American lancer uniforms.

[major bill]

Between the end of the Mexican American War and the Civil War there was a small movement in the state militias to form Lancer units. Many European nations used lancers and the thought of doing so here seemed exotic to some American militia companies. Both Northern and Southern states formed some lancer units.

There is not a great deal of information about uniform of these militia companies. In general they seemed to wear kurtka jacket (the double or triple breasted jackets plastron, a contrasting colored panel of cloth covering the chest often associated with lancers and uhlans). I have not seen many examples of the classic lancer or uhlan kurtka style jackets being worn by American mili.

The American lancer movement had to the most part died down by the start of the Civil War and the few Civil War lancer uniforms were rather plain. The lance never really caught on in the United States so the number of American militia lancer units were never great.

The National Lancers of Boston ca. 1855. Does kind of have an exotic look.

 

[major bill]

 

[Mark Roth]

Were they training to actually fight as lancers? Or were they just in it for the fancy clothes?

 

[major bill]

Few militia companies, infantry or cavalry, before the Civil War would have been trained to do much more march in parades or have dinners at their armories.

 

[zburkett]

During the War with Mexico the Mexican lancers were a force to be dealt with. I remember reading that British Lancers in North Africa trained to be able pull tent stakes out of the ground with their lances to collapse the tents of their advisories as they pulled a lightening raid. Before the rank and file soldier had a fast loading rifle, really well trained Lancers, used properly, could be effective. The problem was they had to have a lot of training and be really good to be useful. They took so much skill (which means training) that the return on investment wasn't there. Here in Orange County, Virginia I have a friend who has his uncle's lance that he used in tournaments in the early 20th century. Major Bill is right, there wasn't a lot of interest in America but there was some.