Existing comment:
US Army Uniforms, 1812:
US Army Regulations issued in February 1812 called for a single breasted "coatee" with red collars and cuffs. The 10-button front closure was to have binding lace of white for infantry and yellow for artillery, with white or gold metal buttons respectively. A coatee is defined as being a "short-tailed" coat. The cylindrical cap, sometimes referred to as a "Yeoman Crown Shako," was also introduced.
With regard to uniforms,1812 is a confusing year. Because of the shortage of blue cloth, coatees made of drab, black, brown, or gray cloth were issued to various Regular Army infantry regiments during the winter of 1812?1813. These were made in the same manner as the regulation coatee with red cuffs and collar, and in most cases with the white binding (the 25th through 28th Infantry Regiments received blue coatees with red cuffs and collar, but with white binding lace on the collar only). In February 1813, the white binding was dropped altogether.
In May 1813, uniform regulations were again revised. The new uniform coatee was single breasted with a 10-button closure in front. The red collar and cuffs were eliminated and lace binding was to be on the collar only in either white for infantry or yellow for artillery. The regulations also introduced a new cap or shako copied directly from the Belgie-type cap worn by the British Infantry. This uniform would remain in service with only minor alterations into the 1820s. |