This highly desirable article of Federal Civil War uniform cloth is a fine piece of regulation headgear commonly referred to as a M1858 forage cap. Issued to most Federal soldiers as part of their Civil War uniform, this all-original, dark blue forage cap is a complete specimen that was worn by an unknown Union soldier. In fine original condition, forage cap is constructed of dark indigo blue wool and comes complete with its tarred leather visor (brim), leather chin strap, two original, eagle ‘Shield’ brass side buttons, original leather sweatband, and its entire original interior lining. No brass insignia on crown.

Cap measures 5” high when the crown is extended and features a 7½” wide, thin black bridle leather visor, a.k.a. brim. Leather visor lays flat and is strongly stitched to the cap brim. The narrow leather chinstrap measures 11” long and retains one original leather adjuster plus a brass ‘slide.’ Strap has no slash cut at the button ends. An original, vest-size, eagle “shield” brass button is secured to each end of the chinstrap and sewn to the body. Both buttons are in very good condition and show some wear.

The dark blue wool forage cap exterior is in very good original condition with just scattered tiny moth nips at the front under the crown and two at the back panel near the seam. Original stitching is tight and strong along the brim, crown, and back seam. The crown exterior features a sewn-in, wool-covered, stiff circular pasteboard disc that measures 5” in diameter and slants or droops downward toward the face when cap is worn. Crown’s exterior edge shows two small moth nips but rest of the dark blue wool cloth surface is free of blemishes.

Interior surface of the crown features a fine, polished, dark brown cloth lining that displays a maker’s label. The small paper label (1 3/8” x 1”) is glued to the center interior of the crown and reads “M. & G. / No. 1. / N. Y. / Maker.” Thomas Murphy and William Griswold were hatters in NYC from 1862 thru 1865 and had contracts with the US Ordnance Dept. for army forage caps. Buckram stiffener in the lining is 2½” high behind the sweatband. This forage cap retains all of its original polished brown cloth interior lining which is in excellent condition with no tearing, ripping or fraying.

Cap’s leather sweatband is made of thin, Morrocan leather and is in good condition with light edge scuffing but no breaks or tears. Band is 1½” high and is complete. Center seam of the sweatband is tightly stitched as is the rest of band’s brim. Top and bottom sides of the leather visor exhibit just normal wear with light edge scuffing but no rips or tears. Original Civil War Federal infantry forage caps are difficult to find in any condition in the collecting community. And if one seeks an original Civil War forage cap in fine to very fine condition, this is it.

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