|
PATTERN 1884 INDIAN WARS ERA
CAVALRY NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER’S MOUNTED TROUSERS –
VERY SOLID EXAMPLE OF A DESIRABLE UNIFORM PIECE:
Due to heavy wear and affects of the environment of the
frontier, and the obvious utilitarian value even after a
soldier’s discharge, US Army uniform trousers are not an
article of uniforming that seem to have survived in
large numbers. These Indian War Pattern 1884 Mounted US
Army Uniform Trousers have all the features that make
them a desirable addition to a uniform collection.
The 1 ¼” wide trouser stripe on each
leg, as introduced into the uniform regulations by 1885,
indicates the soldier who wore these trousers was a
member of the regiment’s non commissioned officer
staff. This stripe would indicate he was perhaps a
sergeant major, the regimental ordnance sergeant, or the
like, and as a member of the cavalry regiment, he would
have worn the yellow stripes as a member of that branch
of the service.
While these trousers generally follow
the Pattern 1884 design, 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.
The trousers have the two front pockets and the watch
pocket, but lack the hip or rear pocket characteristic
to most Pattern 1884 Trousers. Given that the soldier
was in the cavalry, having a hip pocket would be
counterintuitive as anything carried in the pocket would
serve little more than be an irritation under his rump
when seated in the saddle. In addition, these trousers
feature a gusset of extra material in the crotch, either
sewn in to replace material worn away due to riding or
to provide some extra room in the seat to allow for a
little extra comfort for a senior soldier.
This pair of trousers is in overall very
good condition with only some minor scattered mothing
consistent with the age and expected signs of use. All
of the fly and suspender buttons are present and intact,
all the seams are intact, and the material is overall
strong with no weak points and only minor soiling.
The lining around inside of the waist is
worn, but enough of it survives to include the remnants
of an Ordnance Depot ink stamp that reads in part,
“INSPECTED” and ORD. DEPT.”. There is a name, “LISCOM”
written in ink on the lining of the left front pocket,
perhaps the name of the soldier.
This is a scarce offering of a pair of
Indian War uniform trousers with the added value of
having belonged to a senior non commissioned officer,
and they would be a significant addition to a uniform
collection or a general Indian War display.
SOLD
|
