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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Anseo on Saturday 23 October 21 17:13 BST (UK)
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I would appreciate help in identifying this uniform. The photograph was taken in Brooklyn. Thank you, Ita
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You've posted in Armed Forces Resources which is for resources not queries. I've asked a moderator to move this thread to the Armed Forces Board.
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My apologies - and thank you. Ita
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The Cap Badge, though hard to make out, might be crossed rifles, which would indicate an Infantry Soldier.
Likewise crossed swords would indicate a Cavalry Soldier. The Regiment Number typically appears on the top of the Badge.
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Does this help?
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https://history.army.mil/html/museums/uniforms/survey_uwa.pdf
The above Link is for a PDF download of American Service Uniforms and Kit, throughout the ages.
I'm not too familiar with this Subject Matter, but the download gives valuable information on how Uniform Dress changed over the years. The Soldier depicted in the photograph appears to be Infantry, as the Cap Badge shows crossed Rifles. The top Coat appears to be the old style colour blue, which was gradually superceded by Khaki from 1902, though was continued to be worn by some Artillery and Engineering servicemen, until stocks ran out, approximately by 1911. As yet I cannot identify the Regimental Cap and Collar Badges.
Add: From information in the above Link, the Uniform Style could date from the mid 1890's. It was also adopted by the New York National Guard, begining around 1896.
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Looking at the photograph again, I believe this copy might have been printed back to front. The cap badge appears to show the Regiment Number in Roman Numerals, i.e., IIV. Reversed this would show VII, representing the number seven.
This would correspond to the Seventh Regiment of New York. The letter 'L' on the collar, I believe represents the Company, associated with the Regiment. I have seen some letter 'L' Company's described as Artillery.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/31388/
The above Ancestry Link describes the History of The New York 7th Regiment, and plenty more information can been gleaned from the W.W.W.
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If the photo is a reversed image, then wouldn’t the letters “L” be pointing the other way?
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If the photo is a reversed image, then wouldn’t the letters “L” be pointing the other way?
Good point ES, I should have spotted that. The Roman Numerals still don't make sense, as depicted. The New York Seventh Regiment were known as the 'Silk Stocking Brigade', and this can clearly be noted by the trouser dress on the Uniform. However, the Collar letter 'L' reversed throws a spanner in the works, unless it's some other decoration not depicting the Company.
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The New York Seventh Regiment were known as the 'Silk Stocking Brigade', and this can clearly be noted by the trouser dress on the Uniform
Aren't they just standard US Army leggings?
https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/41791-1900-1904-army-leggings/
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Aren't they just standard US Army leggings?
https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/41791-1900-1904-army-leggings/
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You are correct, ShaunJ. I was misinformed by an article.
Apparently the NY Seventh Regiment acquired the name during the American Civil War, as a good number of volunteers where from wealthy New York Families.
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I think what you are seeing on the badge is not IIV but the top of the letters NY, and the badge is this:
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gAMAAOSwsDxfhiQa/s-l300.jpg)
making him a member of the 1st New York Volunteer Infantry, one of the volunteer units created for service in the Spanish American War of 1898.
This had an L Company, which was raised from the 5th Battalion of the NY State Militia / National Guard. See https://www.spanamwar.com/1stnyhistory.html (https://www.spanamwar.com/1stnyhistory.html) which includes a photo of L Company.
His name may even be on this roster of L Company https://www.spanamwar.com/1stnyroster.htm#Company%20L (https://www.spanamwar.com/1stnyroster.htm#Company%20L), presumably one of the 6 sergeants listed
T
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Thank You T1, that clarifies the Cap Badge, I couldn't get My head round, what I thought were reversed Roman Numerals.