1830's USMC Uniform

[RedRover]

Do you know what year the USMC started wearing the "flat tops"? It shows them in the 1827 drilling Marine illustration, and in the Srminole War.

The "fatigue caps" are not described in any regulations. But it is obvious they were wearing the "flat top" kind by 1827 when the Philadelphia engraving was made. Same shown in the engraving of Quallah battoo, and they were described worn by deserters in fatigue dress in 1839.

 

[major bill]

Part of a set of 13 Marine uniforms by Maj J. H. Magruder USMCR. These uniform plates sets are not real common.

 

[Manassas 1861]

I just got the book "The U.S. Marines In The Second Creek and Second Seminole Wars" by David Ekardt, which does show a photo of a Marine fatigue kit during this period.

 

[Manassas 1861]

@RedRover . I think you were right about the green fatigue cap being worn with the green uniforms. I found this modern illustration of the Texas Marines, which were supplied by mostly U.S. surplus.

 

[Manassas 1861]

@RedRover . A USMC deserter in 1841 was described as wearing a "flat top" after the uniform change. He was described as wearing "A light blue cloth jacket, pantaloons the same, and flat top leather cap". Aug 31st 1841

 

[RedRover]

@RedRover . A USMC deserter in 1841 was described as wearing a "flat top" after the uniform change. He was described as wearing "A light blue cloth jacket, pantaloons the same, and flat top leather cap". Aug 31st 1841

Great find! So now we see the 1830s flat-topped leather forage cap was still in use as late as late 1841!

Looking it up, I see its the Baltimore Sun of that date...

The light blue cloth jacket and pantaloons would be of the 1839 cloth fatigue dress, which replaced that of gray, viz. "Sky blue kersey to be substituted for the light gray fatigue dress, no binding on the collar; shoulder straps plain."

The 1839 uniform regulations, when adopted, were to take effect from late 1840:

Looking over the 1839 Uniform regulations Carefully, I do indeed see that for the Enlisted men, the following statement:

Which would be the flat-topped black leather fatigue cap.

The reference to the blue cloth fatigue cap is in the section relative to the officers, and must refer to the officer's only:

So the black leather, flat-topped forage cap appears to have been the common one for enlisted Marines throughout the Seminole war period.

 

[Manassas 1861]

Thanks for the reply. I found the quote in the osprey book "The US Marine Corps, 1775-1859". So the 1839 regulations say that the blue cloth cap was just for officers, and enlisted men wore the flat tops. So some time in the 1840's they must have switched to the cloth cap for enlisted men as well.

 

[RedRover]

Thanks for the reply. I found the quote in the osprey book "The US Marine Corps, 1775-1859". So the 1839 regulations say that the blue cloth cap was just for officers, and enlisted men wore the flat tops. So some time in the 1840's they must have switched to the cloth cap for enlisted men as well.

I reckon so.

 

[Manassas 1861]

Another detail I found interesting about this period of USMC history is that the field equipment for a Marine was usually only a knapsack. Because a marine spent most of his service at sea or at Port. Other equipment such as a linen haversack, or "cheese box" canteen had to be drawn from army stores.

 

[major bill]

This uniform should have been completely phased out by the start of the Civil War because the new Marine regulations came out in 1859. Were there still Items from the old regulations still in storage?

 

[RedRover]

Another detail I found interesting about this period of USMC history is that the field equipment for a Marine was usually only a knapsack. Because a marine spent most of his service at sea or at Port. Other equipment such as a linen haversack, or "cheese box" canteen had to be drawn from army stores.

Cheese-box canteens were this type, very flimsy.

The US Military in the early 19th Century contracted generally for "barrel" type canteens, sturdily made with staves, and metal bands, etc., and at least after 1814 with contactor's names stamped on one face. So many were manufactured from 1812-14 contracts, that more were not procured until 1836, to outfit the large number of militia and volunteers being mobilized for the Southern Indian campaigns, etc.

It is true the Marine Corps did not issue haversacks or canteens. this was because they were not intended for campaigning, but for the security of naval establishments, and armed guards aboard naval vessels etc., rather than marching about with camp equipage.
From 1841, the clothing and equipment provided to Marine enlisted men included:

In the summer of 1836 Col. Henderson formed a field battalion of US Marines to aid in the Creek Indian and Seminole campaigns in the South for a time, as the number of regular army troops was limited.

 

[major bill]

This is is the new 1859 uniform regulation uniform.

 

[Manassas 1861]

@RedRover . I found this 1824 article of a deserter wearing the old 1811 "Glazed Cap". So the corps most likely started using the "flat tops" between 1824 and 1827.

 

[RedRover]

@RedRover . I found this 1824 article of a deserter wearing the old 1811 "Glazed Cap". So the corps most likely started using the "flat tops" between 1824 and 1827.View attachment 501800

Again, super find.

Keep in mind that a "hat" is not a "cap", though many in recent times confound the two. There's a reason for employing one term or another. A "hat" had a brim. A cap did not, though it might have something like a partial brim in the form of a visor.

So lets see what a "glazed hat" meant at that time:

From 1820, Britain:

Charleston Daily Gazette and Advertiser, 11-13-1815:

From the Charleston, SC, Courier, 11-30-1822:

From 1801:

Regarding an American sailor in the Battle of Lake Champlain, 1814:

"Mr. James Sloane, of Oswego, informed me that, a few days before the battle, he gave one of the seamen a very nice glazed hat. After the battle was over the sailor came to him with the hat in his hand, having a semicircular cut in the side and crown made by a cannon-shot while it was on his head. "Look here, Mr. Sloane," said the sailor, "how the damned John Bulls have spoiled my hat." He did not seem to reflect for a moment how nearly the cannon-ball came to spoiling his head."


A British seaman, described in the late 1820s:

N.H. Hazeltine, Letters from Europe, 1829.

British Navy midshipmen evidently wore "glazed hats" in lieu of their uniform hats in foul weather...

Southern Patriot, Charleston, SC, 7-21-1819:

American Beacon, Norfolk, VA, Nov. 10, 1820: "Glazed hat" with a brim:

Looking through the documents from the time, we can see that "glazed hats" by the 1820s were not uncommonly made of leather, that they were mass produced for servants, or other outdoor wear, and not infrequently worn by seamen too.


in 1811, the US Marine Corps adopted a leather "fatigue cap" of a folding type, to replace common hats then worn for fatigue wear. After the War of 1812-15, there is this document about a new "hat" proposed to replace the fatigue leather cap:

October 11, 1818:
The box, directed to you, contains a Hat; which the Inventor, the person, who furnished our new Uniform Caps, is desirous of substituting in the place of our common Leather Fatigue Caps. Hats of the model now sent, can be furnished at a very little more cost, than the Leather Caps, at present in use; they will certainly be much more serviceable and ornamental, for the Sea, as well as show service. Will you endeavor to have them adopted for the Corps? "
Brevet Major Richard Smith at New York to Brevet Major Archibald Henderson.

I have never seen reference to evidence the Marine Corps actually procured these new hats for fatigue (made by the same vendor who made the Corps' leather uniform caps, so probably of leather themselves). The notice you found, from 1824, gives a Marine in his gray fatigue dress, and with a "glazed hat" in lieu of a cap. So perhaps an evidence that the Marine Corps did buy hats for fatigue wear after 1818 of the type suggested above.

In any case by 1825 the Corps was once again to employ a "fatigue cap" and not a hat:

May 10, 1825, order by Col. Henderson: That in future, the following amount of clothing (and no more) will be issued to each Marine, for, and during the period of his enlistment. Viz. 5 uniform Coats with wings, 10 Pairs Uniform Woolen overalls, 10 Pairs Uniform Linen overalls, 20 Shirts, 2 Stocks, 20 Pairs Shoes, 3 Blankets, 2 Knapsacks, 10 Pairs Socks, 4 Pairs Gaiters, 5 Fatigue Jackets, 5 Fatigue Overalls, 1 Fatigue Cap, 1 Uniform Cap, plate, & Scales, 2 Cockades & Buttons, 5 Pompons, 5 Tassels, Great Coats will be allowed as follows, annually. For the Guard of a 74, 6. For the Guard of a Frigate, 4 For the Guard of a Sloop, 3. For the Guard of a Schooner, 2. For the different Stations, according to the number of men mounting Guard.


My conclusion would be that you have found an evidence that between 1818 and 1825, (particularly 1824) the Marine Corps was providing "glazed hats" for fatigue wear in lieu of the leather fatigue cap adopted in 1811. From May, 1825, however, if not before, a "fatigue cap" was provided again. This last was certainly the "flat topped" one, given the 1827 image from the naval yard, and referenced thereafter...

 

[Manassas 1861]

Also during the Seminole War period, the corps began using red shell drums. Used from 1834-1846 when they were changed to blue.

 

[Manassas 1861]

The standard weapon used by the marines and the army in the 1830's was the 1816 flintlock. Which were produced at the Springfield, and Harper's Ferry arsenals. The cartridges were 2.6 inches in length and contained a musketball, or "buck n ball".

 

[Manassas 1861]

@RedRover. Besides the 1816 flintlock, the marines tried out a variety of weapons. The Colt revolving rifle was used fom a short time, but they returned to the musket after five men were injured. The 1833 Hall's breech loading rifle was also used in small numbers. And the officers sidearm was the 1836 .54 caliber flintlock pistol.

 

[major bill]

The Army in 1825 adopted the Model-1825 Forage Cap or Chako. I have seen this referred to as the Model 1825 Pinwheel cap or hat. As far as I know the term 'pinwheel' was not an official army term. Did the Maines wear a similar forage cap in the early 1820s? I have not seen any officially Marine uniform regulation about this.

I should note that until the 1830s Marine uniform requlations are a bit vague.

 

[Manassas 1861]

The Army in 1825 adopted the Model-1825 Forage Cap or Chako. I have seen this referred to as the Model 1825 Pinwheel cap or hat. As far as I know the term 'pinwheel' was not an official army term. Did the Maines wear a similar forage cap in the early 1820s? I have not seen any officially Marine uniform regulation about this.

I should note that until the 1830s Marine uniform requlations are a bit vague.

They wore something similar to the 1825 pinwheel. The Marines wore a black leather "flat top" cap. They wore these from before 1827, to as late as 1841. You can see them in posts #23, and #34.

 

[RedRover]

The Army in 1825 adopted the Model-1825 Forage Cap or Chako. I have seen this referred to as the Model 1825 Pinwheel cap or hat. As far as I know the term 'pinwheel' was not an official army term. Did the Maines wear a similar forage cap in the early 1820s? I have not seen any officially Marine uniform regulation about this.

I should note that until the 1830s Marine uniform requlations are a bit vague.

They wore something similar to the 1825 pinwheel. The Marines wore a black leather "flat top" cap. They wore these from before 1827, to as late as 1841. You can see them in posts #23, and #34.

The Army garment in question was named the "chakos" from 1825-32, as noted by the Army orders of the time, it served as a foraging cap for the officers, and was worn in lieu of a foraging cap by the enlisted men...

This chakos was made for wear as part of the uniform of the army off parade etc., the cap blue cloth, like the uniform coat, and with the same cord and trim as the uniform coat. The soldiers were instructed to wear them as a forage cap as well, with their gray fatigue dress...

This was evidently because the army's 1821 pattern cap, of leather, was rather ungainly, and required one to stand at attention to keep it on your head!

The Marine Corps wore the same pattern cap as the army in the 1820s-30s. From the 1820s...

And the 1839 uniform:

As noted, the Marine's "fatigue cap" in the 1830s was of leather, with a flat top, shaped somewhat like the Army chakos evidently.

Here's a Marine in his flat top fatigue cap, and some seamen, watching a flogging aboard the USS Cyane ca. 1830s...