Headgear

The Danish army started the war wearing the 1842 Model uniform which like most European Armies of the era featured a belltop shako. Since headgear was a function of comfort and appearance of the soldier rather than providing protection, variety in the field was commonplace. From the beginning many troops including most Chasseurs and some Infantry elected to wear the more practical field cap which resembled the Napoleonic Prussian Landwehr cap and was in current use by the Saxon and Russian armies of the time. In 1848 new formations adopted the "Hungarian" high peaked kepi/shako, though some illustrations show a lower crown similar to those kepis worn by the French and USA (1860) armies. During 1849 formations included a mixture of Belltop shakos, field caps, kepis and even a few slouch hats. The last known battle where the shako was worn was Fredericia in July 1849. By 1850 all troops including Chasseurs wore kepis. Kepi and field caps tended to be the color of the trousers. Headgears among Danish Cavalry units remained the same throughout the war.

Chasseurs and Light Infantry Battalions wore similar Uniforms

Model 1842 Uniform

Headgear

Infantry: Black Belltop shako with red on white cockade and white pompom.

Light Infantry and Chasseurs: Commonly wore the Dark green field cap with red on white cockade and red piping.

Tunic: Red waist length for Infantry, Dark Blue for Artillery, A mid-thigh length Dark Green for Chasseurs.

Trousers: Mid-Blue for Infantry, Dark Blue for Artillery, Dark Green for Chasseurs.

Haversack and crossbelts are White for Infantry and Black for Chasseurs

Sword scabbard and straps are Black.

Blanket roll was Blue Gray in color.

Knapsacks appear to be Black leather.

Distinctions: Infantry Cuffs, Collars and shoulder straps were Mid-Blue (Trouser color) with Regiment number on shoulder strap. Chasseurs and Light Infantry had red collar patches, piping on the cuffs and tunic edge.

Model 1848 Uniform

Headgear: High Crown "Hungarian shako" kepi though a lower crown version was also common.. A red on white cockade was used. The kepi was the color of the trousers.

Coat: The tunic was replaced with a mid-thigh length coat. It was Dark Blue for the Infantry and Artillery. It was Dark Green for Chasseurs and Light Infantry

Trousers: Mid-Blue for Infantry, Dark Blue for Artillery, Dark Green for Chasseurs.

Haversack and crossbelts are Black after the early transition period of being white.

Sword scabbard and straps are Black.

Blanket roll was Blue Gray in color for infantry and Dark Gray for Chasseurs

Knapsacks appear to be Black leather.

Distinctions

Infantry: Red Collars and Dark blue shoulder straps with red piping and Regiment number.
Chasseurs and Light Infantry had red collar patches, piping on the cuffs, shoulder straps and tunic edge.
Artillerymen had British dark Crimson collar patches and piping.

Cavalry Uniforms

Garde Hussars. Mid Blue was the dominant color and included the trousers, Dolman, saberaques and collar. The Pelisse was red with black fur edging. Edging and stripes on the dolman, trousers, and pelisse were either white or silver. Belts were white. Shako was tall tapered with a white top band and a black plume.

Dragoons. Tunic was Red. Trousers, collar, shoulder straps and cuffs were mid-blue. Belts were white. In 1849 the red tunic was replaced by a Dark Blue 1848 style coat with crimson collar patches. Helmets were a Napoleonic Austrian Dragoon style of black leather with a brass curved comb. A red on white cockade was located centered on the left side.

A Volunteer Hussar squadron, most staff orderlies and couriers used. the later smaller Polish style Czapska which had a red upper half and a black leather lower half.

More Danish Schleswig-Holstein War Uniform Notes

Denmark
Federal German and Prussia
Bavaria, Colburg-Gotha, Lippe
Schleswig-Holstein Idependence Army