Uniformity of Dress on Ships of War
Document 1797Regulations establishing uniformity of dress by the officers, Marines, and others on board the ships of war in service of the United States.
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Uniform for the Navy of the United States of America.
Captains Uniform.
Full dress Coat. Blue Cloth, with long buff lappels, and a standing collar and lining of buff, to be made and trimmed full with a gold Epaulet on each shoulder. The cuffs buff, with four buttons and four buttons to the pockets. Lappels to have nine buttons and one to the standing collar. Buttons, yellow metal, and to have the foul anchor, and American Eagle on the same.
Vest and Breeches. Buff with flaps and four buttons to the pockets of the vest, so as to correspond and be in uniform with the coat. Buttons the same kind as the vest, only proportionably smaller.
Lieutenants.
Coat, long, Blue, with half lappels, standing collar and lining of buff. The lappels to have six buttons and one to the collar, below the lappels, right side, two buttons, left side three close woven button holes. Three buttons to the pocket flaps, and there is to be a slash sleeve with a buff cuff. One gold Epaulet on the right shoulder. Trimmings plain lining plain.
Vest and Breeches. Buff. The former to be made with vents and pocket flaps, but to have no buttons to the pockets. The buttons for the vest and breeches, and coat, the same as for the Captains Uniform.
Lieutenants of Marines.
Coat, long, Blue, with long lappels of red, standing collar and lining of red. The lappels to have nine buttons, and one to the standing collar. Three buttons to the pocket flaps and there is to be a slash sleeve with a buff cuff. One gold Epaulet on the right shoulder for the Senior Lieutenant, where there are two Lieutenants for the same ship, and one on the left shoulder for the second officer. Where there is only one Lieutenant he is also to wear the Epaulet on the right Shoulder. Trimmings plain.
Vest and Breeches. Red, with vents and pocket flaps, but to have no buttons to the pockets. The buttons for the suit the same as for the Captains and Lieutenants.
Surgeons
Coat, long. Dark Green, with black velvet lappels and standing collar. Lappels to have nine buttons, and one to the standing collar. No linings, other than being faced with the same cloth as the coat. Slash sleeves, the cuff the same as the facings, with three buttons. Pocket flaps, plain.
Vest and Breeches. The former, red, with vents and pocket flaps, but to have no buttons to the pockets. The latter, Blue – Buttons, for the suit, the same as the Captains and Lieutenants.
Surgeons.
Coat. Long. Dark Green, with black velvet lappels and standing collar, Lappels to have nine buttons, and one to the standing collar. No linings, other than being faced with the same cloth as the coat. Slash sleeves, the cuff the same as the facings, with three buttons. Pocket flaps, plain.
Vest and Breeches. The former, red, double breasted. The latter, green, same as the coat. Buttons, the Same as the Officers.
Surgeons Mates.
The same as the Surgeons with only this difference in the coat, to wit. Half lappels with fix buttons, and one to the collar, below the lappels right side, three buttons; left side, three close worked button holes.
Sailing Master.
Coat, Long. Blue, with facings and standing collar of the same, edged with buff. Nine buttons to the lappels, and one to the standing collar. Lining blue, or faced with the same as the coat. Slash sleeve, with three buttons. pockets plain.
Vest and Breeches. Plain Buff Vest, and Blue Breeches. Buttons (for the suit) the same as for the Officers.
Pursers
Coat. Plain frock Blue coat, with the proper naval buttons. No lappels.
Vest and Breeches. Buff; and plain.
Midshipmen.
Coat. Plain frock Coat of blue, lined and edged with buff; without, lappels a standing collar of buff; and plain buff cuffs, open underneath, with three buttons.
Vest and Breeches. Buff. former to be made round and plain. Buttons (for the suit) the same as before described.
Marines.
Plain short coats of blue, with a red belt, edged with red, and turned up with the same, with common small naval buttons, with blue pantaloons edged with red and red vests.
Captains, Lieutenants and Marine Officers to wear when full dressed cocked hats with black cockades, and small swords (Yellow mounted) and when undressed such swords as may be hereafter fixed upon or ordered, which said swords are to be worn at all times by the Midshipmen, who are to wear cocked hats, &c. when full dressed only. Surgeons Mates; Sailing Master; & Purser. Cocked hats and black cockades.
James McHenry
Secy. of war
[War Office,
Aug. 24. 1797]
N.B. Summer dress. Vest and Breeches excepting for marine officers to be white, or Nankeen, as may correspond with the Uniform of the Marines white linen Overalls.
Type
Letter Signed
Description
Regulations establishing uniformity of dress by the officers, Marines, and others on board the ships of war in service of the United States.
Date
08/24/1797
Author
Recipient
Sent from
War Office
Document number
1797082400101
Page start
3
Note
Enclosure: Uniform for the Navy of the United States of America.
Notable persons
Captain John Barry, Commander of the Frigate "United States"
James McHenry
Captains
Lieutenants
Lieutenants of Marines
Surgeons
Surgeons Mates
Sailing Master
Purser
Midshipmen
Marines
Notable locations
War Office
Notable items
uniform
full dress coat
cloth
collar
epaulets
sash
buttons
pockets
lappets
American eagle
vest
breeches
coat
cocked hats
black cockades
small swords
nankeen
overalls

