Sam Houston's cocked hat

I know that The Alamo (2004) movie has been talked to death, but every time I watch it I'm always puzzled by the cocked hat (maybe it was called a tricorner by 1836) that Dennis Quaid wears as Sam Houston. Now I know that Houston was considered somewhat of a bizarre guy, but wasn't the cocked hat long out of fashion by 1836?(OK, maybe some aged veterans of the AWI still wore theirs). In the scenes that I see of the Texian army I don't see anyone else wearing such headgear. Did historical research uncover this clothing preference for Houston? All in all, I thought the movie was very authentic showing most Alamo defenders wearing fashions of the 1830's instead of mostly buckskin as in movies of the past. Can someone shed some light on this?

 

[Claude Mathis]

I've read that it remained popular "through the 18th Century" and also that it went "out of fashion" at the time of the French Revolution (~1789).

My guess is, fashion trends were set in the cities and it took a while for them to reach the country. Even then, you might wait until your hat wore out before replacing it with the new "style".

I would not expect to see a cocked hat in the 1830's.

 

Claude,

Thanks for your reply. I certainly would not expect to see one worn in a movie set in the 1830's.

 

[tmdreb]

I need to find the documentation, but the movie didn't make this up. He apparently did wear a cocked hat, and it was regarded as peculiar.

Interestingly enough, the cocked hat was revived by quite a few Mississippi and Louisiana troops in the ACW in 1861, while rather short-lived, it is interesting. Oh, and these were not the same fellows who wore the whole Revolutionary War uniforms, either.

 

[faw3]

One hing about it youd stand out, if you need to. Fred :hatsoff:

 

[Doc Arroyo]

Did historical research uncover this clothing preference for Houston? All in all, I thought the movie was very authentic showing most Alamo defenders wearing fashions of the 1830's instead of mostly buckskin as in movies of the past. Can someone shed some light on this?

Here's a touch of light. Nearly every major characters outfit was taken from a painting. And since Texans liked clean heros, the paintings were typically a bit dressed up, and left their buckskins at home. IMHO, I think there should have been more lether in the Texican army than in the movie.

I can't remember the artist or the year it was painted, but I think you will remember the hat outfit and pose from the movie!

 

Thanks for the great illustration you provided of Houston. It's obvious that the portrayal of Houston in the movie was based heavily on this painting.

 

[Bullmoose]

I would have to believe since Sam Houston was born in 1793 and was 43 years old in the Texas War, That he saw many tricorns/cocked hats when he was a young boy and had an association to leaders/men and military to cocked/tricorn hats.
Because of this he wore one to identify with a man of leadership.
We do the same thing with our age,
I am in my 40's and love the Mustang/muscle car era of the 1960's,
Those that are in their 60's love the 1950's style, and many old timers 70's-80's like the model A's and or the 30's cars more.
This is a common thinking amoung ages, and YES Sam Houston looked strange with a cocked hat in front of all those hot blooded young bucks, ready for war. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[tmdreb]

Here's a touch of light. Nearly every major characters outfit was taken from a painting. And since Texans liked clean heros, the paintings were typically a bit dressed up, and left their buckskins at home. IMHO, I think there should have been more lether in the Texican army than in the movie.

They were trying to get past the prior stereotype of the Texians being 95% buckskinners.

 

[Mike Moore]

Actually, my slant in this is that the use and common access to cloth outfits, in pieces and sets, was quite common in Texas at the time. I have been collecting my second set of first person descriptions during the early west and the people wore much more cloth garments than you would expect. Now if you stayed out longer than 7-9 months, replacements were made in leather or a new garment, but some segments of society did not go with the complete leather look.
I do see the cloth useage alot in the southwest for those traveling along the santa fe trail. These individuals could get replacements and do mending at both ends of the trail, which I think they did. As far as some looking out of place with their clothing, read the following quote from James Webb:

At San Miguel [we] met Colonel Owens, Squire Collins and I think, Anthony Thomas”¦ He [the Squire was] dressed in a well-worn broadcloth suit (but neat and clean without a particle of stain or dirt) and an old fashioned plaid camlet cloak. I think his was the last one I ever saw of the genuine old style.

I have entries of men using linen pantaloons, some very fancy dress (ruffled shirts) and many cloth items. If any of you are interested, and Claude would let me, I can post these for all to see. I show about 25 in my first book and have at least that many to go into the fifth.
mike.

 

[Doc Arroyo]

Actually, my slant in this is that the use and common access to cloth outfits, in pieces and sets, was quite common in Texas at the time. I have been collecting my second set of first person descriptions during the early west and the people wore much more cloth garments than you would expect. Now if you stayed out longer than 7-9 months, replacements were made in leather or a new garment, but some segments of society did not go with the complete leather look.
I do see the cloth useage alot in the southwest for those traveling along the santa fe trail. These individuals could get replacements and do mending at both ends of the trail, which I think they did. As far as some looking out of place with their clothing, read the following quote from James Webb:

At San Miguel [we] met Colonel Owens, Squire Collins and I think, Anthony Thomas”¦ He [the Squire was] dressed in a well-worn broadcloth suit (but neat and clean without a particle of stain or dirt) and an old fashioned plaid camlet cloak. I think his was the last one I ever saw of the genuine old style.

I have entries of men using linen pantaloons, some very fancy dress (ruffled shirts) and many cloth items. If any of you are interested, and Claude would let me, I can post these for all to see. I show about 25 in my first book and have at least that many to go into the fifth.
mike.

I agree with you. But my point was that the latest Alamo movie to it too far. There were nearly no leather in the flick.

To my way of thinking, and the research that I have found, many men were wearing leather pants. And buckskin hunting shirts and frock coats were more than likely in attendance. I doubt there were many in head to toe buckskin suits, but a lot more mix and match than the movie made out.

 

[capnwilliam]

I was also of the opinion that the tricorn, or cocked hat, became passe as a fashion item at the time of the French Revolition.

We keep telling our Baratarian cannon crew members (1815) not to wear them. Sometimes they listen! :grin:

Capt. William