"Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.

[floridawar]

Howdy,


Looking through some more period papers, particularly in South Carolina, I see many references to such an animal as a "Beauregard Cap" for Confederate army wear. I have attached two advertisements relative to the type. The one shows a drawing of the common cap often referred to by the modern term "wheel" cap etc. Also attached is a detail from the view of CS POWs taken at Five Forks, wearing a cap of this style. I assume the "beauregard cap" references this sort of cap, particularly as it is distinguished in the ads from the kepi, or fatigue cap of the army regulations...

I found a couple other references online. Johnson Hagood referred to the “jaunty and war-like Beauregard Cap” among the folks at Charleston in 1861. [Memoirs of the War of Secession, 78.]
A slave serving as an officer’s boy noted wearing the uniform of “gray jacket, blue pants, and a Beauregard cap…” [Suzannah Ashton, I Belong to South Carolina…262]

cheers,

J. Marshall
Tampa Bay.

[Bill52]

Re: "Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.

I will be interested to see what responses you get. In an old data base I set up many years ago I stated that the Beauregrad cap was a bit like the McDowell-pattern forage cap. I can not remember why I said this or where I found it. I certainly do not believe you should just take my word for this, especially since I have no remembrance where I got the information from. Basically I am only posting this as one possible theory. Hopefully some one will come along with some knowledge about this. Have you tried to look at photographs or drawings of Beauregard and see if he ever wore a wheel cap.

[stuttgart.ross]

Re: "Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.

In EOG there is pictured a straw hat worn by Beauregard. Its shape is awfully close to that of a wheel cap. Doesn't mean that his use of that cap caused other similar caps to be referenced in that way, but I suppose it's possible. Then again, I always mentally picture him in a McDowell cap. It's hard to tell from the ads what is meant by a Beauregard cap other than it's not a kepi. It will be interesting to read what others say.

Craig Ross
Spencer's Invincibles
The Sandwich Islands

[floridawar]

Re: "Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.

I will be interested to see what responses you get. In an old data base I set up many years ago I stated that the Beauregrad cap was a bit like the McDowell-pattern forage cap. I can not remember why I said this or where I found it. I certainly do not believe you should just take my word for this, especially since I have no remembrance where I got the information from. Basically I am only posting this as one possible theory. Hopefully some one will come along with some knowledge about this. Have you tried to look at photographs or drawings of Beauregard and see if he ever wore a wheel cap.

Hi,
I base my assumption only on the data provided, namely the image in the advertisement, and that they were not a "kepi" or army fatigue cap. There is the reference to a board of officers adopting the Beauregard Cap as the "army cap." Could that be the state of Virginia? I hope others who might find other references can pipe in to clarify.

cheers,

J. Marshall

[Bill52]

Re: "Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.

Note the advertisement says the Beauregard Cap had been officially adopted. You need to find what type of cap this board of officers officially adopted. A few more views of cap advertisements.

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: "Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.

William,

I noticed that too. I assume this is a reference to General Orders, No. 9, dated June 6, 1861 (https://archive.org/details/uniformdressofar00conf), which outline the Confederate uniform regulations. This order describes, at paragraphs 26-28, three types of headgear that were to be worn:

26. A chapeau, or cocked hat, will be worn by General officers and officer of the General Staff and Corps of Engineers, of what is called the French pattern; the model to be deposited in the office of the Quartermaster-General.

27. Forage cap for officers – a cap similar in form to that known as the French kepi, according to pattern to be deposited in the office of the Quartermaster-General.

28. Uniform cap – according to pattern to be deposited in the office of the Quartermaster-General.

Since one of the ads above mentions chapeaus, kepis and Beauregard/Army caps, my assumption is that the Beauregard Cap was a reference to this uniform cap described in the regulations. From the descriptions, it sounds as if the cap in paragraph 27 is for officers and the cap in paragraph 28 is for enlisted. Unfortunately, in the plates that accompany the general order, there is no discernible difference between the caps worn by the officers and the caps worn by enlisted. Further, General Order No. 4, dated January 24, 1862, which clarifies the orders regarding kepis, states that for enlisted men “the cap will be of the same pattern” as the cap for the officers.”

Since so much of the Confederate regs, duplicate Federal regs, I checked the 1861 regs to see if there was anything comparable. The only reference I could find to a uniform cap was to the headgear for Light Artillery. At paragraph 1491 the regs state, “For companies of Artillery equipped as Light Artillery, the old pattern uniform cap, with red horsehair plume, cord and tassel.”

A lot of assumption and speculation on my part, and not many results.

[floridawar]

Re: "Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.

I will be interested to see what responses you get. In an old data base I set up many years ago I stated that the Beauregrad cap was a bit like the McDowell-pattern forage cap. I can not remember why I said this or where I found it. I certainly do not believe you should just take my word for this, especially since I have no remembrance where I got the information from. Basically I am only posting this as one possible theory. Hopefully some one will come along with some knowledge about this. Have you tried to look at photographs or drawings of Beauregard and see if he ever wore a wheel cap.

Hi Bill,

Indeed, I you may well be correct! I've kept looking and came up with this: The Charlotte Observer (NC) of 2-18, 1934, includes some memories of John Flourney Ponder, who was serving as a cadet of the military school at Montgomery, AL during the inauguration of Jefferson Davis in Feb., 61 that: "Our uniform was not especially colorful at this time, but later, in March or April, 1861 when Beauregard took Fort Sumter our military school adopted the Beauregard cap as part of our uniform. they were made of light gray cloth with an elongated flexible top which folded over in front, having a round, vertical, flat space upon which could be placed the letters of various schools..." They wore these caps with gray uniforms with brass buttons. His description of the Beauregard Cap certainly suggests it is something of the "McDowell" style!

cheers,

J. Marshall.

[Bill52]

Re: "Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.



James like I said my only reference to the Beauregard cap being like a McDowell cap is a very old note in my data base. I may have found it in a legitimate source or I may have just assumed it. I do not want to greatly influence research on this topic, I wanted to offer an alternative theory so the subject would be studied more.

There are images of Civil War era members of the Alabama Cadet Corps. The above images show two style worn during the Civil War. The Alabama Cadet Corps may have used other styles as well.

[PenPusher]

Re: "Beauregard Caps" of the CSA.

I discussed this thread with Ron Field who has written a number of books on South Carolina uniforms and he sent me two images which show possible caps which might be Beauregard caps.

Apparently several artillerists were photographed by George S Cook wearing the same style of cap - see second from right and standing second from left in the LOC image of South Carolina artillery men.

The un-ID'd cavalryman seems to be wearing a cap of that style which appears to have been based on the pattern 1839 forage cap.

NB. Ron will have a new book out called "Rally Round the Flag: Uniforms of the Union Volunteers of 1861 - The New England States" which has been endorsed by the Company of Military Historians. There are two volumes to follow - Mid-Atlantic States and Western States. Ron will then undertake a companion Confederate series. This is all for Schiffer Publishing Ltd. at Atglen, PA. Further details can be found at :-
http://www.schifferbooks.com/rally-r...ates-5818.html

The release date for the New England volume is September 23, 2015.

Ron will also be doing a gallery of "Palmetto Faces" for the fall issue of Military Images which may be of interest.