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CAVALRY SERGEANT’S ca. 1898 TROPICAL UNIFORM
BLOUSE – OF THE STYLE WORN BY VOLUNTEER CAVALRY UNITS
- AN INTERESTING UNIFORM BLOUSE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:
This
ca. 1898 Khaki Uniform Blouse bears the chevrons of a
cavalry sergeant, and is styled in the manner of a man
who’s years of service has taught him the importance of
comfort and functionality of his uniforms while serving
in the tropics. Varying from the regulation 1898 Khaki
Uniform with its close fitting, standing collar, this
khaki blouse features a looser fit and flaring skirt to
accommodate sitting a horse, and a more practical open
falling collar. The cut is more generous than the
regulation uniform, likely to ease the fit when worn
over one of the wool field shirts of the period. Such a
uniform blouse is the type that was probably worn by
senior soldiers and non-commissioned officers in the
volunteer units such as the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry,
otherwise known to history as “The Rough Riders".
Just prior to the start of the Spanish American War, the
army adopted the khaki colored, cotton blouses with the
issue of General Order No. 39 on May 9, 1898. The
standard issue uniforms provided to the regular army
soldiers were ordered to be trimmed with the color of
the branch of service (G.O. 51, May 23, 1898), however
the volunteer units purchased their uniforms from
civilian suppliers, and although adhering to the khaki
cotton material, the volunteers’ uniforms such as this
one varied considerably from the regulation
pattern.
Overall, the blouse is in excellent condition with no
open seams and no evidence of abuse or significant
damage to the material. It does show evidence of having
been worn, presumably in the tropics, but it shows none
of the characteristic fading which followed prolonged
exposure to the tropical sun and repeated laundering –
including the possibility of being washed in salt water
during the ship board transit to and from Cuba. (For
those of you who have never been treated to the joy of
wearing salt water washed clothing aboard a ship when
fresh water rationing is in force – well, you’ve been
denied one of the more or less subtle tortures life has
to offer.)
The color of the khaki is overall consistent and still
retains a rich color throughout. The fabric of the
blouse is in overall very strong, excellent condition
with no fraying or wear points. The collar, cuffs and
all four pockets are full form and none of the edges or
seams show any significant wear or damage. Most notable
is the complete absence of any of the rust stains which
are so common to these khaki uniforms. Rather, the
khaki is clean throughout.
The front of the blouse,
the cuff straps, and the
four pocket flaps are closed with the standard issue
uniform eagle buttons – all present and each securely
sewn. Both sleeves bear the correct cavalry sergeant’s
chevrons. Both chevrons are in excellent condition,
with no fading which is consistent with the khaki
material, and no significant wear, still retaining a
bright, vibrant yellow color. The blouse retains the
original khaki belt, full form and in excellent
condition, with the matching eagle button intact.
Given the short duration of the Spanish American War and
the limited number of cavalry soldiers who were in
service during the conflict, and considering that their
uniforms were subjected to the severe use and wear of
combat in a tropical environment, it is remarkable that
this blouse survived at all. That it survived in this
condition is truly notable. Further reducing the
likelihood of survival was the common practice of
issuing new uniforms to troops returning from the
tropics and requiring that their old uniforms be burned
to prevent the introduction and spread of disease within
the continental United States. Case in point, upon the
return of the Rough Riders, they were held in quarantine
on Long Island, New York for 30 days to prevent the
introduction of just such contagions.
Introduced as our army was deployed to far away lands
and subjected to the sweltering tropical heat, this ca.
1898 Cavalry Sergeant’s Khaki Uniform Blouse shows some
evidence of overseas service, but nonetheless, it has
survived in very nice condition.
Material associated with the US Volunteer Cavalry
continues to hold the interest of the collecting
community as some of the most iconic military units in
our nation’s history. This offering is a rare
opportunity to acquire a cavalryman’s uniform coat of
the type that might very well have been worn by an NCO
in such units as Roosevelt’s Rough Riders,
and it will be a particularly nice addition to a Spanish
American War display.
SOLD
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