- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
I was working on getting an idea what the "Gray Zouave" uniforms worn by the Detroit Light Guard were. The Detroit Light Guard was one of the companies guarding the Detroit/Canadian border during the Civil War. I was wondering if anyone one had more to add?
After hosting the Chicago United States Zouave Cadets in 1860, the Detroit Light Guard was so impress with the visitor’s Zouave uniforms that they adopted Zouave fatigue uniforms of their own. Their new fatigue dress consisted of gray roundabout jackets [possibly the same gray shell jackets as worn before], gray Zouave trousers and gray Sardinian caps. It is not clear what was meant by Sardinian caps and the term could indicate long tailed caps or the term could indicate a fez style cap. The Detroit Daily Tribune confirmed the new fatigue uniforms on August 30 1860 when it reported that the Detroit Light Guards now have a very pretty light infantry cap and grey Zouave pants in addition to their usual garb. A jaunty Zouave cap was also used as winter head wear in 1860.[ii] It is possible that the reported light infantry cap and jaunty Zouave caps were terms for the same style of kepi.
The Detroit Daily Tribune of 1860 called the fatigue trousers, gray Zouave pants and the caps Light Infantry caps (what made it a Light Infantry Cap?).[iii]
It is possible that the gray roundabout jackets referred to in this passage are the same gray fatigue jackets
that they had been wearing for some time.
[ii] “The Detroit Light Guard” Detroit Daily Advertiser, February 13 1860, p. 1, col. 2.
[iii] “Jackson Encampment, Camp Jackson Wednesday Aug. 29, signed M”, Detroit Daily Tribune, August 30 1860, p. 1, col. 4.
After hosting the Chicago United States Zouave Cadets in 1860, the Detroit Light Guard was so impress with the visitor’s Zouave uniforms that they adopted Zouave fatigue uniforms of their own. Their new fatigue dress consisted of gray roundabout jackets [possibly the same gray shell jackets as worn before], gray Zouave trousers and gray Sardinian caps. It is not clear what was meant by Sardinian caps and the term could indicate long tailed caps or the term could indicate a fez style cap. The Detroit Daily Tribune confirmed the new fatigue uniforms on August 30 1860 when it reported that the Detroit Light Guards now have a very pretty light infantry cap and grey Zouave pants in addition to their usual garb. A jaunty Zouave cap was also used as winter head wear in 1860.[ii] It is possible that the reported light infantry cap and jaunty Zouave caps were terms for the same style of kepi.
The Detroit Daily Tribune of 1860 called the fatigue trousers, gray Zouave pants and the caps Light Infantry caps (what made it a Light Infantry Cap?).[iii]
It is possible that the gray roundabout jackets referred to in this passage are the same gray fatigue jackets
that they had been wearing for some time.
[ii] “The Detroit Light Guard” Detroit Daily Advertiser, February 13 1860, p. 1, col. 2.
[iii] “Jackson Encampment, Camp Jackson Wednesday Aug. 29, signed M”, Detroit Daily Tribune, August 30 1860, p. 1, col. 4.
Last edited: