Mining for Old

Alden Partridge's West Point Years

This drawing was mailed to Alden Partridge by the soon-to-be Secretary of War, Joseph Swift. At the time, Swift commanded the Corp of Engineers. This is one of many letters from the Alden Partridge collection.  (Transcription below image.)

Letter from Joseph G. Swift to Alden Partridge, June 20, 1813 with instructions for cadet uniforms at West Point. Click on the image to view in our Digital Collections.

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Cadet Coat–

• single breasted, standing collar, single herrin [sic] bone cuff–all blue cloth
• 8 gilt eagle buttons, 5/8″ dia. in front, 6 in fold of skirt
• one on either cuff and one with a blind button hole on either side of collar

Under clothes-

• noskin [sic] pantaloons in summer, blue cloth in winter
• black stock, chapeau, cockade [a feather or ribbon worn on military headwear]
• gilt eagle and loop half boots on parade, and sturdy shoes
• Cut throat sword in a frog belt worn around the waist under the coat

While exercising with muskets no sword worn except by Sergeants. The forgoing description of cadet’s uniform has been approved by the Secy of War and it is hereby ordered that all cadets will equip themselves in uniform agreeably to the forgoing description. New York 20th of June 1813