Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia: How to Know Rank, Corps and Service in the Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Foreign CountriesWilliams, Dion
History
Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia: How to Know Rank, Corps and Service in the Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Foreign Countries
Williams, Dion
Armies -- Insignia; Military uniforms; Navies -- Insignia; United States. Army -- Insignia; United States. Navy -- Insignia
Up to 1866 the Austrian regiments wore a great deal of white in
their uniforms, while the picturesque dress of the Hungarian civil
population was reflected in the gaudy uniforms of the Hussars, a style
copied into all of the cavalry troops of Europe to a greater or lesser
extent.
In Russia there is a great variety in full dress uniforms, and the
effect of the long coat and turban of the Cossack on one hand and
the bright plumes and short jackets of the Central European cavalry
on the other is traceable. For field service uniforms dull shades of
gray-green have become almost universal, and the cold of the long
winters has naturally resulted in the use of long and heavy overcoats.
The Russian soldiers all wear top boots instead of the low topped
laced shoes common for foot troops in the armies of France, England
and America. In this respect the Germans follow the same custom as the
Russians.
The uniforms of the United States Army and Marine Corps have resulted
from an adoption of the styles of the older nations with such
modifications as were from time to time dictated by local conditions
or national sentiment. Before the Revolution of 1776 the colonial
troops naturally followed the example of the British expeditionary
troops serving in the Thirteen Colonies, with modifications to suit
the climate and the nature of the country occupied. During the War of
the Revolution the effect of the alliance with France was seen in the
adoption of certain features of the French uniform, and the service
of the Prussian generals Von Steuben and De Kalb also resulted in the
adoption of certain features of the Prussian armies of that date.
After the establishment of the United States Government the wars with
the Indians caused changes in the uniform of some of the troops by the
adoption of some of the articles of the frontiersman’s dress, such as
deer-skin jackets, coonskin caps and powder horns.
The original idea of the founders of the country was to have every
able-bodied man receive some training as a soldier, and from this
came the militia of early days and the volunteers that fought the War
of 1812. The militia of the different States and territories were
uniformed largely by each State or territory designating its own style
of military dress copied from the different armies abroad and with
trimmings and colors to distinguish the different arms of the service.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account