Uniform-Maj. Gen. A. Carnegy, CB., Bengal Army

Miniature Portrait and Uniform Details:

by Fred Larimore.
comments to fbl@dca.net
Copyright © 1995-1997

MINIATURE PORTRAIT: [formerly in collection of Georgiana E.H. Carnegy Barnes (daughter of Major General Alexander Carnegy and now in possession of Katherine Barnes von Schmidt (great granddaughter of Georgiana). Identification of the uniform is by Ernest Owen and the National Army Museum] This gouache on ivory measures 4.25 inches in length and 3.5 inches in width. It is dated between 1818 and 1824 when he was in the 11th battalion of the Bengal Native Infantry.

Mr. Ernest Owen writes:
" He is wearing the uniform for officer's of Bengal Native Infantry (BNI). I date the portrait for some time between 1818 and 1824, and since the adjutant of a battalion was a position of some respect, second only to that of the colonel, it would have been an occasion to have one's portrait painted. I set the date of the portrait because of the following:

1) the uniform jacket is of the style worn by the British officers during the later Napoleonic Wars and we know the same pattern was in use in the BNI in 1804, and not changed until 1829;

2) from 1818 to 1824 the facings (i.e., collar cuffs and lapels) of both battalions of the 11th BNI were French grey and this is the bluish color you see in the portrait;

3) the drooping white plume in the lower corner of the portrait appears to be of the type that would be worn with the cocked hat which was standard headgear for the officer until 1829 when the shako was made the official headdress. Although the shako was being taken into use by degrees from about 1816, the style of the plume is all wrong;

4) silver lace on officer's uniforms was abolished in 1831;

5) the epaullette on the right shoulder indicates a company grade officer (eg. ensign, lieutenant or captain), but it's richness would appear to be appropriate for that of a captain".

From the:
National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW 4HT. Mrs S K Hopkins, Head of Dept. of Uniform, Badges and Medals: "The blue of the facings (collar, cuff and lapels) is not of the shade usually employed for British or East India Company Infantry officers' uniform. I therefore suspect that the blue is a rather dark version of a bluegrey colour, used by the East India Company Native Cavalry, known as French grey. This would accord with the facing colour of the 11th Bengal Native Infantry. The 11th also wore silver lace. The pattern of coatee shown was worn from c 1816 until 1828. In 1829 all officers were ordered to wear an epaulette on each shoulder. The 15th Bengal Native Infantry wore buff colour facings and gold lace".