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ca. 1880's CAVALRY
CORPORAL’S 5 BUTTON BLOUSE OR UNIFORM COAT: A
true veteran of the Indian Wars Cavalry, this original 5
button Blouse features original Cavalry Corporal’s
Chevrons on both sleeves.
As there was no distinct
lines of demarcation when one pattern of clothing was
replaced by subsequent patterns – the quantities of
existing clothing being used until stocks were exhausted
–some combinations of features between different
patterns is often encountered in these Indian War period
uniforms. Further blurring the distinction between
standard issue patterns is that a
certain level of custom tailoring
by the soldiers was not only tolerated by their company
and regimental officers, but based on period
photographs, may very well have been encouraged to a
point as the soldiers sought to make their uniforms more
stylish or functional.
This blouse most closely follows the general pattern
adopted by the Quartermaster Department in the
mid-1880’s with the square corners at the bottom of the
front opening and the single inside breast pocket on the
left side. However, the blouse features the corded trim
in the color of the branch of service – yellow for
cavalry - around the collar, an accent that was
introduced with the Pattern 1874 Blouse. That this
soldier was a corporal indicates he had been in the army
for some time, so he may have retained the collar trim
as a feature he liked.
The five original buttons are intact down the front of
the blouse. While only one button remains on the cuff
of each sleeve, there are points of attachment visible
where there were three buttons on each cuff – consistent
with the style adopted in the mid-1870’s.
This blouse shows obvious signs of use and wear, but has
survived as a respectable specimen of genuine Indian War
era uniforming worn on the frontier.
There are some expected
scattered moth holes and points of minor repair where
the cloth was snagged during the period of issue, but
nothing significant that would detract from the display
quality. The
largest of the moth holes is approximately ˝” in
diameter on the lower back, about the point where the
corporal’s belt would lie. Otherwise the wool is very
solid with no weak points, and no open seams. The green
polished cotton lining shows the most significant wear,
with some tattering at the back of the neck and along
the bottom edge of the blouse where you would expect to
find it. Again, nothing that affects the integrity of
the blouse, rather just what you would expect to see on
a piece of uniforming that was subjected to wear.
The chevrons are bright and
clean with no mothing or other damage.
This is a very respectable
example of a relatively scarce, and very desirable
Indian War Cavalry Non Commissioned Officer’s uniform
blouse and one that would be an attractive center piece
for any Indian Wars Cavalry collection.
SOLD
NOTE: To say that photographing
dark blue wool is a challenge is an understatement. In
normal lighting, it appears black and none of the finer
features or condition details can be seen clearly. In
order to highlight the features, the even dark blue wool
appears to have faded or discolored. This coat is an
even dark blue color as is seen in the overall full
views, the odd coloring coming out when the smaller
details of the coat are photographed so as to be
visible.
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