Interesting "camp hat" cdv - eBay [Archive] - Authentic Campaigner Website & Forums

RyanBWeddle

04-05-2004, 05:00 PM

Looks like a tam-o-shanter to me, Mark. :confused:

It has a curly wool appearance on the sides, similar to the 'polish style' hats worn by officer's of the 58th New York:
http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/58thInf/58thInfMain.htm#photos

While not exactly the same, they are similar...more so than a 'tam' or other 'smoking/cap hats'. Could just be a civilian cap . . . like those in Currier & Ives "The Skating Pond".

and my guess this is an infantry soldier, I know of few Federal cav reg'ts that numbered into the thirties. "33rd _ Vol Cav"?? :confused: More likely an infantryman / officer.

markj

04-05-2004, 05:37 PM

Greetings,

"I know of few Federal cav reg'ts that numbered into the thirties. "33rd _ Vol Cav"??"

Actually, the above often depended on how states numbered their units. Here in Indiana, cavalry units actually had two designations. To wit:

1st Regiment Indiana Cavalry 28th Regiment Volunteers
2nd Regiment Indiana Cavalry 41st Regiment Volunteers
3rd Regiment Indiana Cavalry 45th Regiment Volunteers
4th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 77th Regiment Volunteers
5th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 90th Regiment Volunteers
6th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 71st Regiment Volunteers
7th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 119th Regiment Volunteers
8th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 39th Regiment Volunteers
9th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 121st Regiment Volunteers
10th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 125th Regiment Volunteers
11th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 126th Regiment Volunteers
12th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 127th Regiment Volunteers
13th Regiment Indiana Cavalry 131st Regiment Volunteers

The second designation was ostensibly used to keep things straight administratively, and in sequential order, since infantry and cavalry regiments were frequently raised concurrently. However, in the case of the 8th Indiana Cav (39th Regiment), this unit was originally raised as infantry and didn't get mounted until April 1863. Even more confusingly, there were two "28th Indiana" regiments. One was cav and the other was a Hoosier Colored regiment raised in 1863-64.

Don't even get me started on how the state "credited" individual counties for the companies raised in their environs. "Credit" had a lot more to do with political horse-trading than common-sense. One company comprised completely of troops from Clinton County was, instead, credited to Tippecanoe County. Another company, consisting of 2/3 Tippecanoe County men, was instead credited to Fountain County. Duh-oh!

I agree that the man shown was probably in an infantry regiment. Perhaps the 33rd Massachusetts, for example.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger