The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps was started in 1948 by Don Warren, Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 111 in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood after being impressed by the Racine Scouts. Dressed in traditional Scout uniforms embellished with shoulder braids and white gloves, the corps was a parade corps until 1950. In 1949, the corps found an additional sponsor in the American Legion Thaddeus Kosciuszko Post 712 of Chicago's Little Warsaw neighborhood; rather than mispronounce the name, the corps members shortened it to K-712. This sponsorship allowed the corps to purchase "new" uniforms; 100% wool U.S. Army surplus dress shirts and pants dyed midnight blue, worn fully buttoned and with puttees. The following season, they were happy to accept the gift of hand-me-down uniforms from the General George Bell Post's corps, until discovering that the "new" new uniforms were even hotter wear for marching in summer parades. The corps' association with the Bell Post corps also led to their getting drum corps instructors. Initially, Don Warren had arranged for instructors from the Quinlan & Fabish Music Company to teach music to the members. After seeing the Bell Corps rehearsing, he decided that it would be more relevant to have instruction on drum corps, so Johnny Line and Art Garikes were signed on to teach Kaz-712 about drill and drum corps competition.