Slouch Hat VS Kepi

[Jim Mayo]

From letters written home by John Beaton, Company G, 9th Va. Inf.

"If you can conveniently get a black slouch hat, and send me, I would like it very much, these little caps are anything else but comfortable in rain or snowy weather the water runs down my neck and feels, not very pleasant"

I don't think many Confederates had the luxury of having a cap and a hat.

[Craig L Barry]

Question:
Were slouch hats an issue item? As Jim Mayo points out, I was under the impression that what we would term "slouch hats" were not requisitioned but soldiers got those on their own or from home. At least there is some period documentation in the form of letters home (like that one) asking for them to send a broad brimmed hat.

[Parault]

This is my personal opinion and preference, but here in this part of the country the slouch hat is perferred simply because it serves multiple purposes. Shade, umbrella, and keeping your head somewhat warm. I have several Kepis, one blue,one jeanwool, one graywool. I find it difficult to wear my kepi very often cause I burn very easy. I always forget to pack sunscreen. I have a book that is one of those coffetable versions of big books. It is called 4000 photographs of the Civil War. In this book I was very surprised to see multiple pictures of slouch hats both ANV and Federal. Just to change the subject a little. I did notice that the Federals under the command of Gen Sherman, had photographs showing the soldiers that had on Slouch hats. I know that there are others that know more than me on this subject,but, I was very surprised at the number of Federals that had Slouch hats.

[Canebrake Rifle Guards]

There's record of the State of Alabama issuing 10,000 black slouch hats to its troops. I believe the reference can be found in Todd's Military Equipage, the States edition.

Greg Starbuck

[Craig L Barry]

I suppose the various Confederate states then varied on the practice of issuance? Makes sense. By the way I have that same 4000 pictures enormous CW coffee table book and peruse it fairly often. Columbia Rifles Research Compendium 2nd Edition (Watchdog 2007) has a chapter on slouch hats in the AoP, which were not a quartermaster issued head covering.

Personal preference, but I like a good forage cap for the looks of it.