Hats!

[Mike Ventura]

I wasn't at Shiloh (sorry that I missed it), but read the AARs, particularly Ken Knopp's. Ken mentions one of my pet peeves in our side of the hobby. He states that, again, there were many really bad hats.

Let's be honest here, many of our hats look like crap! This is nothing new. It's been like this for years. Many of us have stated that a hat can make or break an impression. A bad hat makes a good impression look mediocre. A good hat can hide a lot of flaws in a mediocre impression. A hat is what people see when they look at your face. A hat is like icing on your impression cake.

Getting a good hat is not like trying to find an accurate saddle tree. There are well known vendors of quality products and they are readily available for around $100. A good hat looks like a period hat, not a floppy hillbilly hat or a modified cowboy hat. A period hat does NOT have stampede strings. I have yet to see a photo of a soldier or trooper of the period with a stampede string, and I've looked at ten of thousands of 'em. A good civilian hat has a ribbon hat band and a ribboned edge. It has a leather lining hand sewn to the hat, and period liner with a period maker's stamp. We know who the better makers of military hats and civilian are, and if you don't, they are listed all over this site, or just ask someone here. Kepis and forage caps do not have curved bills like modern baseball hats.

An accurate hat doesn't cost that much and is the single thing that can really improve your impression. Let's make this year the Year of the Hat! Please!!!

[Philip cav]

I agree with you. That is why I acquired a good lightly used civilian hat at the event.

[Ken Knopp]

To be fair, our hats are improving. Of the AC cavalry at Shiloh the majority had good hats. However, what irks me is that the few that don't really stand out and, make the rest of everyone look mainstream. Another thing that irks me is those that will spend the money on a good reproduction hat, from a quality maker but then leave the brim flat and the crown round (almost a Hoss Cartwright) or worse, shape it like a common reenactor (or cowboy) hat! What's up with that? Some people will put alot of time and research into their saddle and uniform but then literally no research into their headgear. Why?
This has all been said before (and the infantry is way ahead of us here guys)....but, research is easy. Take a look at period photos. Hats varied alot, even regionally to some extent. Hats worn by easterners differered from westerners, Virginians from Missisippians, Texans, City folks, merchants, farmers etc. etc. Notwithstanding extensive field wear and tear, hats of the period were an individual's statement. As such, they told the observer who or what you were.
It would do all of us well to keenly observe many period photos. Then pick a style of hat that fits your face, your occupation, your standing, etc. Ask your pards for advice. Then shape the crown and brim to give it a personal "style". You should be known to your pards by your hat. As for our peers. Here too, it is up to each of us to police each other (very tactfully using solid documentation, photos, research and with gentle persuasion)...... Lets not loose sight that this kind of improvement is part of the fun of this hobby.
Of course, various impressions even periods of the war might also call for particular hat or a very different hat but generally, as a CS cavalryman (even Federal) your hat should be "your" statement- one of which makes you different, proud ....thus it defines you.
Give it some thought!

* For a lot of photos of CS & US cavalrymen check out the photo galleries on my website

Ken R Knopp
www.confederatesaddles.com

[Paul L Muller]

While at Shiloh, I was going thru the traders and went into the other hatter[not Dirty Billy's] and triied on a broad brim low crown with the curled brim edge, and WOW! I don't spend cash if I can trade or make what I want, but this time I sold my current Dirty Billy to my friend and hussled back to camp for the balance of 100.00. The right hat is the right hat! It brought together the civilian outfit I put together for the Cornith ride I could not make , but I sure felt like I had it all together... and I look gOOOOOD! plm

[LibertyHallVols]

I completely agree. When we were inspecting guys for the 105th Ohio at Perryville in 2001, Paul's mantra was "Hat, shoes, coat, blanket" (in order) as the most critical elements of a person's impression. One can make an argument whether hat or shoes should be given top priority (its harder find a good pair of shoes to borrow), but it is undeniable that a bad hat stands out in an assembled group, destroying the collective impression.

[Curt Schmidt]

Hallo!

Herr Ken's advise is excellent.

I would just emphasize the point that it may be, is, best to combine two elements:

1. Use Period images for the "look" of Period hats. Then use quality makers as a source for the hat "base" or "foundation" to work/rework the "out of the box" "blank." The "style" should be reflective not only of the personal statement but also reflective of your persona's socio-economic class and occupation. And then make a personal statement by bending this, or punching in here or punching out there. Or at least teh minor random changes brought aobut by wearing such a spickng it up by one side of teh bron only tends to start to curl just that brimm up. Or pinching the front of the crown when picking it up, tends to put a "pinch" to the upper fornt. Or using it a pillow might dent in a random spot that is not perfectly placed or that does not look part of a hatmaker's shop steamed block. Etc., etc.

but the second is a bit harder, and that is..

2. Not all hats and hat "styles" work for you. Meaning, one's head size and shape, and one's face and features can really conflict with what a hat looks like in a picture or on the vendor's/maker's shelf. I do recommend checking them out at Sutler's Row if possible to see how a "blank" looks on your head.
My late pard had a weight problem as he aged, and ended up a wee bit rolly-polly, with round face, and slightly bulging eyes. There were some hats he tried on that really made him look comical if not both laughably and sadly bad.

I am reminded of one exception. Whether true or Texas Brigade Lore, the brigade had worn out its earlier hats, and could not get any replacements. So, they devised a stratregy. They gathered around a train that had slowed down, and made a commotion. As the civilians stuck their heads out of the windows to see what was going on, the Texans ran by with sticks knocking off and runing away with the "liberated" hats.

Curt
Search for the Perfect Hat Mess

[Mississippian]

Don't forget C.S. "issued" hats.....you see alot of those in the West.

Will MacDonald

[Mike Ventura]

Hey John - I remember the 105th OVI at Perryville - wasn't that the Battle of the Cornfield??

[BenjaminLDavis]

Mike ~ I would heartily agree; however, most of the boys near me on the march were sporting
brand new dress hats, as was I. This was the very first event me, my new Tim Bender, and
shiny new brass had attended - yet, by Sunday, it had already started to acquire some
"character!"0 0 0 0 shiloh 12.jpg

[LibertyHallVols]

Mike,

I believe you are correct!