This forage cap is one of the earliest known examples of a Model 1858 officer’s forage cap. It has every desirable nuance for such an early piece of headgear – dark blue broadcloth, deep thin ⅛” tarred visor, widow’s peak body band, narrow crown disk and chinstrap with its tightener adjuster.

The crown measures 3½” high front by 5⅜” to the rear seam. The crown is 5” in diameter and stiffened with its original poster board backing. The lining is embossed with the maker’s name and address: John A. Baker – 162 – Fulton St – New York. The reference work Military Goods Dealers & Makers 1785-1915 by Bazelon & MicGuinn lists Baker as present at this address from 1853-1858; the firm later became Baker & McKenny.

The sweatband is 1¾” wide, dark brown leather and overlaps an interior pasteboard band. The interior is lined with black silk which is broad stitched to the pasteboard interior lining. The loose end of the silk lining is gathered at the top by a string and is sewn. A decorative woven cotton cord circumvents the top of the sweatband. The chinstrap is held to the cap by two staff eagle cuff buttons whose maker’s marks are not visible. The buttons are fastened to the cap’s interior with coiled brass lock rings.

The simulated embroidered wreath is stamped brass and mirrors bullion embroidered examples in configuration. It also matches relevant line drawings and engravings showing similar wreaths from the Civil War period and earlier. This unusual wreath device is perhaps unique to this cap. Absent the "US” insignia, this style wreath was worn by hospital stewards. Within are the German silvered letters "US” in old English script. This is the classic Civil War cap after which later forage caps were patterned.

This beautiful slouch hat was examined by Les Jensen, current president of the Company of Military Historians and a curator at the West Point museum. His examination will provide a detailed description of this original Civil War period cavalry officer’s hat, whose condition is "extraordinarily good”.

Description: Hat, black fur felt with added fibers. The crown has been tucked in around all the edges. Currently the crown as tucked in, measures 4” high at the front. On the sides it measures 5” high. The top, which is oval, is 3¾” X 7½”. The brim is 3¼” wide. Around the base of the crown is a black silk ribbon, plain weave, ⅜” wide with the loop and knot at the rear of the hat. The edge of the brim is bound with a black (now brownish) gros grain ribbon, 1¼” wide, machine stitched in place so that ½” shows on the top of the brim and 11/16” shows on the bottom. The hat is lined in the crown with a medium blue silk. This lining is an extension of the sweatband, and is glued to it. About 2⅜” of the silk is exposed with the loose end gathered around a cord in the crown. The sweatband is made of black glazed leather, 2¾” wide. A pink ribbon tie is at the loose ends of the sweatband where it joins at the top. The stitching of the sweatband to the hat appears original to it. A pair of embroidered metallic thread officer’s crossed sabers on a black velvet oval patch, 1½” X 2⅛” is sewed on the front. The insignia is stiff, with a brown cotton backing, and is likely on either pasteboard or tin. Around the base of the crown is an officer’s pattern hat cord in black and gold, sewn into place. There is no plume.

Union forage cap in a chasseur style officer's pattern. The fabric is dark blue wool broadcloth in a fine twill weave. The crown stands 4" high at the front, 6¼" at the rear seam and the top is 4⅝" in diameter, stiffened with a pasteboard beneath the lining. The body of the cap meets a band of slightly darker material seamed only at the back and stiffened with leather. The cap's interior is lined with dark brown glazed cotton, sewn over padding made of cotton waste; the top is unmarked and has double lines of stitching in a diamond pattern. The black leather sweatband is 1⅜" wide, the loose edge having been folded over and stitched by machine. 

The flat visor is original to the hat, and composed of black patent leather. It is edged with oilcloth that is machine stitched in place. The ⅜" wide chinstrap is also patent leather and of two-piece construction. There are two Ordnance Department buttons, backmarked "D. EVANS & CO EXTRA." 

On the front of the cap is an embroidered Ordnance Department insignia, a flaming bomb on a 1" X 2" black patch. Its sewn construction of dead bullion and sequins is similar to the pattern in the Horstman edition of the 1851 U.S. Army uniform regulations. The bomb is somewhat crudely sewn into place with thread, now aged brown and original to the hat.

This is a good example of Civil War headgear from a branch of the Union service not commonly seen.

Staff Officer's slouch hat. This hat exhibits all of the desirable traits of a slouch hat from the Civil War. The fine grade felt retains its original supple texture. The crown is a lofty 5½" high, the brim 3" wide and edged with a silk binding-ribbon which is 11/16" wide, once black and now toned to brown. The ⅜" silk headband ribbon, finely woven, rests beneath an officer's grade hat chord. The chord is composed of alternating wrapped strands of black silk and dead bullion thread. Two acorns are faced with silk filaments under a crocheted silk cap. On the face of the hat is an embroidered staff insignia on black felt, somewhat crudely sewn into place, but appearing to be contemporary to the hat. 

The interior of the hat is a three-ply assembly. The russet-red silk lining, now frayed and worn, is nevertheless present. It is capped with a stiffened top, overlapped at its edges with another layer of the same silk, tensioned with a drawstring thread, and terminating beneath the inner top of the sweatband. The crown of the liner bears a rose motif imprinted in the silk, but no maker's name exists. The brown Russian leather sweatband is original to the hat, 2⅜" wide and unmarked. 

Wide diversity in shape and manufacture are found in the non-regulation slouch hats worn by many officers and enlisted men during the war. Most were privately purchased and customized to the taste of the soldier, bringing great variety to the collecting arena.

This officer’s kepi of dark blue broadcloth stands 3¾” in front and 5” at its back. The tarred leather brim, 3/16” in thickness, is tight and original, as are the chinstrap, and with two staff buttons. A false embroidered brass officer’s grade infantry device, along with a German silver device "7” are affixed to the front of the kepi. Inside the kepi is a complete 1½” wide Russian leather sweatband. The inside lining is polished cotton linen. The inside top is tarred with no marker’s mark present.

This beautiful chasseurs kepi has for four dark green fabric strands sewn into an elaborate quatrefoil on the crown, indicating the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The fabric is a rich dark blue broadcloth. The front of the kepi stands 2¾” in height, and 4” at the rear. The tarred leather brim is ⅛” thick and is firmly affixed to the body of the kepi. The chinstrap is supported by two plain staff buttons and is original to the kepi with its brass buckle and a single keeper. The 1½” dark leather sweatband is complete. The inside lining is polished cotton linen and the tarred top has the faint impression of the city "Boston”, all that is discernible of a maker’s mark. A few isolated moth nips do not detract from this wonderful kepi.