CAP AND PLATE, LANCER TYPE, C. 1840
USNM 604688-M (S-K 834). Figure 154.
Figure 154
With no regulations but their own to restrain them, Militia organizations designed their uniforms to suit their fancies, although generally following the regulations for the Regulars. This often led to odd and unusual cap shapes and trimmings and bindings on clothing, and to somewhat garish horse furniture in in some mounted units.
The illustrated cap and plate is very similar to the ones worn by the Boston Light Infantry[120] about 1839-1840 except that the upper or "mortar board" portion is beige instead of red and the plate is a full instead of a three-quarter sunburst. The mortar board form is that introduced by the Polish lancers in Europe in the early years of the 19th century and worn by most European lancer regiments of the same period. Lancer units in the British Army adopted this type cap in 1816 when they were first converted from light dragoons.[121] The large, brass, eagle-on-sunburst plate was obviously patterned after the one prescribed for the Regular dragoons in 1833.
COCKADE EAGLE, INFANTRY, C. 1836
USNM 60377-M (S-K 133). Figure 155.