This is an excellent example of an original Civil War Union army regulation Model 1858 Forage Cap displayed as it would have been worn by a member of the 143^rd Pennsylvania. The cap is a Model 1858 forage cap, perhaps the most recognizable piece of headgear in the Civil War, with the 1858 army dress, or Hardee, hat coming in a close second. The interior of the cap shows a small square discolored spot in the center of crown lining, likely the location of a contractor’s paper label. The cap as a whole follows the standard configuration with a blue wool body, lined with polished cotton, fitted with a sweatband, visor and flat circular top stiffened by piece of thick cardboard, and provided with a tarred leather visor and adjustable chinstrap held by two small general service eagle buttons on the sides. The condition is excellent, with little moth tracking and a few small moth nips, mostly on the back, that have been professionally backed with matching cloth and do not detract. The glazed leather chinstrap shows some wear spots, but is solid. The side buttons may have been restitched but are good. The visor is firmly attached. The sweatband shows a little wear along the lower edge, but is complete and in place. The brown polished cotton lining is excellent.

The hat represents what a member of Company H 143^rd PV would have worn from Spring 1863 to at least Spring 1864, with large, regulation brass numerals reading “143” and a company letter “H” that holds down the round blue cloth corps badge of the 3^rd Division, 1^st Army Corps. The regiment is the only “143^rd” to have served in that organization, joining it in February 1863, with corps badges introduced shortly afterward. In April 1864, with the dissolution of the 1^st Corps, the regiment was transferred into the 5^th Corps, though members of the regiment may have continued to wear the insignia of their old organization for some time. Like the cap, the brass numerals and company letter are also original Civil War pieces and are attached by small pieces of wood that look to have some age passed through their standing loops on the underside of the crown. The cloth corps badge has a beaded edge and looks appropriate, but we can’t guarantee the age.

The 143^rd was an active unit, losing 151 officers and men killed or mortally wounded in battles such as Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg. This shows off very well and would be a nice piece if you are interested in the unit.  [sr] [ph:L]

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