Your opinion please

[RNMCSA]

I have a CS Kepi with the infantry band around the bottom it is well made with cotton lining hand stitched aweat band etc. I know they were issued but were they common enough for an ANV impression?

Roy N. Maddox

[Silas]

Re: Your opinion please

What do the nco's or officers of your company say about the specific hat in question? If you are not comfortable asking them or if you're not comfortable with their advise, it might be time for you to join a new unit. Asking questions about your gear in a national reenacting forum may not provide you with the answers you want.

[Archie R. Lib]

Re: Your opinion please

Roy -

I think the quick answer is "yes", they were common enough in the ANV, AoT and just about any Confederate impression, (even out here in the lonely southwest, lol). Though most folk now gravitate towards a slouch for the "Confederate" impression, investigation of period photographs, documents, letters, and artifacts reveals that kepis were probably much more popular than modern reenactorisms would reflect.

But there are some differences and some things need to be taken into consideration, depending on the impression you're doing.... The main one is this: What specific unit (company or regiment) are your portraying, and for what time period? That will tell you what is acceptable and what is probably stretching it, and what is just downright not possible....

Then start looking at details: What color is the "infantry band" around the bottom? Is it "militia" black? is it French blue? Sky blue? Or is it Indigo blue like you'd see on a "Columbus Depot" cap? If it's a Columbus Depot, then you would likely not see too many of them in ANV except in Georgia or deep south units, and even then just sparingly. That was much more of an AoT item generally. If it is one of the others, then we're talking mainly early to mid-war stuff. Most of the mid- to late-war ANV kepis were much less ornate, with less attention paid to "regulations" than to functionality.

What is the material the body of the kepi is made of? Is it English broad cloth? Jeans wool? Satinette? Cassimere? Would that material have been utilized during the period of your impression or with the specific unit you are portraying? For example - there would have been hardly any English broad cloth during the early war.....That is a mid- to late-war cloth.

What is the kepi lined with? Osnaburg? Linen? Flannel? Is it a "quilted" lining or plain? Is there a maker's stamp in the inside crown? The sweatband is hand-sewn, but what is it made of? Is it leather or linen?

What material is the bill made of, and what is its design? Is it painted canvas? Leather? Painted leather (this looks like patent leather)? Is the brim bound or plain? Is there a chinstrap? If so, is it an actual adjustable chinstrap or is it "decorative" only? What kind of buttons are holding it to the cap?

All of these are things you need to ask: Basically, is what I'm wearing appropriate to the month, year, unit, army and its possible supplying depots or commutations.

Anyway, maybe if you could post some pictures that would help.....

Take care.

[JimKindred]

Re: Your opinion please

Who made the kepi?

[dixieflyer]

Re: Your opinion please

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Roy you really need to get with the folks in your group/unit and see what they have to say about it as Silas advised. You will also need to define time, place, and circumstances, etc. of your portrayal as there is no "one size fits most" solution in this.

To give you another alternative example, when my pard Daryl Black and I formed the SRG back in '92 we had no regulation or rule regarding this. Why? It was assumed, because most everyone in the SRG was an experienced reenactor/living history volunteer, etc. that enough research would be done on the impression we would be doing for each event that the rule regarding headgear would be fluid dependent upon the portrayal in terms of time, place, etc.

In other words, you are going to have to adopt a philosophy of "semper gumby" (always flexible) in this. Since my only CS portrayal was of AoT troops, I had a good repro of a civilian slouch and a kepi reproduced off of an original worn by an AoT soldier. I was set up for either situation. Avoid heartache and invest in a quality repro of both that will span the greatest possible time frame, and then you can just pick which ever one is most appropriate to the scenario you will be portraying.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Your opinion please

There is a WHOLE lot of broad strokes going on here. I doubt there is any large difference in amount of band vs unbanded kepis in either Army. I'll echo what others said here, ask your officers and NCOs about specifics. Blend in, don't stand out.

[RNMCSA]

Re: Your opinion please

Thank you all for your responses and time. I am still researching and have found a copy of a book about the 47th Va at the local library my wife is going to pick up for me tomorrow since i will be away for the next week. That seems to be the only unit near me. i have not joined them yet my scheduale untill mid next year will not allow me to make any events. im trying to research as much as I can before making any of my major uniform purchases. My goal is to make as authintic and generic ANV impression as I can in order to be able to melt into most any unit. Im Navy so its difficult to commit rite now to any speciffic unit, any further advice you all can send my way is appreciate. On the kepi it is osanaburg lining with a leather sweat band and plain black leather brim. the chin strap is functional and the band is sky blue. the body is a kinda coarse grey wool (light grey with sorta white specs) not sure of the actual cloth (still trying to figure out the diferances) it also has a brace french horn on the crown (inf). The buttons holding on the chin strap are C.S.A. Since Ive had it for so long I would like to use it some but if it does not fit my ultimate impression Ill just keep it for the sentimental value.

Thanks again

Roy N. Maddox

[Silas]

Re: Your opinion please

The buttons holding on the chin strap are C.S.A.

All the alarm whistles and buzzers just went off. Not many people who make good hats use those buttons. What I'm seeing is an effort to justify stuff you have without knowing if it's any good or not. Don't be afraid to part with your pre-hobby stuff.

Choosing a unit because it's near you may not be such a good idea. That's not a knock on whoever is in said unit as I don't know it or it's members. I'm speaking in general. This hobby is all about travel. Local pards are great, but you'll find that distant pards have a tendency to end up at some of the same places you are going when everyone converges on an event of some type. Maybe someone in one of the higher end units in Virginia/Maryland will see these posts and reach out to you. Stating where you are stationed might help like minded persons find you.

[RNMCSA]

Re: Your opinion please

It seems I am unable to post attatchments yet. I belive the buttons were an option and not knowing any better then, well....... In any case I think I have decided to by my Uniform including Kepi from Richmond Depot. I was going to get it from Blockade Runner due to the affordability however after the amount of reading Ive done on here and what I want to portray with my impression I will spend the extra money. I do intend on getting a Defarbed Enfield from them as it seems they have one of the best guys for that. I am Stationed in Norfolk aboard a DDG an live in Va Beach. It would be great if someone would contact me, I have been reasearching as much as time allows all over the net and in books. (my kids dont understand that one....hee. hee. hee)

Roy N Maddox

[4VADRUMMER]

Re: Your opinion please

Honestly Roy, if I was you I'd start with buying a good slouch hat from Tim Bender. Make the kepi your second hat purchase and get it from Greg Starbuck. Once you are in this hobby for a while you are going to realize that if you invest in the right stuff first you are ultimately going to spend a lot less money in the long run. The good vendors are going to charge more but at least you will have piece of mind that you are not a farb. As far as unit choices go you may want to check out the recruiting page on the forum and as the gent above suggested, don't think that because a unit is not near you geographically that they are not a good choice. I'm in the 10th Virginia and we for the most part are located in the Shenandoah valley but we have guys from all up and down the east coast. Just find a good unit that fits you. Most units are going to let you come out with them to see how stuff works with them and you are not going to be required to commit to anything until you have decided to join or not. I'll be glad to help you get in line appropriately and provide advise. It helps to have someone in the know in this hobby. I was fortunate when I first got in the hobby 22+ years ago that I was surrounded by guys who knew their stuff and the took time to bring me along and help me with my impression.

[RNMCSA]

Re: Your opinion please

Thank you Eric,
That is exactly what I need. I have some basic knowledge of facing movements and such being military but close order drill etc. is a whole new experiance. Ive read through (briefly) a few drill manuals Ive found on line but doing is better than reading. I think the Kepi came from S&S but thats realy beside the point now; I just want an authintic impression. Reading about all these different fabrics is a little mind boggeling rite now as looking at the pictures on line i just cant tell the differance that well. And then theres all the colors. Any way I appreciate all your help and look forward to expanding my knowledge and putting together a good impression.

Roy N Maddox