Cavalry in the West Exhibit- 1860-1865

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon: The Cavalry in the West
A Temporary Exhibit April 12-August 17, 2008

The Army's New Look 1872-1887

General explanatory text for this case

For over a decade after the Civil War, soldiers were issued surplus uniforms and equipment despite numerous complaints. A dramatic new design was introduced in 1872. Modeled after European military uniforms of the period, the new uniform brought considerable flash to the U.S. Army, particularly for the mounted troops.

Context for the period

European styles such as the British "pith helmet" or the German "pickle helmet" and assorted colorful trimmings helped the U.S. Cavalry imitate the fashions of the Victorian era.

However, the realities were that the U.S. Cavalry was largely stationed in small detachments at remote western posts, primarily engaged in watching, helping or combating various Indian tribes on or off reservations. Thus there was a mix of foppish finery for parade grounds, and rugged, practical items for active campaigning in the field. In this period, the Army had several regiments of African-American troops, (24th and 25th Infantry and 9th and 10th Cavalry), who were primarily stationed on the frontier. While not yet fully integrated (that happened in 1947) these "Buffalo Soldiers" served faithfully and heroically wherever they were stationed.

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UNIFORMS

Captain, Cavalry (left)
circa. 1873
Courtesy Otoupalik Collection

The officer’s 1872-pattern undress coat included black mohair braid on the front and a slit at the hips to accommodate the saber-belt slings worn under the coat. In 1875, this design was superseded by a coat of the same cut but without the braid or slits at the hips.

The Prussian influence on the design of the new 1872 uniform can be seen in the cut of the coats as well as the style of the plumed helmet. The company grade officer’s dress uniform for this period included the double-breasted coat with shoulder knots and a dress helmet. His belt exhibits four stripes of gold lace interwoven with yellow silk denoting the cavalry.

The 1872-pattern dress coat for enlisted men included yellow on the collar and cuffs denoting the cavalry. The dress helmet was attached to the uniform by yellow cords and tassels to prevent a soldier from losing his headgear while riding. Because the cords were one-piece when issued, the mounted soldier often had difficulty extracting himself from his dress helmet.

By the late 1880s, a number of modifications had been made to the dress uniform of the cavalry. The original yellow facings were found to fade quickly in the field, so the color was darkened to a golden yellow. Brass regimental numbers on the collar were dispensed with after discovering they frequently caught on the soldier’s carbine sling. A more expensive golden lace was also introduced for the chevrons of non-commissioned officers.

Similar in design to the original Andrews Hat used by the Second Dragoons in Texas in 1851, this new folding campaign hat was issued to both officers and enlisted men beginning in 1872. This hat did not hold up well in the field and was replaced in 1876 by a smaller and more durable pattern.

A member of the famed Buffalo Soldiers, this soldier wears the enlisted man’s overcoat prescribed in 1880. This double breasted wool coat included a detachable cape, lined in yellow to denote the cavalry. He also wears a muskrat cap with fold-down ear flaps and visor, first adopted in 1879 for cold weather assignments. He is armed with the Model 1879 Springfield carbine and holds a Mills cartridge belt, trimmed in yellow.

In 1885, the Stars and Stripes swallowtail guidon in use since the Civil War was replaced by the new red-and-white cavalry guidon. This new company flag was used into World War II.

The saddle allowed the cavalryman to carry several different loads at the same time while in the field. On the front (or pommel), he strapped his wool overcoat, a rubber coated poncho to ward off rain, and a canvas bag containing a two-day ration of oats for his horse. A nose bag, picket pin and rope hung from the sides of the pommel. While used for feeding the horse, the nose bag also carried a curry comb and grooming brush when in the field. The picket pin and rope tethered the horse when grazing. At night, chain and leather sidelines secured the animal reducing the chances for stampede or theft.

To the rear (or cantle) of the saddle, lies the cantle roll containing a bed blanket, extra underwear and socks, and a shelter half. The shelter half was combined with another soldier’s shelter half to make a small tent. Underneath the cantle roll the soldier carried his own provisions. These items included a canteen and a haversack filled with enough salt bacon, hard bread, and coffee to last several days. Below the haversack are the saddlebags. These contained spare horseshoes and extra boxes of carbine ammunition.

Out of the experiences of the Indian Wars came several modifications to the earlier Model 1874 McClellan saddle. The saddle tree was trimmed along the side to give some relief to the pressure exerted on the inside of the rider’s thighs. The seat was also reshaped to allow the rider to sit further back. A new type of horsehair girth.

Based on the all-leather design, these very rare canvas saddle bags were introduced in 1879 perhaps in an effort save weight on the horse. Little is known about their trial by cavalry units but they apparently did not last long.

The Civil War saber was still issued, but rarely carried in the field. Cartridge revolvers and "Trapdoor" carbines were the main cavalry weapons. Lighter weight sabers were adopted for ceremonial wear.

In 1872, Army regulations required all officers to equip themselves with the new cavalry officer’s saber. Considered by most cavalry officers to be worthless as a weapon, the saber was worn for all official occasions. The grip is covered with fishskin and wrapped with twisted gilt wire. The hilt is gilded brass and the scabbard is nickel-plated iron, with mountings of gilded brass.

When the Civil War ended in 1865, the Army was reduced from over a million soldiers to about 50,000. Warehouses were filled with surplus arms and equipment. Although it was obvious that percussion arms were obsolete, tight budgets demanded that old equipment be used as long as possible.

Although cumbersome to load by today's standards, the Navy revolver was powerful and reliable, far superior to the earlier single shot pistols. These were widely used during the Civil War, but in 1865 the Cavalry standardized on the larger .44 caliber "Army" model.

The most widely used pistol of the Civil War era, the Model 1860 "Army" revolvers remained in service until replaced by cartridge revolvers in the early 1870s.

Several thousand of these pinfire revolvers were issued to cavalrymen. “Pinfire” ammunition was a self contained metallic cartridge with a pin sticking out of the side of the base instead of a rimfire or centerfire primer like modern ammunition.

Popular with Army troops, this was the first metallic cartridge revolver to be used by the Army in large numbers. It remained the standard service revolver until the Spanish American War.

In 1873 single shot "Trapdoor" carbines replaced the hodge-podge of left over Civil War arms the Cavalry was using in the Indian War campaigns. Although a good weapon, soft copper cartridge cases led to jamming at critical times, such as General Custer’s defeat at the Little Big Horn.

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