Louisiana Kepi

[Package4]

Unfortunately the history of this kepi is lost, so what we do know about the piece is limited to the kepi itself. The cap has two kepi or cuff size Louisiana state seal buttons, one a Tice LA220As and the other a Tice LA220As8. The sweatband is made of a brown leather with a tooled checkered pattern, the chinstrap and brim are made of black patent leather. The cap is lined with a cotton material loosely woven and faded in the top and evidencing an oily residue from natural hair oils.

 

[major bill]

This is an interesting cap. It is not tall nor is it the shorter kepi style.

 

[Package4]

This is an interesting cap. It is not tall nor is it the shorter kepi style.

The front measurement from brim to top of crown is 4.25".

 

[James N.]

I would suggest sending photos of it to the Confederate Museum in New Orleans and asking them about it.

 

[FiremarshalBill]

Silly question, but were Kepi style hats issued throughout the war? Weren't broad brimmed slouch(?) hats also issued? It seems to me that on campaign a hat with a broad brim all the way around would have provided much better protection from rain, snow, and sun than a stubby-bill Kepi.

 

[Package4]

Silly question, but were Kepi style hats issued throughout the war? Weren't broad brimmed slouch(?) hats also issued? It seems to me that on campaign a hat with a broad brim all the way around would have provided much better protection from rain, snow, and sun than a stubby-bill Kepi.

Kepis were issued throughout the war and considered more military in appearance, due to European influence. The last war that America was engaged in was almost a decade and a half in the past. Many American officers on both sides had travelled to Europe to view the latest on the continent, McClellan in particular was assigned to observe European & Russian armies in 1855/6 during the Crimean War. He came back and was largely influenced by what he saw as the latest in modern warfare. He sported a Chasseur cap, which became a sort of style copied by others.

The US Army was looking for a replacement for the ungainly 1851/54 shako, which had started to be worn as both a dress cap and fatigue wear. Complaints from the field were non-stop, particularly from those on the frontier and Utah Expedition, imagine wearing a shako out West. The forage cap was ultimately the result and was put into issue in 1858; while on parade and dress, the Hardee hat would be worn. Some troops preferred the Hardee for everyday wear, while many Eastern theater regiments AOP were required to wear the forage cap or privately purchased kepi.

Western armies of the US seem to prefer the slouch hat, though you see forage caps and kepis mixed in.

CS wear was generally a 4 to 1 slouch over kepi mix according to studies of POW photographs like the "punch bowl". Early war finds both armies largely in forage caps and kepis, but as time wore on individual preferences, where allowed, took precedence.

 

[James N.]

Silly question, but were Kepi style hats issued throughout the war? Weren't broad brimmed slouch(?) hats also issued? It seems to me that on campaign a hat with a broad brim all the way around would have provided much better protection from rain, snow, and sun than a stubby-bill Kepi.

FiremarshalBill, how about THIS? This ungainly headgear was known as Whipple's Patent Cap and although I've posted this image from my collection before you're evidently unaware of them. They were essentially kepis or forage caps with brims; or maybe they were slouch hats with a chunk cut out of the front and a visor attached! There were at least two varieties, soft fabric ones like this, and ones with stiff bodies made of felt. The photo is of Corporal David C. Yakey, a member of Co. A of the 25th Wisconsin Infantry, at the time of his enlistment in 1862.

 

[TerryB]

On the subject of headgear, I read a book called Fort Fisher, Confederate Goliath. It showed photos of Hoke's NC troops wearing black hats that reminded me of Hardee hats. These were taken from a distance, the troops lounging around on earthwork forts. I've never seen those images here on this website.

 

[DixieRifles]

Here is my replica jean kepi next to an original kepi shaped much like yours. This was taken at the Perryville NPS museum.

 

[TerryB]

I just tried to locate those images--no luck. But someone made a documentary of the book in 2004. I couldn't find it on youtube.

 

[major bill]

I have seen the Whipple's Patent Cap did come in sever variations.

1. Charles Pascal's patent. This style was very much like a hat with Havelock up and the "Havelock" could be lowed to protect against but sun and rain. It was worn by several Pennsylvania cavalry regiments. It is often called the "Pennsylvania Cavalry Hat".

2. Rhode Island issued a locally version of the hat/Havelock.

3. The Seamless Clothing Company provided the First and Second U.S. Sharpshooter a version of the hat/Havelock.

4. New Yorker Jonathan F. Whipple patented a Havelock/hat that was issued several New England soldiers, particularly New Hampshire soldiers. This version looked more like a cap/Havevelock. It was made in two version, stiff felt and cloth.

5. James M. Loomis of Chicago made hat/Havelocks similar to the Whipple version.

6. There was a Confederate version of the hat/Havelock was called the Excelsior hat.

 

[James N.]

5. James M. Loomis of Chicago made hat/Havelocks similar to the Whipple version...

I wonder if that might be what Yakey's wearing - I thought when I bought his tintype he was probably a New England soldier because of the headgear, since most documented photos showing Whipple caps seem to have been on New Englanders. When searches led to this Wisconsin soldier I wondered how and why he would've been issued one, but perhaps it's a Loomis product instead!

 

[Package4]

On the subject of headgear, I read a book called Fort Fisher, Confederate Goliath. It showed photos of Hoke's NC troops wearing black hats that reminded me of Hardee hats. These were taken from a distance, the troops lounging around on earthwork forts. I've never seen those images here on this website.

There is an excellent article written by one of the foremost experts in Confederate cloth about slouch hats, some imported from Britain and others made in the good old CSA. Frederick Adolphus has it on his site:

http://adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/two-rebel-hats.html

 

[TerryB]

Oddly, his photo #5 of the Arizona Bde comes closest to what I remember from the book on Fort Fisher.

 

[AUG]

On the subject of headgear, I read a book called Fort Fisher, Confederate Goliath. It showed photos of Hoke's NC troops wearing black hats that reminded me of Hardee hats. These were taken from a distance, the troops lounging around on earthwork forts. I've never seen those images here on this website.

Is this the image you're thinking of? This is a photo of Purdie Battery at Fort Fisher; the men standing on the traverse in the background look like they might be Confederate troops or prisoners. This is the largest version I could find; maybe someone here could dig up a higher res version.

 

[TerryB]

Is this the image you're thinking of? This is a photo of Purdie Battery at Fort Fisher; the men standing on the traverse in the background look like they might be Confederate troops or prisoners. This is the largest version I could find; maybe someone here could dig up a higher res version.

View attachment 123932

No, the image was from about 75 yards out in one case, closer in one or two others. I'm not sure the men had been captured yet, but possibly. All in standard gray from the Eastern armies, but the hats reminded me of Hardee hats. They were in very relaxed poses on the banks of earthen forts. No wood or guns that I remember. The images were in Confederate Goliath. [Wait, I just noticed the men at the top right. They are dressed as I remember, but I'm not sure this was in the book.]

 

[Billy1977]

The cap in the original post looks like it's made from Archie Bunker's easy chair upholstery. I love it!

 

[AUG]

No, the image was from about 75 yards out in one case, closer in one or two others. I'm not sure the men had been captured yet, but possibly. All in standard gray from the Eastern armies, but the hats reminded me of Hardee hats. They were in very relaxed poses on the banks of earthen forts. No wood or guns that I remember. The images were in Confederate Goliath. [Wait, I just noticed the men at the top right. They are dressed as I remember, but I'm not sure this was in the book.]

Hmm, can't find any photos like what you describe online. I'll consider reading the book - sounds interesting. I'm interested in any outdoor photographs of Confederate troops, though could use a good read on Fort Fisher as well.

 

[TerryB]

Hmm, can't find any photos like what you describe online. I'll consider reading the book - sounds interesting. I'm interested in any outdoor photographs of Confederate troops, though could use a good read on Fort Fisher as well.

It's a good read. I was researching some Union naval officers who participated in the Jan 16, 1865, assault and were wounded. Both were from the ship Powhaton.

 

[BTWhite61]

That fabric is remarkably similar to that of a Louisiana jacket owned by Don Troiani. It was worn by a soldier named Parkins or Perkins and was found with a multi-colored striped cotton shirt of domestic southern manufacture. The jacket is really interesting in that it was almost entirely machine sewn with a chain-stitching machine that utilized very thick thread, almost string, reminiscent on what can be seen in old grain sacks. The coat still bears it's original Louisiana buttons. There is also a jacket in the Smithsonian that is made from a similar plain woven wool/cotton jean but it was undyed and "natural white" in color.