The wheel hat!

[Aubrey]

Hi folks,

Adrien from France.
I've a question about my next camp in Normandy on 15th june; we are about to reenact a kansas impression during Price's expedition or raid (1864) in both colors...a very interesting war's part historically. If we consider uniforms, we all know the extreme variety of them. Because of the western front and because of the expedition getting worse for both armies.

In an article from the european-english revue Civil War campaigner by Kevin Herschberger, it deals with the fact that the wheel cap s were very popular and common form. And you will see these hats topping confederates all the war long.
Nevertheless, you find them wearing by men from north also in working class....

So i just want to know if it's authentic or possible wearing a wheel hat as an union soldier? Won't you be surprised or scandalized seeing that for an union soldier in Kansas-Missouri frontier?

Thanx a lot

Greetings from Paris

Best regards

Adrien

[Aubrey]

Re: The wheel hat!

Anybody?

I'm waiting for your advice...

[csuniforms]

Re: The wheel hat!

Where is your research? Do you have a photo of an MM man wearing a wheel hat? IF YOU DO NOT-- or if no one else has any research or photos-- then I would say not!!!

CS uniforms
Tom Arliskas

[Aubrey]

Re: The wheel hat!

Ok

I understand. Unfortunately I've no pictures except one article by Kevin Herschberger. that's the reason why I'm asking that question!

So in that case how could you interpret this article?

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: The wheel hat!

Aubrey,
The interesting thing about the Westport/Missouri Campaign of 1864 is that there are in fact quite a few Kansas militia units thrown together along with volunteer and regular units. The area is close to Fort Riley, Fort Scott and Fort Leavenworth, so it is likely lots of military stores to support even the militia, but again, as already pointed out it needs research. I have an old and I'm told fairly rare book on the Westport campaign at home (I'm at work now, but don't tell anyone... :) ) and I'll look at the sources and see what I can pass to you for research materiel.

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: The wheel hat!

Aubrey,
The book I have is called "Action Before Westport, 1864" published in 1964 by the Westport Historical Society of Kansas City, MO. It was written with the help of noted historian EB Long, and if I have read it right, the author actually walked the battlefield as a young man with one of the brigade commanders at Byram's ford, COL Philips.

Some good references in the Bibliography include MG Curtis's Campaign Book for Oct and Nov 1864, which resides at the Kansas Historical Society. The bibliography is full of personal papers, diaries, and official reports. One aspect that may be of great interest to you is that on Oct 10, 1864, MG Curtis declared Martial law in Kansas due to the threat of Price's movements, and by 11 Oct Tues, 3300 Kansas militia had assembled at Fort Leavenworth and by 15 Oct 15,000 Kansas militia were assembled along the Missouri border. It doesn't discuss equipping, but that is putting 15,000 troops in the field in 4 days, and it says that fall harvesting stopped and all shops and stores were deserted. General George Deitzler was the commander of the Kansas Militia.
Short of copying the whole bibliography, I don't know if that helps you. There are multiple papers and newpaper references listed for both the Kansas State Historical Society and Missouri, so you may be able to gain internet access to some of it to see.

[Aubrey]

Re: The wheel hat!

Hi Frank,

I'm at work :) too.

Thank you so much for posting and answering. It's very intersting. I'm looking for the book , I think I can find it in digital. Maybe on google books or something like that. So If I follow you militia on the kansas frontier are supposed to be equipped with Us fedearl accoutrements and uniforms I mean regular.

OK
I'm back in few hours.

Go to work.

Thanx again Franck

Aubrey

[roundshot]

Re: The wheel hat!

The many and oft reproduced drawings of Samuel J. Reader of the 2nd Kansas State Militia provide great insight into the appearance of Federal Militia units at that time, a real hodge-podge of Federal issue, civilian, and what-have-you.Lots of crazy trousers and headgear. Reader was taken prisoner at Big Blue and his memoirs are fascinating and available on line. A couple of his paintings can be seen here: http://www.fineart-china.com/htmlimg/image-49315.html

If you google I am certain you can find lots more. Hope this is helpful.

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: The wheel hat!

Bob,
Sam Reader is in the Westport book I referenced and he is often quoted. It is indeed interesting to read about him riding in to battle on his horse and firing his "Springfield carbine" as he called it, and falling face down in a field as bullets whizzed around him and the Confederates over-ran them. This has spurred me to go find his memoirs or letters.

[roundshot]

Re: The wheel hat!

Frank: Here's his carbine and the diary itself: http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/206900/page/12

[Aubrey]

Re: The wheel hat!

Thank you Bob!

Actually I knew Sam reader's diary. I've been working on for a long. Friends and I are still studying it for our next impression. And as you say, we would be surprised seeing such hodge-podge of federal issue and interaction with civilian details. That's the reason why I think it's likely to find great variety of uniforms and firearms and not necessarily regular one. So I wonder if it is likely wearing a wheel hat for that kind of impression. Nevertheless, as Tom used to say upper, if we have no pictures, would say not...

keep thinking....

Thank you again gentlemen for posting.

keep in touch