THE FULL DRESS CAP
M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster General
Bvt. Major General, U.S.A."'
A number of examples of the cap have been ex- amined, including six sealed samples (Figures 25, 26) and three officers' models (Figure 27) which can be included in the same category. Two of these latter, one made by Horstmann and the other by Bent & Bush, carry attached a label reading:
1747 Qr Mr Gens Office 1874 Received Jun 17
1875The third carries a label in a handwriting very similar to General Marcy's:
's Uniform cap for
. . . .ents of foot artillery & Infy. recommended by the Board for revision of Army
Regulations R B Marcy I. Genl & Presdt. of Board
The latter cap carries the maker's label of Warnock
& Co. in the crown and definitely must be con- sidered the original or one of the original models supplied the board.
The enlisted models all follow the 1876 specifi- cations within allowable tolerances, while the offi- cer's examples, the three mentioned above plus several others, are closer in detailed measurements to the one-half scale lithographs. The differences between the two are not great, but they are con- sistent; height in front for officers, 37/8 inches, for enlisted men, 3i/4; height in rear, for officers, 6i/^
inches, for enlisted men 5i/^; diameter of crown, for officers, 6 inches, for enlisted men, 514.
The regulations prescribed the insignia for the cap only as "gold trimmings" or "yellow metal, ac- cording to pattern" for officers and enlisted men, respectively. No clear indication was given as to exactly what badge each branch of the service was to wear, possibly relying on usage that had been in effect since 1832. In November 1872 the inspec- tor general prescribed for hospital stewards, ord- nance, and engineer soldiers, respectively, a wreath of brass with the letters "U.S.," "O.D.," and "E.G."
inside, but said nothing of the badges for the line
units. This order also prescribed that the cap
braid and pompon for hospital stewards was to be
emerald green.'*' As late as mid-December the
Philadelphia Depot quartermaster was seeking in-
formation from Washington as to the size and
pattern of insignia for both headgear and unilorni
coat collars. The query brought from the Secretary
of War the endorsement: "Forage caps, badges, and
FIGURE 25.—1872 enlisted man's dress cap.
FIGURE 26.—Enlisted personnel in 1872 dress coat and cap.
trimmings for all enlisted men, same as now worn, but reduced in size." Whether this meant that for- age caps as well as the insignia were to be reduced in size or that the badges for forage caps alone were to be smaller is not clear from the terse lan- guage. In view of the context of the original in- quiry, however, the latter seems more probable."^
In March 1873 the badge for commissary sergeants was changed to a crescent in white metal placed vertically,'*' and in June the engineer and ordnance badges were changed to the castle and shell and flame, again with nothing said about the line units.'*' The cost of clothing list issued the same month seemed to resolve the matter, however; for under "Uniform Dress Cap" are listed "eagle, crossed cannon, castle, bugle, crescent, and wreath,"
but no letters or numbers, although they were listed under "Forage Cap.'"*' In fact, the matter of regimental and company designation does not seem to have been officially resolved until 1877 when letters and numbers were prescribed for both dress and forage caps.'*' In 1875 the "bugle" or "looped horn," so long the badge of the infantry, was dis- carded for that branch, being replaced by crossed rifles with the number of the regiment in the upper angle.'*" This was altered somewhat several months later when the letter of the company was ordered placed in the lower angle. Field and band musi- cians were to continue to wear the bugle and let- ter then prescribed.'""
Quartermaster Specification No. 8, adopted 31
May 1876, gave the measurements for insignia:
FIGURE 27.—1872 officer's dress cap.
Cap Bugles: an old-style bugle with circular crook, and a cord slung three fold around the lower part, terminating in in two tassels on one and one tassel on the other side.
Height across crook 5/2 inch; width from mouth piece to outer edge of bowl 2/2 inches.
Castles for C a p : an ancient cast with three towers; height of center tower YB inch; of side towers; 1 J/a inch; of battle- ments between towers, Ys inches; width at base 1% inch.
Crescents for Caps: width from point to point, lYs inch, greatest width in center J/a inch.
Crossed Cannon: two cannon crossing each other at the trunninons, muzzles upward; length, 2Ys inches; breadth at breeches, 2 inches; at muzzles, lYs inch.
Crossed Rifles: two rifles crossing each other at a point equi- distant from the butt and muzzle; muzzles pointing upward and outward, hammers upward, their position crossed mak-
ing the upper space form an angle of 137°; length of rifle, 2Ys inches; the whole ornament occupying a rectangular space about 2%6 inches wide by l^/^ inches high.
Eagles for C a p : To be worn on caps of all arms of the serv- ice; an eagle with national shield on breast, head surmounted by a scroll bearing the motto "E pluribus unum," extending downward and meeting olive branch and arrows in the tal- ons of eagle; height, I/2 inch; greatest width between tips of wings, 1Y2 inch.
Shells and Flames for C a p : diameter of shell, % inch;
height of flame from upper edge of shell, Ys inch; greatest width of flame, 1 Ys inch.
Wreaths for Hospital Stewards C a p : two olive branches held together at the bottom by a loop and knot, turning upward and bending in an oval shape, approaching each other at the top; height, 1Y2 inch; greatest distance between outer edges, 2Ys inches; greatest width of single branch, Ys inch.
Brass Letters for C a p : "A" to " M " ; Roman capitals; Ys inch long; edges beveled.
Letters " U . S . " : of white metal, chased; Roman capitals /a inch high; to be placed within the wreath.
Numbers for C a p : Nos. " 1 " to " 0 " inclusive: Ys inch long, edges beveled.""