Hats!

[Tom Craig]

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.
www.confederatesaddles.com

Not to pick nits here, but this shouldn't be an issue. If they are "AC cavalry" they should have good hats. I am all for helping people improve impressions, but until their impressions are good, they don't really qualify as AC cavalry in my book. There is no reason that our people should be held to any different standards than the infantry...it just means that we have to work harder.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Mark J.]

Good discussion. Austrailian outback "Man from Snowy River" truckstop felt safari hats really need to go away. Also; people really need to lose the "dude strings" - "wind strings"---a total reenactorism and non period encumberance---totally ruins the impression. If your hat keeps falling off, get a better fitting hat, or one better suited to horseback work.

[LibertyHallVols]

...- "wind strings"---a total reenactorism and non period encumberance---totally ruins the impression. If your hat keeps falling off, get a better fitting hat, or one better suited to horseback work.

"Never say never"
Have a look at this artillery officer (lower left).

Now, this is not the "stampede string" you see at reenactments, but it does appear to be designed to keep the wearer from being separated from his hat.

[Silas]

That's a "boat anchor." This is a 1900's term which applies to the cord or chain which was attached to flat top, straight brim, straw hats known as "boaters."

Here's a picture of Connie Mack in a boater :

18579r.jpg

[Mark J.]

This is the best resolution of these pics I've seen. Great bunch and not a pot belly or dude string in the bunch.

[Mark J.]

ha-ha! Thanks John! I'll file that one for future reference!

[LibertyHallVols]

I posted a thread on this pic some years ago and dredged the pic up from the archives. It is an interesting photo (from the LoC) and you can see that this group had a number of images struck on the same day.

The dandy "dude" in the enlistedman's fatigue blouse and knee-boots shows up in a number of images.

[TexCavly]

Seems odd for kepis to have a chinstrap don't it?

[Silas]

Who says the strap is for chins?



Another method is to the rear of the kepi in a manner similar to how modern drill instructors wear their hats. I've done this many times with my kepi when riding. I found it very effective and less dorky looking than when drooped below my chin or pinned below my nose.

[Doughboy]

Not sure how a strap across the back of your head keeps your cap from flying off?