Mounted Private, 1876

In 1871 the strapped trousers worn by the cavalry were replaced by smarter breeches and knee boots. This naive ink and watercolour 1876 portrait of Private William Murrell gives valuable information about the uniform and horse furniture of other ranks at this time, evidence that other ranks still had the shabraque. Every mounted man of the regiment had an embroidered shabraque, which fact makes one wonder at the amount of needlework required to supply every cavalry regiment in the army. The pattern followed that of the officers but white and yellow thread was used instead of silver and gold. Behind his saddle is a blue cloth valise strapped on and having X over H embroidered on the ends. A black sheepskin covers the saddle and valise.
His uniform is blue with yellow worsted cord decoration and brass buttons. The busby is of black fur with an upright horsehair white plume with a black base inserted into a brass plume-holder. The cap-lines can be seen to attach to his neck, with yellow acorn ends hanging at the throat. He has a black leather sabretache attached to his hidden waist-belt by two white leather slings. The sword has a three bar hilt and white leather sword knot. In his right hand he holds a Snider carbine.

Regimental Details | Uniforms