Officer c1770

This portrait is in gouache and pastel, unfortunately not dated. The sitter is Charles Henchman who entered the 10th Dragoons in 1759 as a cornet, promoted to lieutenant in 1762, captain-lieutenant in 1770, and captain in 1771. His last appearance on the regimental army list is as Captain Charles Henchman in 1779. So the span of his service in the regiment was 20 years, meaning that the dating of his uniform relies on the dress regulations. The year 1768 produced landmark changes, or at least gave official recognition of the recent evolution of uniform. The plain white waistcoat was ordered at this time to replace laced or embroidered waistcoats which were coloured deep yellow. The crimson silk sash was now worn around the waist, tied in a knot on the right for cavalry. Stocks were to be black. Hair was to be powdered and clubbed at the back. Boots were to be less heavy, round-toed instead of square, and folded over on top.
The coat is without lapels, a feature of dragoon regiments, whereas dragoon guards had lapels to the waist. The button-holes are decorated with silver lace, on both sides, with the silver buttons on the right side. The grouping of the buttons was usually in twos or threes but the 10th Dragoons were different; they are grouped in 3 at the top of the coat and then 4, while the lower group has 5. The turn-down collar is yellow with a single small button and button-hole on each side. However, the miniature of William Sotheby (1774-80) shows a later uniform with no buttons on the collar. The cuffs had become much simpler by this time so that the yellow turn-back had become integral with the sleeve. The development of the chevron shaped lace was now complete, a feature of dragoon dress sleeves until 1855. There are 5 silver lace chevrons with silver buttons in the middle, although other dragoon regiments had only four buttons and lace. He has a silver epaulette on his left shoulder. It wasn’t until 1787 that they were worn on both shoulders. His sword in this portrait is held but not worn. For dragoons it was carried on a waist-belt, until 1787 when it was carried on a shoulder belt, worn over the coat. There is only a glimpse of his tricorn hat which is black with a silver laced edge and black silk cockade.

Regimental Details | Uniforms