Tarred Wheel Cap of John Gageby, Company B 1st, Virginia Cavalry

Joined
Jul 28, 2015
John Gageby was a 21 year old clerk from Wheeling, Virginia when he mustered into company B 1st Virginia cavalry on April 19th 1861 at Martinsburg, Virginia. Trooper Gageby was listed as 6 foot with a fair complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.
He fought with the 1st throughout the war, surrendering at Appomattox on April 9th 1865. He would be promoted to 2nd sergeant on August 15th 1862 and then 1st sergeant on June 20th 1863.

His tarred wheel cap is indicative of the type of headwear Virginia cavaliers wore in the early stages of the war, but proving too unwieldy and hot, was soon retired home, for safe keeping.

Though it cannot be proven, this cap most likely saw action at 1st Manassas. Testifying to its short duration as a military cover, the cap is in remarkable shape, it has the company letter B affixed to the front and Virginia chinstrap buttons securely fixed to the sides. The brim is made of black patent leather as is the chin strap.

The cap is constructed of black oilcloth with a thread count of 32 X 32 threads per inch, it is lined with a blue and white checked cotton, tabby weave, evidencing small blood stains. The stains most likely the result of an innocuous cut or bug bite and nothing war related.
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A nice tarred wheel cap. This type of fatigue cap was popular in the 1830s to 1850s. It was still seen during the Civil War. Simular caps were worn by civilian workers as well.
 
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