Forage Cap Question

[Andy]

Pards,

I'm looking to purchase a forage cap and have a couple of questions. I've been doing research, but the more I look, the more confused I get. I know they came in two types - I and II, but I also saw them listed by years - 1858 and 1863. My question is this, is the Type I the 1858 model and the Type II the 1863, or were there both types for each year? I also ran across a mention of an 1861 version. Where does this version fall into the equation?

In addition, how prevalent were the "McDowell" caps?

Any clarification would be great. Thanks.

Andrew Galli

[SGulley]

Re: Forage Cap Question

The terms type I and II were not in usage then. Those are terms we in the reenacting community have drummed up.

The type I was the early war model (1858). It had the small disk with the rounded edge brim.

The type II was the late war model with the larger disk and more square brim.

As to McDowell caps I'm not sure on the how prevelant they were.

Hope that helps,

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Forage Cap Question

I think the "McDowell" style was made early on in the war for a few, very few units such as Berdan's Sharpshooters. I'm not even sure if the term "McDowell" cap was put to these styles in the war and if memory serves they were more of an Austrian style. I think the reason we call them "McDowell" is simply because of that photo of Gen. McDowell wearing a cap of that foreign style.

But back to the more common caps; I've seen the so-called "Type Two" style caps as early as the first quarter of 1862, and the so-called "Type One" style as late as the close of the war.

Brian White

[Yellowhammer]

Re: Forage Cap Question

"The type I was the early war model (1858). It had the small disk with the rounded edge brim.

The type II was the late war model with the larger disk and more square brim"

I'm sorry, but that statement is completely and TOTALLY inaccurate.

The two caps generally associated with this typology are in the Troiani collection. Both carry the white Greek cross of the second division, Sixth Army Corps dating both caps to at least mid-1863.

In photos from throughout the war, one can see any number of disc sizes, brim shapes, and in any and all combinations.

Check out this great image of Federal artillerymen. It was taken right around the end of the war in the Petersburg trenches. Check out the variety of caps.

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Forage Cap Question

"1493. For fatigue purposes, forage caps, of pattern in the Quartermaster-General's office: dark blue cloth, with a welt of the same around the crown, and yellow metal letters in front to designate companies.
1494. Commissioned officers may wear forage caps of the same pattern, with the distinctive ornament of the corps and regiment in front."

- That is all that the 1861 U.S. Army Regulations call for when it comes to Forage Caps...

This "Type I is early, Type II is late" idea is a bunch of horse whooey...those are modern terms. There was no "Type" in the 1860s. There were 'styles'.

Both 'styles' of caps as John said are wartime made caps, there is no difference on which should be worn when. Look at some photos, see what caps are worn at a particular time when doing your research, then make a decision on what 'style' you'd like . . .

[JerseySkilletLicker]

Re: Forage Cap Question

As Ryan's post above and John's picture show; the same style caps were often present at the same place and time. Typeology was used by collectors for identification purposes purely.
Contractors like LJI&Phillipps often had piece work sub contracted with the result being different "styles" of basically the same cap.

[Clark Badgett]

Re: Forage Cap Question

[COLOR=Navy1494. Commissioned officers may wear forage caps of the same pattern, with the distinctive ornament of the corps and regiment in front." [/COLOR]

.

Let me add a little on this point. The "corps" listed in the 1861 regulations, were what we would today call branch, ie Infantry, Ordnance etc. So please don't get the impression that you can authentically wear Army corp badges at 1862 events.

[markj]

Re: Forage Cap Question

Greetings,

Not much I can add that hasn't already been stated. However, here is an image of Private Carl Krietenstein, Company E, 32nd (1st German) Indiana Volunteer Infantry, apparently taken at the time he enlisted in August 1861. I have found other images of 32nd Indiana troops from different companies made around the same time and they, too, are wearing similar, almost "conical" caps with squared brims. The forage caps depicted were likely state-issue items, possibly purchased through the firm of William Dodd & Co. of Cincinnati in the late summer of 1861.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Andy]

Re: Forage Cap Question

Thanks everyone for the great info. and photos. This has been a help in sorting things out.

Andrew Galli