In the book, “How America Fought Its Wars” it tells the tail of a battle in the American Revolution in which hundreds of redcoats and Americans died of heat exhaustion in two days of battle in 100 degree weather.
Many people do not realize why this happened. Have you ever looked at the uniforms of the American Revolution of both sides? Why did they wear such heavy full body clothing in 100 degree heat? Why didn’t they take off those coats when they knew that they could die of heat exhaustion like the fellow right next to him might have? The answer is because they all knew that a bayonet charge could come at any moment.
The uniforms and weapons of the American Revolution reflect a desperate need to protect the soldier completely from hand to hand combat. Muskets are not accurate much beyond one hundred yards. Hand to hand combat, with swords and bayonets was still a very real worry. If the redcoats had decided to take off those coats, then they very well could have faced a bayonet charge from American commanders deciding to seize the moment.
Not too long after the American Revolution did an American even add more to the Marine’s uniform by adding a leather neck protector. That is where we get the term Leathernecks to this day, even though the leather neck protector has long since been removed from the Marines uniform.
The modern battlefield kept evolving and firearms became the main worry. Bayonet charges became less and less of a concern and military uniforms became lighter and lighter. Heat Exhaustion became more of a concern than hand to hand combat defensive uniforms; so, the uniform is now no heavier than what a civilian wears. There is also a cost factor now in uniform design and construction that was less a necessity in the days gone past.
The uniforms of history were designed to protect the soldier in hand to hand combat. That is why they look the way that they did and functioned they way that they functioned. Sure they were dressed up, but even that performed a function as well.
Today though, the civilian faces a greater need than ever before against hand to hand weapons. I am on an exploration to design and construct, or purchase, civilian clothing that is designed to protect us better in hand to hand combat than a tee shit and jeans will. I think that it is a worthwhile effort.
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In God We Trust
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