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- Aug 25, 2012
After the Civil War there were many uniforms in storage that had to be issued, so the lessons learned from Civil War uniforms had to wait until 1868 before the U.S. Army established a board to look into what future uniforms would look like. The Army had many officers with Civil War experience and this war experience allowed the Army to adopt practical uniforms, but this would have to wait until 1872.
The 1867 regulations board looked over the 1867-pattern prototype Engineer Corps Uniform Coat (short frock coat), but this coat was not adapted at that time. This board also looked at a prototype "Swiss' pleated blouse but this item was not adopted either. With so many uniforms in storage the Army was in no hurry to switch to new uniforms.
The 1872 regulation board adopted many new uniform item based on their experience with uniforms from the Civil War. A new 1872-pattern enlisted coat was adopted. The board looked at drab and Butternut colored blouses but settled on a blue "Swiss" pleated blouse with 9 buttons. New trousers with belted back and springbotton cuffs were adopted New head wear included a 1872-pattern cavalry dress helmet, a 1872-pattern campaign hat, a 1872-patterm infantry enlisted cap, and a 1873-pattern forage cap.
The Army adopted a new 1874-pattern blouse (5 button sack coat). These blouses were changed in 1883 and again in 1884. This basic style of uniforms lasted until the 1890s.
Gone were the Civil War style short jackets and dress hats. The Army did not return to a short jacket for almost 80 years. Dress helmets had replaced the dress hat and dress hat never were used again.
The 1867 regulations board looked over the 1867-pattern prototype Engineer Corps Uniform Coat (short frock coat), but this coat was not adapted at that time. This board also looked at a prototype "Swiss' pleated blouse but this item was not adopted either. With so many uniforms in storage the Army was in no hurry to switch to new uniforms.
The 1872 regulation board adopted many new uniform item based on their experience with uniforms from the Civil War. A new 1872-pattern enlisted coat was adopted. The board looked at drab and Butternut colored blouses but settled on a blue "Swiss" pleated blouse with 9 buttons. New trousers with belted back and springbotton cuffs were adopted New head wear included a 1872-pattern cavalry dress helmet, a 1872-pattern campaign hat, a 1872-patterm infantry enlisted cap, and a 1873-pattern forage cap.
The Army adopted a new 1874-pattern blouse (5 button sack coat). These blouses were changed in 1883 and again in 1884. This basic style of uniforms lasted until the 1890s.
Gone were the Civil War style short jackets and dress hats. The Army did not return to a short jacket for almost 80 years. Dress helmets had replaced the dress hat and dress hat never were used again.
Bringing the