Officers Headwear

[MCOciepka]

Yeah this is one of those "You ever seen ______" questions everyone loves so much. Has anyone ever seen an image/wood cut/illustration or read any account whatsoever that may hint company or field grade officers wore felt slouch style hats in colors other than black? Looking for tan, brown, grey references. They were worn amongst the enlisted ranks with a small degree of frequency but I'm not sure about the Lt's through LtC's.

Thanks,
Matthew Ociepka

[John E. Tobey]

Some did, and at least a few of them found out that it wasn't a good idea. The following quote shows why:

[August 10, 1862, after Cedar Mountain] “Captain Andrew Cloudman was killed... His splendid hat... were a perfect target and he suffered death as a consequence. Folsom was tall and wore a tall hat, killed instantly. Little Freeman had on a light citizen’s hat and was waving his polished sword when he fell. Captain Adams wore a cap and was not particularly a mark... Rankin wore a hat and was wounded. Sargent wore a splendid hat and was wounded in the face... Co. H wore their rubber blankets, the white side out, over their shoulders...” [The Civil War Journals of John Mead Gould, p. 168]

In the above extract, "light" could mean "light weight," but more than likely meant "light colored". The point that Gould was trying to make is that it was a bad idea to stand out in the crowd.

John Tobey

[RyanBWeddle]

Yeah this is one of those "You ever seen ______" questions everyone loves so much. Has anyone ever seen an image/wood cut/illustration or read any account whatsoever that may hint company or field grade officers wore felt slouch style hats in colors other than black? Looking for tan, brown, grey references. They were worn amongst the enlisted ranks with a small degree of frequency but I'm not sure about the Lt's through LtC's.

Thanks,
Matthew Ociepka


Browse the Echoes of Battle series from Blue Acorn Press and you should see a few images.

[Tom Ezell]

Yeah this is one of those "You ever seen ______" questions everyone loves so much. Has anyone ever seen an image/wood cut/illustration or read any account whatsoever that may hint company or field grade officers wore felt slouch style hats in colors other than black? Looking for tan, brown, grey references.

In an interesting series run in the Camp Chase Gazette about a year and a half ago, they examined the personal effects of an Illinois officer (CPT E. Kellogg, C/33rd Illinois) who was killed at Vicksburg. One of the first things they pulled out of his trunk was his slouch hat, a light tan beehive to which he had attached the badges, cord, and plume from his regulation dress hat, presumably when it wore out on campaign. Indications are that Kellogg got the hat as a war trophy from a Confederate officer of the 12th TX Cavalry who was himself killed at Cotton Plant, Arkansas in the summer of 1862.

Photographs of Federal officers at Chattanooga and during the Atlanta campign show a wide variety of headgear as well.

Tom

[Jerseyman]

Matthew,

There was a series of articles in the CCG earlier this year documenting the contents of Captain Kellog's trunk that were returned to his family after he was killed outside of Vicksburg. Kellog was a captain in an Ohio or Illinois regiment (33rd?). The CCG is not worth much but these articles might be of casual interest based on your question.

Anyway, one of the installments focused on the "cream" colored slouch hat Captain Kellog had in his posession prior to being killed. I believe his hat can also be seen in Echoes of Glory (Union version) in color.

Or just see Tom's response above>

Regards,
Jeff

[ThehosGendar]

There's a few photographic references on the LOC, to wit:

The first is from "Rappahannock Station, Virginia. Officers of 50th New York Engineers," March 1864 - LC-B817- 7615 <P&P>.

The second is, "Virginia. Army of the Potomac. Officers of the 20th New York Volunteers," October 1863 - LC-B815- 278 <P&P>.

The third is, "Fair Oaks, Virginia (vicinity). Brigade officers of the Horse Artillery commanded by Lt. Col. William Hays," May 1862 - LC-B815- 639 <P&P>.

[KyCavMajor]

Here is a picture,,,,

[Bill]

Two interesting things in the picture of the Horse Artillery Officers. The officer on the right, with the light colored hat and the artillery brass has a revolver on his sword belt. The major in the foreground has some type of thong or ribbon attached to one side of his hat.

[PvtSchultz]

One reference in particular that comes to mind can be found on page 186 of Echos of Glory, Arms & Equipment of the Union. Middle of the page you will find a gray felt slouch hat worn by Lt. Bartlett of the 13th New Hampshire.