CIVIL WAR BUMMER OR FORAGE CAP WITH NINTH CORPS BADGE

$4,500.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1052-143

This is an excellent example of an original Civil War Union army regulation Model 1858 Forage Cap with a Ninth Corps badge on top, displaying the cross cannon and fouled anchor reflecting the origins of the organization in Burnside’s coastal expedition early in the war. The is the standard configuration cap with a blue wool body, fitted with a tarred leather visor and flat circular top stiffened by piece of thick cardboard, and provided with a glazed leather adjustable chinstrap held by two small general service eagle buttons on the sides. The interior is lined with polished cotton and fitted with a sweatband.

The condition is excellent, with just some small moth nips and two short places on the back seam that have opened just slightly, but are stable. The chinstrap shows some wear on the edges and minor crazing, but little flaking and is solid. The interior is excellent. The sweatband is complete and in place. The lining shows no holes. Any contractor’s paper label is long gone, of course. The only defects we see are a crease to the visor that is more noticeable on the underside than the top and a few old stitches added to secure the sweatband at either side just to the rear the visor, a fairly natural point of stress in taking off the cap.

The badge was authorized by Burnside in April 1864 in preparation for joining Grant for the Overland Campaign against Richmond and Petersburg in 1864. They were initially ordered worn on the top of the cap or front of the hat, which was changed slightly to provide for wear on top of the cap, as here, by enlisted men on the side of the cap by officers. Several directives at the corps and division level throughout the year enforced wear of the badge with directions, among other things, that men found without badge were to be arrested as stragglers. The commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, thought them so important that he ordered the men were to have two: one to be kept new and clean for parades and reviews. This one is made of red wool, indicating the first division, and has a gilt embroidered center showing the cannon and anchor at center indicating a commercial purchase. The artillery brigade of the corps was also ordered to wear the red badge, but with the regulation crossed cannon displayed above it. The bullion shows good color in the center and on the flukes of the anchor with some oxidation elsewhere and on the edge. The red is wool is very good.

Descended from the prewar army shako, the forage cap was officially adopted in 1858 for fatigue wear and is the most recognizable piece of Civil War headgear, with most soldiers likely going through several in the course of service. This has great color, condition, and displays very well.  [sr] [ph:m]

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