Uniform

( Uni for me, Fr. ) This word, though in a military sense it signifies the same as regimental, which is used both as a substantive and an adjective, may neverthele be considered in a more extensive light. Uniform is applied to the different sorts of clothing by which whole armies are distinguished from one another; whereas regimental means properly the dre of the component parts of some national force. Thus the national uniform of the American army is blue, as is that of the modern French, white of the Austrian, green of the Ru ian, and red of the British, . But in each of these armies there are particular corps which are clothed in other colors, and whose clothing is made in a shape peculiar to themselves. Though generally speaking each has an uniform within itself, yet this uniform, strictly considered, is a regimental. With respect to the origin of military uniforms , we should make usele enquiries were we to direct our attention to those periods in which the Romans fought covered with metal armor, or with leather which was so dre ed and fitted to the body, that the human shape appeared in all its natural formation; nor to those in which the French, almost naked, or at least very lightly clad in thin leather, conquered the ancient Gauls. Better information will be acquired by recurring to the Crusades which were made into Palestine and Constantinople by the Europe ans. We shall there find, that the western nations, France, England, . first adopted the use of rich garments, which they wore over their armors, and adorned their dre es with furs from Tartary and Ru ia. We may then fix the origin of colored dre es to distinguish military corps, . in the eleventh century. The Saracens generally wore tunics or close garments under their armor. These garments were made of plain or striped stuffs, and were adopted by the Crusaders under the denomination of coats of arms, Cottes d’armes . We refer our readers for further particulars to the author of a French work, entitled, Traité des marques rationales , and to page 533, tom. iii. du Dictionnaire Militaire ; observing, that the uniforms of the French army were not completely settled under the reign of Louis the XIVth, and that the whole has undergone considerable alterations since the present revolution.