13th Virginia Forage Cap:

[Legion Para]

Courtesy of the American Civil War Museum (formerly the Museum of the Confederacy).

http://moconfederacy.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/23198A4E-0B2D-41C6-8034-158864612572

Forage cap made by Miss Annie Kennedy (b. ca. 1837) of Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Virginia and worn by her nephew, Pvt. Kennedy Palmer, at the battle of First Manassas. It was part of the uniform of Company H (Boomerangs), 13th Virginia Infantry of Winchester, Virginia at the beginning of the Civil War. Palmer survived the war.

Forage cap of black wool; crown and band around lower portion of faded blue-green cloth with red piping; leather visor and strap with Virginia state buttons on either side of the cap; stamped brass letters on crown top: "13th Va / co / H". Crown is lined with a black and white check paper.

 

[BillO]

Very well preserved. I imagine it's in such good shape because Pvt. Kennedy was a sensible young Virginian who quickly figured out that style of headgear is almost useless in the field. All it needs is some tassels or maybe a giant plume stuck on top.