Imperial Brazilian Uniforms
During the War of
the Triple Alliance

Part 4: General Staff and Engineers

Figure 5-8

By C. A. Norman


FIGURE 5: General, Campaign Dress, 1866-70: Kepi in white cover with national cockade on the front, plain dark blue "campaign coat" with gilt buttons, the collar bears the gold embroidered rank insignia and white edge piping. White trousers in black boots, black waist-belt over red waist-sash, a lightish brown fringed blanket or poncho with black end stripes is slung over the shoulder

FIGURE 6: General, Undress Uniform, c.1866-70: Entirely dark blue kepi with gold rank embroidery circling the hat band, gold piping around the top of the band and vertically on the side seams, national cockade on the front. Plain dark blue tunic with gilt buttons and rank embroidery on the collar, the latter without piping, white shirt, tie and waistcoat. Plain dark blue trousers, the red waist-sash with gold tassels is twisted around the waist.

FIGURE 7: General, Campaign, c.1866-70: Dark blue poncho with dark blue collar and lining, the front opening is edged with a wide strip of gold embroidery, on the lower part is what appears to be a black pouch or square, it is not entirely clear if this is part of the pattern for the neck opening or if it is something hanging from the neck and protruding out. Loose dark blue trousers in black boots, the standard General's sword is replaced by a heavier sabre for campaign use, having a gilded hilt and scabbard with a black leather knot.

FIGURE 8: Captain, Imperial Corps of Engineers, Undress/Campaign Uniform. C.1866-70: The Barroso plates depict a good deal of variation in the General Staff's kepis, much of it appears to be due to sloppy colouring but there may well have been some variation in reality. This particular kepi is not entirely clear, but appears to be dark blue with a black band, white horizontal and vertical side piping and possibly the national cockade on the front, although it could be the engineer's tower badge, I have illustrated it as the cockade. Dark blue tunic with black collar (with gilt "tower") and dark blue cuffs, white piping edging the collar, cuffs and front opening, gilt buttons and cuff lace, dark blue trousers, black belt, red waist-sash, the sabretache is just visible on the left side.

Uniform Plates

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