G.O., H.Q. Fort Adams Mississippi 30th March 1800 prescribed: "For the Corps of Cavalry ... a helmet of leather crowned with black horse hair, and having a brass front, with a mounted Dragoon in the act of charging ... The helmets of the Officers distinguished by green plumes."

In 1808, a regiment of Light Dragoons was authorized. The helmet is described as "Leather caps or helmets, with blue feathers, tipt with white ... the feathers of privates not to exceed 10 inches in length." A strip of bear skin was to be attached to the top with the letters 'USLD' in brass affixed to the front to indicate branch of service, the entire helmet to cost $2.50. The brass letters were later changed to white metal in keeping with the other metal trimmings of the Corps. A few years later a new helmet with a cap plate rather than letters was authorized for dragoons.

Evidence shows this cap was known in 1812 but lack of precise description of it and the plate makes its design in 1812 and 1813 uncertain and indicates it went through one or more modifications. The 1812 regulation merely states, "Helmet, according to pattern, blue feather with white top, feather 9 inches long". A contract dated 16th October 1812 for dragoon caps states "with plates in front per pattern".

However, a Light Dragoon Helmet 1814 has survived. It is made of jacked leather, is of basic two piece construction with each half running up to form one side of the comb. The comb rises 3 inches above the cap proper at its highest point and tapers to the rear, the overall height of the helmet being 9 inches at the peak. The comb is bound with white metal strips riveted together through the leather with a white horse hair crest rising from the centre. The crest, which falls to the side measures 18 inches at its greatest length. The horizontal and vertical metal strips binding the sides of the cap are wired on. The convex visor, of the same material as the cap, is 3 inches at its widest point and measures 10 inches from side to side. The side band is of thin leather tapering 2'/4 inches at the rear to 1 inch in front. A patent leather sweat-band is welted to the outside of the cap and turned under, with canvas fitted with a drawstring attached above.

The chin scales arc attached to the caps side by pewter buttons. They are made of hand-cut white metal wired to welted leather straps, meeting in the centre of the visor and held in place there by another pewter button. The straps are only decorative.

The cap plate of medium thickness pewter shows the "mounted dragoon in the act of charging" as prescribed in the 1800 regulations. It is attached to the cap by waxed lined thread.

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5: US Headgear of the War of 1812