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CIVIL WAR CONTRACT FORAGE CAP BY L.J.&I. PHILLIPS WITH INSIGNIA FOR THE 124th NY, ORANGE BLOSSOMS

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This is a very nice condition, original, regulation Model 1858 forage cap, the classic headgear of the Union soldier in the Civil War, made by a well-known wartime contractor, and mounted by a collector with insignia to indicate the 124^th New York during its service at Gettysburg. Descended from the prewar army shako, essentially a shako with its stiffening removed or softened by exposure to the elements, this pattern was adopted by the army for fatigue wear in 1858. The dark blue wool body is fitted with a tarred/painted leather visor and flat circular top stiffened by piece of thick pasteboard, and provided with a glazed leather adjustable chinstrap held by two small general service eagle buttons on the sides, lined inside with polished cotton, and fitted with a thin leather (usually impressed goatskin) sweatband.

The condition is very good, with good color, surface, and tight seams to the body. The only moth damage we see is small finger nail size spot above the side button on the left that has been professionally backed with similar wool is not obtrusive. and no evident moth damage. Chinstrap and small size general service eagle side buttons are correct and appear original. The interior is very good. The polished cotton lining is complete, the sides showing a bit darker from the top, likely from different dye lots, and has no tears or wear spots. The sweatband is complete and firmly in place, but lacks most of its finish, which has flaked off, and shows now as a light brown though clearly showing the original impressed checkering. The only missing spot is a very small corner of one end at the seam in the back of the cap.

The cap also retains it original army contractor’s label. The upper portion (likely reading “U.S. Army”) is obscured by the thong and loop securing the corps badge on top of the cap, but the rest of the text is very clear: “Size / No. 4” in the army’s standard sizing, helpfully noted as corresponding to size “7 1/8” in civilian usage, with the maker/contractor at bottom: “L J & I. Phillips.”  Lewis J. and Isaac Phillips of New York had huge army contracts for caps every year of the war, furnishing some 35,000 in 1861, 175,000 or more in 1862, 251,000 in 1863, 330,200 in 1864, and even 50,000 on a contract of January 1, 1865. They made both the Type-1 and Type-2 form, and if there is such a thing as a typical Union army forage cap of the Civil War, it is likely one by L.J & I Phillips.

The insignia of the cap was added to represent the 124^th New York. Recruited in Orange County and mustered into service in September 1862, the regiment adopted the nickname “The Orange Blossoms” and were known for wearing a small orange ribbon in a buttonhole of their coats. They joined the Third Division of the Third Corps and were lightly engaged at Fredericksburg in December, but at Chancellorsville were in heavy action, losing 204 officers and men of 550 engaged. By the time of Gettysburg the divisions of the corps had been consolidated and the regiment was part of Birney’s First Division, but are well documented as retaining their blue Third Division badges during the battle. On July 2 they were in the cauldron of fighting around the Wheatfield and Little Round Top, holding the “triangular field” near Devils Den losing 91 in killed, wounded and missing of 290 on the field, including their Colonel and Major, who chose to go into action mounted despite the danger so that the men might see them. The regiment served the remainder of the war in the Army of the Potomac, joining the Second Corps in March 1864, and mustering out in June 1865 with total losses of 148 officers and enlisted men killed or mortally during their service, a little over 11 percent. Subsequent to Gettysburg their battle honors included, Auburn, Kellys Ford, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, the Weldon Railroad, Deep Bottom and others, including the Appomattox Campaign.

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