Imperial Brazilian Uniforms
During the
War of the Triple Alliance

Part 1: Line Infantry

By C. A. Norman

CACADORES

Fig.12 Cacador, Campaign, c. 1366-70: Dark blue barracks cap trimmed with yellow piping, black tassel, yellow hunting horn device on the front of the turn-up. Entirely dark blue tunic with yellow piping edging the collar, shoulder-straps, front opening, cuffs, cuff flaps, rear skirt slash and pocket flaps, brass buttons. Dark blue trousers with yellow side piping. All black belts and cartridge pouch. slack leather pack with black straps, white metal mess tin attached to the rear flap, dark blue greatcoat roll strapped to the top. Brown canvas haversack on the right hip; a second, unclear, article is carried on the left hip (possibly a second haversack?).

Fig.13 Cacador, Campaign, c. 1866-70: This figure's headgear is a special tropical or summer version of the barracks cap with white (cotton?) top, dark blue turn-ups without piping, yellow hunting horn device on the front and black tassel; white neckdrop. Tunic and trousers of light brown duck, piped with yellow as for the dark blue woolen uniform, again depicted with darkish buttons. Black belts and cartridge pouch, the latter pulled around to the front for easier access in combat. Dark blue greatcoat strapped to the top of the pack; the tree branches attached to the rear probably constitute his supply of firewood, though they might also provide an incidental measure of camouflage?

Fig.14 Cacador Cabo, Campaign, c. 1866-70: Hat of natural straw. Tunic and trousers of light brown duck trimmed with yellow piping as for the last figure, dark (brown or black, unclear?) buttons, 2 yellow rank lace stripes backed black on the lower left sleeve. White canvas "espadrilles" with rope soles. Black belts and pouch, dark blue greatcoat roll over the right shoulder (though a blanket roll, in a variety of neutral colours, would be equally likely), light brown haversack on the right hip, some sort of white metal water-bottle is carried on a brown strap on the right hip. The "Carabine" has steel fittings and a black strap, the brass-hilted sabre-bayonet being carried in a black scabbard with brass cap.

Illustrations

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© Copyright 1996 by The South and Central Military Historians Society

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