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Confederate Use of Federal Headgear

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  • #1

    Confederate Use of Federal Headgear

    After searching the forum this morning, I have not been able to find the answer I am looking for.

    I am curious about the use of Federal headgear by Confederate troops. I have noticed several photos of soldiers from early in the conflict to as late as Cold Harbor (prisoners) wearing what appear to be Federal forage caps, and kepis. Was this a common practise, or isolated occasions?
    Paul Mullins

    "Solang das Volk so übermäßig dumm ist, braucht der Teufel nicht klug zu sein."
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  • #2
    Re: Confederate Use of Federal Headgear

    Hi,

    I would say it depends on the campaign. During Price's Missouri Campaign 1864, it is noted that some of the Confederate forces wore Federal forage caps. Also, during the Battle of Federicksburg I have read that they were using Federal headgear. Now this is just a my opinion, but I would think that there may have been some amount of Federal headgear in use in the Confederate army, but I do not think it was very common. As for the color of the cap, if it is a dark color it may just be a Confederate issue kepi made out of English army cloth, which is almost the same color as the Federals forage caps. Is this the picture you were talking about?
    Attached Files
    Andrew Kasmar

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    • #3
      Re: Confederate Use of Federal Headgear

      Hi Andrew,

      No, this is not the photo I was speaking of. I will reference the photo this evening when I return home.
      Paul Mullins

      "Solang das Volk so übermäßig dumm ist, braucht der Teufel nicht klug zu sein."

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      • #4
        Re: Confederate Use of Federal Headgear

        I would check out Cadet Grey and Butternut Brown, there is a whole section devoted to Confederates wearing captured federal gear, traps, etc. I don't have it in front of me so I can't quote it directly, but there were orders by several generals on either side banning the use of Federal gear or equipment on Confederate soldiers unless altered in some shape or form. Hope that helps.
        Brandon English

        "There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell."--William T. Sherman

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        • #5
          Re: Confederate Use of Federal Headgear

          While the possibility for the use of captured Federal headgear exists, one cannot discount that in many Pre-War/Early-War cases; Militia Uniforms and Subesquent Early CS Uniforms mirrored the regulations of the Federal Army...especially in headgear.

          For example; The West Augusta Guard bylaws circa 30 June 1858 state the following:

          "Sec. IV. Military Hat, as prescribed by the regulations of the United States Army, with the letters, W.A.G. in the centre."

          Which hat this refers to is up for debate (Dress Hat, or Forage Cap), but it is clear in this pre-war Militia reg. that the hat is to mirror that of the Federal Army.

          Additionally, the uniform caps of the Virginia Military Institute, pre-war and wartime mirrored that of the Federal Regulations for caps...the transition of these caps flowed from the Early Version of the Forage Cap "Wheel", the M1858 Forage Cap (McDowell Brimmed) ala Type I cap, and the Kepi.

          I hope these examples will provide a basis that the caps used in service of the Confederate Army were not always Federal in origin other than that these caps mirrored the regulations for the Federal Army.

          Paul B.
          Paul B. Boulden Jr.


          RAH VA MIL '04
          (Loblolly Mess)
          [URL="http://23rdva.netfirms.com/welcome.htm"]23rd VA Vol. Regt.[/URL]
          [URL="http://www.virginiaregiment.org/The_Virginia_Regiment/Home.html"]Waggoner's Company of the Virginia Regiment [/URL]

          [URL="http://www.military-historians.org/"]Company of Military Historians[/URL]
          [URL="http://www.moc.org/site/PageServer"]Museum of the Confederacy[/URL]
          [URL="http://www.historicsandusky.org/index.html"]Historic Sandusky [/URL]

          Inscription Capt. Archibold Willet headstone:

          "A span is all that we can boast, An inch or two of time, Man is but vanity and dust, In all his flower and prime."

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          • #6
            Re: Confederate Use of Federal Headgear

            I second Mr. Boulden on the usage of pre-war, militia, state troops items. From headgear to frockcoats one can see alot of usage of standard army blue uniform components. I imagine that several units from all across Dixie wore a plethora of things before the Confederacy had the opportunity to issue regs. superceding the state regs. It could possibly be found fairly easy of Southern troops using these uniforms until they just wore out.

            Sorry to get off headgear. I don't have EOG at my fingertips, but there is a unique kepi in the headgear section that is part velveteen and part navy wool. It has decorative buttons and was worn by a Virginian Captain. May it be part of a pre-war uniform? Or, just a private purchase hat to suit his fancy? It has been confirmed that the body of the kepi is very dark blue wool, but the band and top are of black velveteen which gives it the look of a solid velvet cap.

            Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts.
            Christopher E. McBroom, Capt.
            16th Ark. Infantry - 1st Arkansas Battalion, C.S.A.

            Little Rock Castle No. 1
            Order of Knights of the Golden Circle

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            • #7
              Re: Confederate Use of Federal Headgear

              The book ( Johnny Reb ) Unifourm of the Confederate Army, 1861-1865. Has great examples of the use of Fedral headgear, page 74" and 75" shows the men at Cold Harbor wearing fedral issue forage cap's. Page 79" show's one dead confederate in which lies a Fedral Forage Cap at his left foot! On that note, the photo on page 64" show's the ( Star Rifles ) of the '1 st Texas' infantry wearing the fedral style forage cap.

              W. Verbal

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