Best hat

[G Low]

@52ndFandS Regarding the kid from Florida, I believe lots of them soldiered pretty young in those days, at least compared to the present times.

John

When you think about it young (southern)soldiers help start the war, Thomas Jackson marching VMI students to Harper's Ferry to help Hang John Brown. And then you had General Beauregard Directing students from the citadel to Fire on Yankee ships and the fort .

 

[Cavalier]

@G Low If I'm not mistaken in that era 8 year old kids worked in coal mines and it wasn't that far in time from the Napoleonic wars when little boys were employed as powder monkeys on warships. I think there is a photo of a civil war era powder monkey in the U.S. Navy too.

My god father enlisted in the U.S. Army at 14, (he was big for his age and lied), and many years later, (as a sergeant), went with Perishing to chase Pancho Villa.

It was just a different time and what we now consider children were treated a lot differently then they are today.

John

 

[THoover]

I loved to the response to my post about the men with the best beards. In the same spirit what general had the best hat during the Civil War?

 

[G Low]

@G Low If I'm not mistaken in that era 8 year old kids worked in coal mines and it wasn't that far in time from the Napoleonic wars when little boys were employed as powder monkeys on warships. I think there is a photo of a civil war era powder monkey in the U.S. Navy too.

My god father enlisted in the U.S. Army at 14, (he was big for his age and lied), and many years later, (as a sergeant), went with Perishing to chase Pancho Villa.

It was just a different time and what we now consider children were treated a lot differently then they are today.

John

Yes I know most cabin boys were not grown men . And what about those kids working in the Yankee Cotton mills?

 

[G Low]

Yes I know most cabin boys were not grown men . And what about those kids working in the Yankee Cotton mills?

Ever go to the Little Drummer Boy museum in Andersonville Ga?

 

[52ndFandS]

He must of slept in late during uniform issue and ended up with whatever was left. Wonder if his pants were poor fitting too, very high waters. Or maybe the Supply Sergeant had a beef with him and issued him that as a joke.

I read this piece an Arksnsas soldier had wrote down after the war. His trousers were too ling. His frock so short the sler es were half way up his forearms, his had was down over his ear and he had two different sized shoes.

Commutation was not all it was cracked up to be.

 

[G Low]

@G Low If I'm not mistaken in that era 8 year old kids worked in coal mines and it wasn't that far in time from the Napoleonic wars when little boys were employed as powder monkeys on warships. I think there is a photo of a civil war era powder monkey in the U.S. Navy too.

My god father enlisted in the U.S. Army at 14, (he was big for his age and lied), and many years later, (as a sergeant), went with Perishing to chase Pancho Villa.

It was just a different time and what we now consider children were treated a lot differently then they are today.

John

Have you been to the civil war naval museum in Columbus Georgia? It has a lot of interesting information and photos/exhibits.

 

[52ndFandS]

Have you been to the civil war naval museum in Columbus Georgia? It has a lot of interesting information and photos/exhibits.

I haven't yet. I forgot about thos Navy hats. A whole different dimension to the war in chapeaus.

 

[Cavalier]

@G Low No, I've never been south of Raleigh, North Carolina. If I ever do get down there I'll try to check that out, and the Drummer Boy one you mentioned too.

John

 

[52ndFandS]

@G Low No, I've never been south of Raleigh, North Carolina. If I ever do get down there I'll try to check that out, and the Drummer Boy one you mentioned too.

John

Tallahassee, FL has a small but pretty descent exhibit. And there are some pretty nice natural springs near by too.

 

[Stryker65]

I can't find a photo, but MG Irvin McDowell wore his own designed version of a pith helmet in battle — large, white and canoe shaped.

Is this the hat? (link)

 

[52ndFandS]

View attachment 523351
Is this the hat? (link)

I was going to answer that it's a McDowell forage cap. But I was on another thread that showed a like McDowell as being a different, pist shako, pre-kepi design. So I'm lost.

Weird thought. McClellan amd McDowell are the in the picture. If McClellan is 'Little Mac' does that make McDowell 'Big Mac'?

 

[G Low]

Found this guy sporting his own Captain Crunch hat!!! Check out all the hardware he has!!!

 

[52ndFandS]

Yes I know most cabin boys were not grown men . And what about those kids working in the Yankee Cotton mills?

My paternal grandfather was a cabin boy when he first went to sea.

 

[52ndFandS]

like the thread says Best "Hat" and that hat ain't the best!

Why, how dare you not like, respect and agree with my opinion? Harummmph!

 

[52ndFandS]

My neice is named Wessels. Great great grandfather maybe? Gen. Henry Wessels

View attachment 520242

A possible relative of mine, Brig. Gen. Horace Randal.

 

[52ndFandS]

As a 1Lt. in the Fort Bragg Military Police Corps I remember when an Army Reserve Unit came for their two-week training session back around 1969. The Officers were wearing cavalry hats somewhat like the Wild West cavalry officers wore. The Post Commander told the senior Army Reserve Officer that the hats were not military issue and that he had directed the MP's to cite anyone wearing non-military issue covers. The PX sold a lot of hats.

I read that the Special Forces guys were sneaking around Ft. Benning in berets until Kennedy showed up and made them official.

 

[G Low]

Here is one of my ancestors , Col. Benjamin Church . With his Captain Crunch Hat.

 

[52ndFandS]

Here is one of my ancestors , Col. Benjamin Church . With his Captain Crunch Hat.

View attachment 523358

!!!

 

[G Low]

My 10th great grandfather was Digory Priest. He died onboard the Mayflower. His widow Sara Ann Allerton remarried soon after arriving at Plymouth. From what I have read Digory was a mad Hatter and Sara's second husband was also a Hatter. He could be the maker of Benjamin's hat….