1860's caps

[Jon The Beloved]

Could someone help me begin researching/studying the various kinds of soft caps with bills that were used during the Civil War era. Caps used leading up to the Civil War are acceptable research as well. Particularly I was wondering if there were all wool (floppy) felt caps with slightly curved short bills similar to modern "messenger" caps.

The reason I ask: I own a 100% black wool felt cap I purchased at a modern store which resembles a cap somewhere between the wheel cap, the mechanics cap, and a few other soft caps I have seen in period pictures and paintings. This hat does not, however, have or need to have the dimples, darts, or creases that a mechanics cap has because it is wool felt.

I have noted that some men were wearing 'period baseball' style caps. I did note that many younger boys were wearing a cap of this sort during the Civil War era.

The comfortablity and versatility and look of my cap brought me to ask: What kinds of soft caps did men of the 1860's wear around camp or for other occasions?

I know this is a loaded one!

[kaelin]

Re: 1860's caps

Jon
Great question...
The first place I could tell you to look is in LOC photographic archives, there are some images there that you will see some of the camp or lounge hats you speak of, though the images are not marked you will have to search for them. These images will be of camp life, etc.

I have also seen a couple of teamster images that are privately owned, that show a couple of different style hats like the one you have owned, in one image I can tell that the hat is wool, and the other it is a black cotton cap.

Lastly there is a group of surviving unique hats like the one worn by 1st Lt.
J. A. Charlaron, Washington Artillery of New Orleans, Charlaron fought with the Army of Tennessee and he wore a black cotton cap in place of the scarlet kepi with dark blue band which was adopted in 1860.
Also there is a corduroy cap worn by 1st Lt. William Burgwyn, 35th North Carolina, this hat was made for him by a Miss May Galt while he was healing from a wound in Cold Harbor. There are other styles similar to the one you speak of but they are rare and if worn during the war they seemed to be ownded by officers. There are some images that show Civilains wearing these types of hats as well.(information from EOG)

I would suggest talking with Hank Trent as well, hes knows his stuff!

Hope this helps pard

[Jon The Beloved]

Re: 1860's caps

Thanks Brother Kaelin..

I can always count on you, your resources, and your wise counsel. Folks, looks like I'll need to invest in procuring a copy of Echoes of Glory at some point in the near future. Anyone else have any documentation of soft caps of this kind during the WBTS? Civilian or Enlisted?

[YoungCampaigner]

Re: 1860's caps

Mr. Harris,

There are a number of great images of men in the sort of caps you speak of in the gallery of the Daguerrian Society (www.daguerre.org).

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: 1860's caps

You'll also find a variety of images of these types of caps in naval images, particularly the large crew pictures usually taken on the decks of ships or monitor class boats. Some of the better known pictures have at least 5 different styles of hats and caps - the traditional "flat" cap, visored wheel hats, straw hats on officers, and a couple of different styles of soft caps. This is another fact that points to fact that alot of sailor clothing being made by the sailors themselves or others on board.