Infantry Uniforms 1872

When the Civil War ended in 1865, the regular army turned its focus back West and returned to the old forts on the Frontier, and built a few new ones.

The regular army discovered that it had literally tons of extra uniforms and wartime equipment. The 1865–1872 period was a period of reexamination for the army's gear, uniforms, and weaponry.

Breechloading cartridge rifles were replacing the outdated muzzleloading muskets in a number of military installations around the world.

The United States Congress mandated that the army "issue on-hand old pattern items until supplies were exhausted" as it sought to innovate. A few ideas managed to go through despite the absence of congressional backing.

Making the ancient muzzle loading rifled muskets into breech loaders was one creative approach. The "trapdoor" rifle, one of the U.S. army's most enduring infantry weapons, was created by this invention.

Creating looping belts to transport the new cartridge ammo in the field and redesigning outdated clothing to more stylish styles were two further inventions started by the soldiers themselves.

Until the Quartermaster General eventually stated that the old stocks had been removed from the inventory in 1880, the army continued to use the outdated uniforms.

New uniform patterns were tried and adopted while the army depleted the previous supplies. The army looked for a few new designs that appeared to return to a similar style in order to replace the 1858 sack coat, also known as the fatigue coat.

The invention of personal field gear also appeared to be revolutionary, but the soldiers eventually went back to the tried-and-true methods.

The 1858 type fatigue, or sack coat, is worn by the soldier on the top right (early 1870s). Both the coat and the remainder of his costume are Civil War relics. Quartermaster reports and period photos use these old uniform items, which are then blended with more recent designs over the following 20 years.

His 1872-patterned haversack, which is now composed of linen canvas and has a strap that can be adjusted with buttons, is one of the more recent patterns he is wearing. Because of a "door" that raises at the breech to load a single round, the 1873 Springfield type rifle is also known as the trapdoor rifle. Despite being a single-shot rifle, it fires at a far higher rate than the antiquated muzzle-loading weapons from the last conflict.

An intriguing tale that is much too extensive for this space is the creation of the trapdoor system. But by the end of the conflict, armies all around the world were implementing breech loading weapons. A new army weapon was not warranted because the US army had far too many muzzle loading rifles in stock. By cutting the old muzzle loaders at the breech and installing a "door" to insert a cartridge, it was possible to turn them into breech loaders while saving money. The Wagon Box Fight on the Bozeman Trail, close to Fort Phil Kearny, was the first time the first "Allen Conversion" rifles were used in combat.

The new 1872 Fatigue Blouse pattern has been issued to our soldier on the right. It was believed that the soldier's plaited chest would improve his breathing because it would expand with his chest as he worked. Additionally, he was given the new 1872 Kepi design, which was a much more fashionable than the previous forage cap. Very few pairs of pattern 1872 trousers were produced, and it's unlikely that any of them ever made it west. The production was halted in favor of sticking with the previous pattern because the new style was so similar to it.

The army chose to test a new field gear system in addition to new uniform designs. A new belt, two ammo pouches (one on each side), a suspender system, a lower valise-knapsack bag, a haversack, and straps to fasten a bed roll were all features of this new valise form.

NOTE: Special thanks to K.C. Kirkman for allowing us the use of these photographs.