Dragoon question... (1 Viewer)

[binder001]

I like the idea of the early western sets. I do love the usual "John Ford Cavalry" figures, but these are well done and quite unique. I'm usually a WW2 guy, so I have a question for those who are into the older eras - shouldn't the Dragoons have orange piping as opposed to yellow? I know that orange was the dragoon color, but I can't remember what time period.

Gary B.

 

[maddadicus]

I like the idea of the early western sets. I do love the usual "John Ford Cavalry" figures, but these are well done and quite unique. I'm usually a WW2 guy, so I have a question for those who are into the older eras - shouldn't the Dragoons have orange piping as opposed to yellow? I know that orange was the dragoon color, but I can't remember what time period.

Gary B.

I believe the 2nd was Orange and the 1st Dragoons was yellow...Get the fine orange brushes out..Michael

 

[lancer]

I believe the 2nd was Orange and the 1st Dragoons was yellow...Get the fine orange brushes out..Michael

I think it would be a lot easier to just convert the flag than to do all that piping and that way you only devalue one figure, (there's that money aspect again). -- lancer

 

[jazzeum]

I just noticed the early Western sets. They seem to look fabulous. Whether I buy them or not is a different story, not for wanting, but for economics.

 

[Fusilier]

Another question about these dragoons. Would it be correct to display some of these with Mexican soldiers from the Alamo line? I am thinking of the possibilities of Mexican-American War dioramas. Would the Mexican infantry be too early or the dragoons too late to represent this?

Noah

 

[aujj65]

Another question about these dragoons. Would it be correct to display some of these with Mexican soldiers from the Alamo line? I am thinking of the possibilities of Mexican-American War dioramas. Would the Mexican infantry be too early or the dragoons too late to represent this?

Noah

If you have a look at this manufacturer's site the uniforms don't look to different at first glance, perhaps this is K&C's idea to merge the Alamo and this new range?

Jeff

www.tin-soldier.com/mexwar.htm

 

[theBaron]

If I'm not mistaken, all US cavalry was considered dragoons, from the beginning of the 19th century, until just before the Civil War, when the designation was offically changed to "Cavalry" regiments (and allowing for later units, who were given the ceremonial or traditional designation of dragoons).

I have to check my references about the colors; not knowing anything more specific, I suspect that a question of orange vs yellow is one of the shade of color used in an illustration. When the US Army adopted arm of service colors, as far as I knew, yellow was chosen for cavalry units (white was the color for infantry units, later replaced by blue, if I remember correctly).

I have a couple of books at home that cover the period and subject, I'll have to check them tonight.

Prost!
Brad

 

[cantinetozzo]

If i recall in one of the last Osprey i read , about the armies of the Confederacy and the militia companies of the various state there was some reference regarding orange as typical of the dragons distinct from yellow of the cavalry, i must control..

 

[lancer]

I remember reading and seeing in a uniform guide some time ago that the 2nd Dragoons were trimmed in orange as opposed to yellow of other units. I believe Troiani painted such an example as well and his uniform research is regarded as impeccable in the historical field. -- lancer

 

[theBaron]

If i recall in one of the last Osprey i read , about the armies of the Confederacy and the militia companies of the various states there was some reference regarding orange as typical of the dragons distinct from yellow of the cavalry, i must control..

Ah, now you're adding another layer to the question, are we talking about the federal army, the Confederate army or either Northern or Southern militias? Either way, we'll all have to check references and get back to the thread.

Prost!
Brad

 

[cantinetozzo]

Yes you are right ..i presumed it was a U.S. tradition to have piping in orange for the Dragoons , or so i recall havig read on the book..but as you say it's better to check the source..i'll go and find the book!

 

[cantinetozzo]

Yes i was referring to the Alabama Volounteer Corps Dragoon on plate C of the volume Men-at-Arms 426 Confederate Army 1861-65 Florida, Alabama & Georgia..but the uniform regulations of a militia company are obviously very different from the regulations of 1840's U.S. army..at the moment i can't find a source...on Flickr there are some pics of a reenactor(?)and the piping (and facings) seems orange ..

 

[cantinetozzo]

By the way (sorry this evening i'm unbearable!) , who said the piping and facings of the figures are yellow?in one of the pics they seem orange..look at the piping of the jacket opposing those on the pants..

 

[kogu]

I just read in Don Troiani's book "Soldiers In America" that the 1st Dragoons were wearing dark blue cloth jackets trimmed with yellow and yellow piping, light blue trousers trimmed with yellow binding.
The official specifications also provided for yellow bands arround the crown for the dragoons but this was not practiced in the 1st Dragoons. It remained a regimental distinction of the 2nd Dragoons.
So it seems to me that K&C got it just right with their new releases, at least as of what Mr. Troiani provided in his book.
Great figures !!!
Konrad

 

[theBaron]

Well, I've had a chance to check in "The American Soldier-US Armies in uniform, 1755 to the present", by Philip Katcher, which actually distills information from Osprey's Men at Arms and Elite Forces series, and I stand corrected about orange and yellow. The references to the 2nd Dragoon Regiment do list orange as the facing color, which seems to have been used in one form or another, from the end of the Mexican War, 1848, until 1861, at which time the 1st and 2nd Dragoons became the 1st and 2nd Cavalry regiments, respectively, the Mounted Rifle regiment became the 3rd Cavalry, and the new 4th and 5th Cavalry regiments were raised. However, the 2nd had insignia, such as non-coms' chevrons, and piping, in yellow.

What time period is the figure supposed to represent?

Prost!
Brad