Part 9 (1/2)

[Footnote 82: Insignia of the riflemen are discussed by Townsend and Todd, pp. 2-3.]

CAP INSIGNIA, OFFICER, REGIMENT OF MOUNTED RIFLEMEN, 1850

_USNM 604854 (SK 999). Figure 51._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 51]

In 1850 the regiment was given a ”trumpet” hat device. Officers were to wear ”a trumpet, perpendicular, embroidered in gold, with the number of the regiment, in silver, within the bend.”[83] This trumpet is also known in metal imitation-embroidery. The prescribed regimental number, which is ill.u.s.trated in the Horstmann publication of the regulations (pl. 15), is not included on the device, probably because there was but one such unit in the Regular Establishment.

[Footnote 83: General Order No. 2, February 13, 1850, War Department (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Inst.i.tution).]

CAP INSIGNIA, ENLISTED, REGIMENT OF MOUNTED RIFLEMEN, 1850

_USNM 62053-M (SK-1806). Figure 52._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 52]

The same general order that gave rifle officers a gold-embroidered trumpet prescribed for enlisted men a similar device to be of ”yellow metal.” This insignia lasted but one year for the men in the ranks, being unmentioned in the 1851 regulations.

Shoulder-Belt and Waist-Belt Plates

Oval shoulder-belt plates were worn by American officers during the War of the Revolution, but no extant specimens are known. Highly ornamented or engraved officers' plates for the period after 1790 are in several collections (fig. 53) and others are ill.u.s.trated in contemporary portraits (fig. 54). Just what year shoulder-belt plates were issued to enlisted personnel is unknown, but their use appears to have been well established by 1812. The uniform regulations for that year specified swords for sergeants of infantry to be ”worn with a white cross belt 3-1/2 inches wide,” but nothing was said about a device on the belt.[84]

[Footnote 84: General Order, Southern Department U.S. Army, January 24, 1813 (photostatic copy in files of division of military history, Smithsonian Inst.i.tution).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 53.--Specimen in Campbell collection.]

Normally, bra.s.s or ”yellow metal” plates were authorized for the artillery and silvered or ”white metal” for the infantry and dragoons, as consonant with the rest of their tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs. In actuality, however, white-metal shoulder-belt plates do not seem to have been issued to the infantry prior to 1814, and bra.s.s ones were still being issued in 1815.[85] Most of these plates were plain oval, although a few are known that were struck with devices similar to those on cap plates; and at least one rectangular cap plate, fitted with the two studs and hook on the reverse normal to shoulder-belt plates, has been found. It seems probable that these were officers' plates. Oval bra.s.s plates have been found that are identical in size and construction to the plain ones but with the letters ”U.S.” embossed on them; however, these are difficult to date.

[Footnote 85: Letters from Irvine in Records AGO: To Colonel Bogardus (Commanding Officer, 41st Infantry), February 16, 1814; to James Calhoun, January 14, 1815; and to General Scott, January 31, 1815.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 54.--Portrait in collection of The Filson Club, Louisville, Kentucky.]

It is extremely doubtful that waist-belt plates were issued to enlisted personnel of foot units during this period. In 1808 enlisted dragoons were authorized a waist-belt plate of tinned bra.s.s and, as far as known, perfectly plain.[86]

[Footnote 86: Letter to the Purveyor of Public Supplies in 1808.]

The 1812 regulations prescribed for the light dragoons a ”buff leather waist belt, white plate in front with eagle in relief,” and there is the possibility that the light artillery had such. In actuality, there was no call for a waist belt where a shoulder belt was authorized.

Neither civilian trousers nor the few surviving military ”pantaloons”

of the period are fitted with belt loops, trousers being held up either by suspenders or by being b.u.t.toned directly to the s.h.i.+rt or waistcoat. No example of the dragoon plate has been found. However, a rather tantalizing possibility exists--a fragment of a pewter belt plate (fig. 55) was excavated at Sackets Harbor, New York, where the light dragoons are known to have served. The 1816 regulations specified for artillerymen ”waist belts of white leather two inches wide, yellow oval plate of the same width.” It is not made clear, however, whether this belt and plate was for officers only or for all ranks. The unusually striking oval specimen (fig. 56) may be this plate, but its ornateness indicates that this particular design was for officers only.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 55.--Specimen in Campbell collection.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 56.--Specimen in Campbell collection.]

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, 1790(?)-1812