Uniforms Mounted Rifles Shelljacket?

[peacefulanimalguy7]

Was browsing on Google when I came across this

 

[Dan Kohli]

Is that made for a G.I. Joe action figure?
And were you hoping for possible background information on the U.S. Army's Mounted Rifle Regiment?

 

[peacefulanimalguy7]

I just want to know if the jacket existed or not

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I just want to know if the jacket existed or not

Yes the jacket existed.

It was issued to the Mounted Rifles, and was a pre-war jacket. In 1861 the Federal Government reorganized the services and ended the dragoons and mounted rifles and made them all cavalry. Uniforms left "in stock" as one might say were issued out to newly formed cavalry regiments, but there wasn't very many left in pre-war stocks.

That being said it can still be called an early war jacket, oddly enough they may have seen Confederate service. I've seen a reference before I've been trying to relocate for some time that these jackets were in stocks at the Alamo and some of Sibley's Army in the New Mexico campaign wore them. Lots of Texans did leave for the war in pre-war US uniforms after all.

 

[Dan Kohli]

They began to be issued in 1855 when they replaced the 1851 version of the frock coat among the mounted regiments and mounted artillery batteries. Like Rusk County the Mounted Rifle Regiment, along with the four other mounted regiments, was converted to a "general porpoise" Cavalry In 1861.

The 1857 U.S. Army regulations covers the uniform article LI (51) on pages 438-439. Although the 1861 Regulations a better description of the mounted jacket.

 

[Rhea Cole]

History of U.S. Cavalry Insignia

Evolution of U.S. Cavalry Insignia

hglanham.tripod.com

This is a good article about ending the dragoon & mounted rifle designations.

The dragoon badge was upside down version of the cavalry crossed sabers. The mounted rifle badge was a bugle standing on the bell. It was, arguably, one of the puniest badges ever made.

 

[Rhea Cole]

View attachment 509508
Was browsing on Google when I came across this

Thanks, have never seen one of these before.