U.S. Uniforms #2
1865-1898

If you have a Spanish American War or Indian War uniform photograph you would like to share with other viewers, please send a sharp print, negative or e-mail a JPG image so I can insert it on this page. Also, send as much information as you have about the picture. Doug McChristian's critique of the uniform will be posted on this page. For details, email me at afrasca@erinet.com

On the back of this cabinet card of the standing soldier with sword and helmet is a St. Louis studio mark. The studio is ink stamped on the back and the first letter is missing. The remaining letters of the studio name is "ennerro" and they were located on North Broadway. I always believed him to be an enlisted man because of the US belt plate. Photograph from Keith Anderson.

I believe this is an early Indian Wars photo, and a good one. On the back of this CDV is the studio name and address. It is B. F. Reynolds, Corner of Eleventh and Salisbury Streets, St. Louis. I have never seen another helmet like this man is wearing. His belt plate looks like a US officer type and the sword looks like an 1840 model. He may be State Militia? Photograph from Keith Anderson.

Doug McChristian's critique: An infantry sergeant, c.1872-73. The "definitely unmilitary" blouse he wears is the regulation 1872-pattern for enlisted men. The absence of chevrons is proper, according to the regulations, as is the use of the company letter, sans branch insignia on the forage cap. A nice and rare image. Photograph from Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.

3rd Cavalryman in his 1872 dress uniform and helmet. Backmark on the card is "Howard Photographers, Ft. Sanders, Wyoming Ty". Company E of the 3rd Cavalry was stationed at Ft. Sanders in April 1874. Doug McChristian's assessment: As noted, this photo is of a 3rd Cavalryman. It was taken during the time the regiment was posted in Wyoming Territory 1872-85, which virtually covers the entire period the 1872 uniforms was in use. The 1872 dress helmet suggests that the image dates prior to 1882. Photograph from Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.

Spanish American soldier ready for war. Note the Model 1892 Krag in his hand!! This is about as good a picture as I have seen for the period. Doug McChristian's assessment: This infantryman also appears to be a regular. He has the regulation blanket bag equipments, Model 1892 Krag rifle, 1889 campaign hat, and 1888-pattern leggings, all of which suggest to me that the image was taken in the mid-1890s. Photograph from Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.

Photograph of Lt. Col. (Brevet General) Washington Lafayette Elliott, 1st U.S. Cavalry. Elliott entered service as a 2nd Lt. of Mounted Rifles in the Mexican War. He was Col. of the 2nd Iowa Cavalry then Brig. General of Volunteers in 1862. He commanded the 3rd Division of Sickles' Corps at Gettysberg. He became Col. of the 3rd Cavalry in 1878. Doug McChristian's assessment: The Elliott image shows a regulation field officer's uniform 1872-81. Photograph from Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.

Ordnance Sgt. with a state belt buckle and the ordnance symbol on his kepi. Doug McChristian's assessment of the uniform: The image of the ordnance sergeant probably dates to the 1890s. My opinion is more a gut reaction than anything I see in the photo. The soldier could be regular army, but the non-regulation sword suggests (though not conclusively) that he is a state guardsman. The caption states that the belt plate is non-reg, but I cannot see it well enough to make that determination. Ordnance sergeants wore the Pattern 1851 eagle plate. Photograph from Bill Chachula and digitized by Joe Poyer.

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