At what point was the Hardee hat replaced by the forage cap for campaign duty, and was there a general order authorizing it? I've often heard that the men hated the dress hat and threw them away ... but that doesn't address the authorization of the forage caps use for anything more than fatigue duty.
Lastly, was there anything in the regulations or general orders calling the "hardee hat" and uniform jacket a "dress" uniform? My understanding is they were designed to be the field (fighting) uniform (and not the sack coat and forage cap).
These are questions I took for granted and never really researched until being faced with early war events and wondering when the forage cap and sack coat became standard wear in the field. I know prior to Dec 1861 I should be wearing dark blue trousers. But what about the mounted services jacket and dress hat, versus the sack coat and forage cap?
Thanks!
Dave
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