Daniel Library: A Guide to 19th Century Citadel Uniforms: 1880s

1882 and 1887 Regulations

The Citadel reopened in 1882 after being closed for 17 years. The 1882 Board of Visitor Meeting Minutes outlined the expenses for returning Cadets:

The estimate was about $280 for board and clothing. The uniform guidelines were outlined in the 1882 Regulations as follows:

There were a few changes since the 1858 Regulations including:

Under Summer Trousers, the addition of Brown Drilling Trousers
The Forage Cap will now have a wreath enclosing the letters S.C.M.A.
White Pompon on the Dress Hat
Under Fatigue Jackets for Summer, the addition of Brown Drilling
Collars and Cravats instead of Stocks
Addition of Sheets

In the 1883 Board of Visitor Meeting Minutes, the overcoat was introduced, as follows:

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"Resd - That the Superintendent be instructed to adopt a regulation overcoat, which every Cadet shall be allowed to purchase or to draw from the Quartermaster by way of commutation for other articles of clothing."

The overcoat then shows up in the 1887 Regulations:

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There is also the addition of Pillow Cases and Towels as well as the change back to a Black Pompon on the Dress Hat:

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Uniform of Officers

These are the guidelines for the Officer's Uniform from the 1882 Regulations:

There were a few changes since the 1858 Regulations including:

A much simpler Dress Coat
Shoulder Knots instead of Epaulets
A Dress Helmet (U.S. Army Regulation) instead of a Dress Hat and Plume
Winter Trowsers [sic] are now made from a Dark Blue Cloth with a Gilt Cord instead of Sky Blue Cloth with a Black Velvet Seam
No description of Sword Knot or Sash
Forage Coat instead of Frock Coat
Forage Cap is now made from Blue Cloth and is much simpler in design

There were two further changes in the 1887 Regulations, as follows:

The Dress Helmet is further described and the Winter Trousers are now to be dark blue cloth with no cord or strip.

Photographs

John Fox, Class of 1884

Cadet Fox was a member of the Class of 1884. In this cabinet card, Fox is wearing his Uniform Coatee and Winter Trousers. He is wearing the Forage Cap with "S.C.M.A." encircled by a wreath.

Calliopean Literary Society, 1885

All members are wearing their Uniform Coatees and Winter Trousers along with their Forage Caps.

F. J. Devereaux, Class of 1886

Cadet Devereaux was a member of the Class of 1886 and hailed from Charleston County. He served as the Cadet Captain for Company "D" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Devereaux practiced law but passed away in 1900. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee with Summer White Drilling Trousers. He is also wearing a Sword Knot and Sash and his Dress Hat is sitting on the stone slab next to him.

F. M. Robertson, Class of 1886

Cadet Robertson was a member of the Class of 1886 and hailed from Charleston County. He served as a Cadet Lieutenant for Company "C" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Robertson worked in insurance in Charleston. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee with Winter Trousers.

A. N. Brunson, Class of 1888

Cadet Brunson was a member of the Class of 1888 and hailed from Orangeburg County. He served as a Cadet Captain for Company "C" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Brunson became a minister in South Carolina and a member of the Board of Visitors. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee.

G. H. Cornelson, Class of 1888

Cadet Cornelson was a member of the Class of 1888 and hailed from Orangeburg County. He served as a Cadet Captain for Company "B" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Cornelson became a minister in New Orleans, Louisiana. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee.

R. S. Clarkson, Class of 1889

Cadet Clarkson was a member of the Class of 1889 and hailed from Richland County. He served as a Cadet Lieutenant for Company "B" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Cornelson became a civil engineer. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee.

R. B. Cunningham, Class of 1889

Cadet Cunningham was a member of the Class of 1889 and hailed from Kershaw County. He served as a Cadet Captain for Company "C" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Cunningham became a professor at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee.

W. H. Dial, Class of 1889

Cadet Dial was a member of the Class of 1889 and hailed from Madison, Florida. He served as Cadet Quartermaster while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Dial became a merchant. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee.

T. B. Haynesworth, Class of 1889

Cadet Haynesworth was a member of the Class of 1889 and hailed from Darlington County. He served as a Cadet Lieutenant for Company "D" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Cornelson became a contractor in Florence, South Carolina. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee and Winter Trousers with his Forage Cap placed on the table beside him.

W. W. Lewis, Class of 1889

Cadet Lewis was a member of the Class of 1889 and hailed from Chester County. He served as a Cadet Captain for Company "A" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Lewis practiced law in York, South Carolina. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee.

S. B. Platt, Class of 1889

Cadet Platt was a member of the Class of 1889 and hailed from Aiken County. He served as a Cadet Lieutenant for Company "D" while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Platt worked for the Sibley Manufacturing Company in Augusta, Georgia. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee.

W. M. Smith, Class of 1889

Cadet Smith was a member of the Class of 1889 and hailed from Spartanburg County. He served as Cadet Adjutant while at The Citadel. After leaving The Citadel, Smith worked as a civil engineer in Chicago, Illinois. In this cabinet card, he is wearing his Uniform Coatee, Winter Trousers and Dress Hat. He is also wearing his Sword Belt and holding his Sword (both based on U. S. Army Regulations).