Officer, Undress 1832

This is a portrait of James Best by Dighton. The original painting is in the Anne S K Brown collection.
The uniform is a plain dark blue frock coat with winter trousers which are also dark blue with a red stripe one eighth of an inch wide. The dress regulations state that the coat is single breasted with 8 regimental buttons down the front and 2 small ones on the cuff. Plain Prussian collar. The shoulder straps are based on blue cloth edged with gold lace and a gilt metal crescent. Only the ranks of field officers were displayed on the strap; a star for a major, a crown for a lieutenant-colonel, and both for a colonel. Grenadier and light company officers also had a grenade or stringed bugle.
His sword is hung from a plain black patent leather waist belt. The sword knot appears to be white leather with a gold tassel. A crimson sash is worn under the waist belt. His forage cap is dark blue cloth made up on leather, with a black silk cap band in an oak leaf pattern. The badge is of gold embroidery and is the number 34 with a wreath around it. He is wearing spurs so he is either the second in command or the adjutant.

Uniforms | Regimental Details