Western Hats

[County Militia]

Re: Western Hats

Clark, I used the forage cap image just as a general example of forage cap construction. I wasn't trying to imply that forage caps were being issued, just comparing how the two were constructed in regards to Mr. Donovan's qestion on the availabilty of material in his opening post. Sorry if it sounded like I was meaning that.

Mr. Donovan, Your unit unfortunately sounds like mine. There's emphasis on the drilling of the great guns and the safety aspects of doing so, but the authenticity factor is somewhat lacking. When you wake up in the morning and you find Dr. Pepper cans sitting on the edges of the fire, it doesn't exactly make you feel like your in the best of groups. But, heck, the people are nice and friendly.


I came across this kepi on a website detailing the garb of the Orphan Brigade. It was apparently worn by Robert Clinton Anderson, color-bearer of the 2nd Kentucky Infantry. It was the same hat he was wearing when he was killed at Chickamauga.





The website backed up the earlier point that quartermaster records show kepis being widely distributed to the Orphan Brigaders in great numbers, but with almost no slouch hats. It also said that early photos of the members show almost all kepis being worn.

[paulcalloway]

Re: Western Hats

I spoke a little bad there. We emphasise on drill, but authenticity in our uniforms is also a priority. It seems I can't explain it in any way. We're the best drilled battalion in the Mid-West (not bragging but we've been told that) and one of the best looking. Our only problem is so many units represent different stages of the war, and when the battalion falls in together we look mis-matched. All the units look great, but an Orphan Brigade unit in line next to a Texas Brigade unit looks pretty dumb. The Frocks should help this immensly.

Every mainstream group I've ever encountered claimed to be the best drilled group in the hobby. Drill is a great thing to attempt to master but when you're doing it with a 16 man company or a 80 man battalion it just isn't really that impressive.

Our forebears drilled in 100 man companies and when they turned a wheel it sounded like a buffalo stampede on the outside of the wheel. Those of you that were with the GHTI at Perryville in 2001 might remember that bright Sunday morning when Chad Greene instructed us in "company drill" with nearly 100 men in line.

By the end of that morning we were nailing wheels and by company into line dead on plum. That was easily the best morning of drill I've ever had in this hobby. And none of it matters...

Donovan - as others have noted, your mainstream assertions have no place here. There are good men in your battalion, of that I have no doubt. And I'm certain that Medich's battalion drills well - but until we've all stood the test of executing those manuevers under the rain of live shot and shell, we still have much to learn from those who went before us.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Western Hats

, but an Orphan Brigade unit in line next to a Texas Brigade unit looks pretty dumb. The Frocks should help this immensly.

Andrew

Most streamer units look pretty dumb. Im sorry if we sound obtuse, but you hitting all the faux pas buttons out there. Feel free to contact me anytime keepnhoakalive@yahoo.com Ive been in this hobby since I was 15, and I have asked and recieved answers to alot of the questions you may have. You may want to look into a unit such as Thomas´s invincibles or another authenticity minded unit in your area. The guys in your unit may be nice guys, but Im shure the guys in the authentic units are nice guys aswell. I am also out on the Left Coast so I am very far removed from any politics that may exist between units, and otherwise totally neutral so nobody can say Im trying to recruit you.

[Slouches_N_Slovens]

Re: Western Hats

Howdy Comrade,

I don't mean to burst your bubble or come off as mean-spirited, however what you said above may hold true for mainstreamers, but don't fool yourself you won't find anyone around these c/p/h parts agreeing with your assertion. Along authentic standards, they are from from the mark. Again, my apologies if I appear brash or harsh, but these are the authentic campaigner forums; people here know otherwise.

Sincerely, etc., etc.,

I agree, I am certain that there are good guys in the 5th Texas. And, as a whole, the Medich Battalion has a decent reputation. However, if I am correct, the 5th Texas is responsible for hosting the event at Holly, Mi. My friend, that event is about as far from being worthy of any sort of praise as I am from flying the space shuttle. If you truly want to seperate yourself from the mainstream mentality, you might want to seriously consider joining one of the GHTI messes, or the 4th Texas, which is also based in Michigan.

[markj]

Re: Western Hats

Greetings,

The "hat vs. cap" issue is one that may well require some research on your part. A good place to start (if possible) would be in the National Archives Compiled Service Records for any particular Confederate unit you wish to portray. I did this for the 32nd Tennessee (AoT) and found several clothing requisitions indicating that men were issued "gray" or "wool" caps from early 1863 onward. Another interesting thing I noted was that, as a rule, if a company commander requested clothing, equipage, &c., he almost invariably got what he wanted.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[County Militia]

Re: Western Hats

I have been doing a little research into the cap question in the Orphan Brigade. All photos I have seen of the members of the Ophan brigade show them wearing kepis or forage caps.

Here's a few:

[Clark Badgett]

Re: Western Hats

Jack, you are correct. I live in the Bluegrass state and can't think of a single image of a KY enlisted cornfed wearing a hat. I do know that they would snag a hat when they could get one, as they seemed to find the cap a bit lacking in the southern clime. Funny you should post a picture of the Anderson cap, you should see it up close and personal. Interesting to say the least. The brim is thin patented leather, pasteboard and painted cloth with a now brown twill edging. The cloth is something similar to satinette, but very thin and if I remember correctly it was a tabby weave, with a cotton type warp. The crown has had a piece of printed cloth sewn around the pasteboard, and the chinstrap is not functional. The buttons are federal eagles.

[Eric Burke]

Re: Western Hats

Now this is simply a notion based on the period photographs that I've looked at over the years, and it follows faintly with the "hat vs. cap" issue with the Orphan Brigade. There seems to be some kind of tie between youth and the wearing of kepis/forage caps over typical civilian covers, though this doesn't always hold true for the Army Hat. My rough explanation for this, is that perhaps being young and being very enthusiastic about "playing soldier", the kids (I say kids but they're probably my age or older) want to look as much the part of "soldier" as they possibly can. Wearing a civilian slouch hat, however much sense it might make vs. a kepi/military headgear is not extremely glamermous now, nor was it glamerous then (to my limited knowledge). I think alot of those Orphan Brigade photos shown above might contribute to my opinion a little, unless they were taken later in the war than I'm expecting. Chances are even the young boys would eventually have given in and tossed the almost useless kepi asunder after becoming a veteran campaigner. But then again ... this is all assumption.

EDIT: I apologize for the incoherence of the above, but it is very late here.