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COMMERCIAL, PRIVATE PURCHASE, CIVIL WAR BUMMER CAP WITH CORPS BADGE

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Officers had to buy their own uniforms and headgear, but NCOs and even privates might occasionally also purchase a cap following the general lines of the government issue, but of better quality, more comfortable, or just plain nicer. This is a good example, showing a medium-tall crown and reed-bordered, rather than inset, top making it a forage cap rather than kepi, with a flat visor having a bound edge, and the interior nicely lined with black silk that is quilted on the underside of the top.

The cap shows signs of legitimate period use and wear, but is in very good condition overall and was upgraded a bit by a collector with the addition of a red Third Corps metallic badge on an oval patch on top. The top shows some tiny moth nips and some wear around the edge of the top, mainly at the back and wearer’s left. There is some wear to the nap of the lower front just above the chinstrap, which might be from moths working behind a now-missing piece of insignia. (If so, it was likely an officer’s.) The (wearer’s) left shows some wear to the nap and brown soiling, but no big moth holes or repairs. The same holds for the back. The right side is better. The seams are tight and the color is good. The flat visor is firmly in place and bound along the edge, typical of better-quality private purchase caps. The chinstrap is secured by two small eagle-I buttons and uses a floating friction buckle and two stop-loops. It appears original to the cap, though over the years many have been resewn or replaced.

The interior is good, though the black silk lining shows some tears and a collector added one black fabric patch. The sweatband is complete, firmly in place, shows good color with some sweat stains, and has the impressed checkered design usually seen.

We have left the insignia in place on top of the cap, though it is not period, and leave it up to the next owner whether to retain it. As it is, the cap looks good for display or as representing a cap from the First Division of the Third Corps, a hard-fighting Army of the Potomac unit, many of whose veterans, even after its dissolution in Spring 1864, retained their old insignia. In and of itself, the cap is a quite good example of a real Civil War privately purchased cap, showing legitimate use, and most likely worn in the field by an officer. It would look great in display of officer’s material.  [sr] [ph:m/L]

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THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

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