Uniform

[Grapeshot]

http://sassvets.homestead.com/Grapeshot2.jpg  As seen at "Shootout at Leadville".

Thought I'd try wearing this at Fort McHenry this Memorial Day.

[Ol Gabe]

Description, please; details, details, details! Enquiring historically-correct minds need to know!
Best regards and good reenacting!
'Ol Gabe

[Drydock]

Yeah, M1898 1st issue Kahki field uniform , artillery facings and heavy artillery summer helmet.  I'm wearing the same outfit, but with a campaign hat, at my VFW memorial day get together.

[Grapeshot]

Well, it's like this.  The uniform is the M1898 Artillery Field Uniform, First Issue.  Like most officers, I've taken the issue Kakhi Sun Helmet and decked it out to a dressier appearance for social functions.  The Eagle Plate is an original Artillery dress plate, the side buttons are the crossed cannon, stamped brass that was also used on the Blue/Black dress helmet, and the the base and spike are original to the period for foot soldiers and Heavy Artillery and Coastal Artillery.

The gilt chinstrap is draped across the Eagle and secured to the rear by a stamped brass shield purchassed from S&S Firearms and by home made brass hooks attached under the side buttons, also from S&S.

The Helmet is a piece I got from "Cheaper than Dirt" as a copy of the British Foreign Service Helmet that I stripped the turban off and repositioned the headband so I could incorporate the band around the circumfrance of the helmet like the US Army version.

I have an Original White Sun Helmet I purchased from a dealer in Cape Cod that had the Spike, Base, Eagle, and Chinstrap already attached.  The original Eagle was an Infantry Officer's with separate front shied and crossed rifles with a silver #3 attached to the front of the shield.

I traded that one off for the Artillery Plate.  I have an 1872 plate that I want to trade for an Officers Artillery Plate.

The Sabre is an Officers Sabre M1860 Cavalry model, which was prefered to the M1872 Cavalry Sabre or the 1872 Artillery Sabre, due to their light weight and the Artillery model's plain appearance.

The belt and plate was something I put together as a personal possession.  It really does not portray anything period.  The Buckle could be a 1910 patern for the mills pistol belt.  It also resembles some of the early pre Civil War Belt Plates.  Looks good.

[Dr. Bob]

Sir,

Looks quite jaunty!!  Certainly would turn some heads. 

I would NOT recommend that you wear it for the Defenders Day event in September.  My good friend who is the Garrison Commander for the event might convene a Courts Martial and have you shot for being in improper uniform!   He has been trying to convince me that I should come out this year.  Might have to do it!

Capt. R. H. Dorian
Brv't. LtC., Chief Topographical Engineer
Grand Army of the Frontier
aka Dr. Bob

PS:  I am sitting here [Independence, MO] in my white 1839 Summer Fatigue uniform of a Topog. Capt.  I spent the day at a Memorial Day Time Line event at Fort Osage [1808-1827] which is 25 miles East of Kansas City, MO.  Will be back there tomorrow.  Monday I will be volunteering at the National World War I Museum at the Liberty Memorial [KCMO dedicated 11/11/26] in a Capt. of Infantry uniform in honor of my Grandfather who was an Infantry Capt in that war.