Kentucky Colonel's Uniform

Dear Colonel Chancellor:

Your letter of November 13, addressed to the Attorney General, has been referred to me for reply.

There seem to be some conflicting ideas as to what constitutes the official uniform of a Kentucky Colonel, and perhaps a historical view of the development of this regalia will help us in determining just what is proper and legal.

Shortly after the Revolutionary War there migrated to Kentucky many bold, venturesome men to begin life anew in this territory. Many of them were about two jumps ahead of a Virginia sheriff or a Maryland mob. Upon their arrival at Cumberland Gap—or at whatever point they entered Kentucky—they, like butterflies emerging from cocoons, shed their former drab personalities and emerged in this virgin territory in a newly found glory as Colonels, Majors, and Admirals. Those with lesser vanity, as well as those with small ambitions, migrated southward where they were content to be known under the title of Captain, which is still a popular title today in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

At that time, the Colonel’s characteristic insignia consisted of a brace of dueling pistols, a plug of chewing tobacco, an overwhelming desire to hunt, fight, place a bet, or make love to some woman, and a quart bottle of bourbon whiskey.

Later, when success and riches in this new land became theirs—generally through luck at cards and not as a result of industry and work—the regalia of a Kentucky Colonel was a broad-brimmed hat, a frock coat, a pair of baggy trousers, and a shoestring necktie. To this he added a white goatee, a pair of sideburns, a veneer of culture, and a quart of bourbon whiskey.

At a later period of the history of this State, after that unfortunate quarrel known variously as the Rebellion, the War for the Southern Confederacy, and the Civil War, the Kentucky Colonel’s uniform consisted of a pair of patched pants, a floppy-brimmed hat, a tobacco-stained goatee, and a quart of bourbon whiskey, which produced in him a very marked dislike toward anything northern.

Around the turn of the century, many glorious creations—sporting gold braid, brass buttons, and gilt medals—were worn by proud possessors of the title. A little later the Colonel was again in his ascendancy: his uniform consisted of mutton-chop whiskers, a broad-brimmed hat, a broadcloth Prince Albert suit, a fervent love for the Democratic Party, and (as always) a quart of bourbon.

Now, as to legality: under certain statutes then in force, enacted by an unfeeling Legislature, there was provided a penalty in the form of fine and imprisonment for any officer or soldier who should wear or have in his possession, except for authorized military purposes and without permission of his commanding officer, any uniform or part of a uniform of the organized militia. I fear that, without proper authorization, a Kentucky Colonel may not wear the uniform of the State Militia without the consent of the Governor.

However, ignoring the foregoing digression and dissertation, you are advised that there is no specific, legally prescribed uniform for Kentucky Colonels, although I am informed that heretofore many glorious creations—of the sort already described—have been worn by proud possessors.

Yours very truly,

WILLIAM F. NEILL

Assistant Attorney General 

See: A Kentucky Colonels Uniform, Kentucky State Bar Journal  1944-09: Vol 8 Iss 4, and Hope Star (1939)