Confederate Hat Cords

[Secesh]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

I am unaware of North Carolina issuing hat cords to troops throughout the War....Documentation to support this? Or to support the issuing of such hat cords to Ewell's men? It's quite possible that the dead man from Ewell's Corps is a) using a captured hat cord, or b) the hat doesn't even belong to him and was used as a photo prop.....

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

I was just clarifying the provenance of the image. NC never issued hat cords that I know of.. you and I are just on different pages here. They are the only atypical part of the outfit and not really worth any further discussion.

[3alabama]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

I am unaware of North Carolina issuing hat cords to troops throughout the War....Documentation to support this? Or to support the issuing of such hat cords to Ewell's men? It's quite possible that the dead man from Ewell's Corps is a) using a captured hat cord, or b) the hat doesn't even belong to him and was used as a photo prop.....

The issuance of hat cords seems irrelovant as there is picture proof they were worn throughout the war. Captures,issued or private purchase they were still used. Maybe not in great numbers but they were worn.

[Secesh]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

I agree that they were worn. I simply stated that "I cringe" because out here they seem to be used in overabundance, and for the most part the ones I have seen in use do not resemble originals. My other point is that one cannot assume a specific unit used hat cords simply because a member was photographed with one. Of course, officer's used them (as evidenced by Otis Baker's surviving slouch and other's), but as the War progressed I think you'd be hard pressed to find many CS enlisted men using them. I believe the photographic evidence of CS troops in unadorned slouch hats, versus the number of them with them, points this out or is a good indicator.

[Rebelkid01]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

Sometimes I believe that some people feel that just because something "seems" or "feels" farb than it must be farb regardless of what the evidence shows. Also I think at times are minds are locked into the 21st century and the thought of tassels hanging off of a man's hat seems unmasculine and so our 21st century way of thinking dosen't like it and it makes some cringe.
I believe that the question was not whether or not the hat cords were issued but whether they were worn. The evidence shows that they were.

[Dignann]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

I came across this image a couple years ago. I find it interesting, as the fellow is non-military, being a sheriff. It was advertised as a quarter plate tintype, ca.1865, and appeared for sale in Gary Hendershott's May 2003 (Sale 123) Outlaws & Cowboys catalog. Perhaps the subject is a veteran.

I've never had much issue with the wearing of hat cords, but a few years ago there seemed to be an on-going contest in the reenacting community as to who could have the dangliest cords. Some I saw hung down to the wearers' shoulders. That, I think, is a bit much.

Eric

[Jeff Dugdale]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

The Whitehouse Landing photo depicting Confederate prisoners in June 64,clearly shows several wearing hat cords.
Jeff Dugdale

[Secesh]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

Exactly my point Jeff...Several out of how many...?

[Rebelkid01]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

No one has said that they were issued or that they were worn in high numbers. It has just been said and proved that they were worn. Good study Gents.

[Secesh]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

Agreed! :wink_smil

[3alabama]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

I agree that they were worn. I simply stated that "I cringe" because out here they seem to be used in overabundance, and for the most part the ones I have seen in use do not resemble originals. My other point is that one cannot assume a specific unit used hat cords simply because a member was photographed with one. Of course, officer's used them (as evidenced by Otis Baker's surviving slouch and other's), but as the War progressed I think you'd be hard pressed to find many CS enlisted men using them. I believe the photographic evidence of CS troops in unadorned slouch hats, versus the number of them with them, points this out or is a good indicator.

Cinge because they are over done- YES. Cringe because there are real bad ones out there-YES. You initially just said you cringe with no reasons why. They are all valid reasons.We don't have much of a selection on cords being made unfortunately. I have a silk one I was told came from Charlie Childs years and years ago. It is a beautiful cord of black silk. I know Wooded Hamlet (Ken Wagner)did make a few from silk at one time. Maybe this is something someone would be interested in making. If there are decent repops being made then we only need worry about the over abundance issue

[Jeff Dugdale]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

My assumption is that they were issued to the troops to bring some type of uniformity to the many non-standard slouch hats being worn.
Jeff Dugdale

[Enfilade]

Re: Confederate Hat Cords

(Ref: Spach Brothers)I don't believe that they were a North Carolina Regulation item, even though the Spach brothers had them in all their glory. They may have been issued by some other state or the CS Central Gov't, but if you read the NC regulations they are not specified at all. You can see the NC Regulations passed by the General Assembly on our website as we have them posted for anyone to read. FWIW, it's my opinion that they were issued a NC jacket, trousers, etc., etc., and once they were put into a "sharpshooters Bttn.", they were able to attain the hat cords. But it's all speculation at this point. It's just a theory....

Mark Berrier
North State Rifles

http://www.northstaterifles.com

[Vuhginyuh]

Or is that Form 20 Special Req? I forget.

Mark, you are right, they weren't a regulation or Form 20 item. I doubt they were ever an 'issiue' item in any southern state. I have been sniped at before for saying this; but I think we often ignore the fact that folks may have simply liked the way the things looked and nothing more. Ray Bass and a couple of guys in the old 38th NC Sampson Farmers had hand-twisted cords and they were a nice little touch now and then.

I don't have one and I'll never wear one, but it would be fun to look through North Carolina Form 40 Special Requisitions for them.