69th Irish Brigade Insignia. Authentic?

[mcarreiro]

Hello,
I've been researching the Civil War for 10yrs and been collecting relics for a few years. I came across this hat insignia on the internet and hoping to get some opinions on authenticity. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
-Mark

 

[UCVRelics]

Hello,
I've been researching the Civil War for 10yrs and been collecting relics for a few years. I came across this hat insignia on the internet and hoping to get some opinions on authenticity. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
-Mark

View attachment 463909

View attachment 463910

View attachment 463911

View attachment 463912

From the loops for attaching to a hat I would say its post war.

 

[bayonet]

The real question is did the Irish ACW Units even wear those? Or is that something started by Reenactors? Anyone know for sure?

 

[7thWisconsin]

Nope. That´s a reproduction fantasy piece. Probably started its life in the reenacting world.

 

[frontrank2]

The real question is did the Irish ACW Units even wear those? Or is that something started by Reenactors? Anyone know for sure?

I've been a reenactor since 1988. My early impressions were as an Irish Brigade private. What I learned back in the day was that the Irish Harp was not a military issue and could not be worn on the crown of the cap like the brass horn and numerals. Reportedly, there is an original cap in a museum with the harp affixed to the right rear side of it.

 

[JOHN42768]

My Kepi Harp.

 

[bayonet]

I've been a reenactor since 1988. My early impressions were as an Irish Brigade private. What I learned back in the day was that the Irish Harp was not a military issue and could not be worn on the crown of the cap like the brass horn and numerals. Reportedly, there is an original cap in a museum with the harp affixed to the right rear side of it.

Yes some reenactors wore them on the sides of the kepi too but was it original to the ACW? Even in the museum kepi you mention, could it have been added later?

 

[Package4]

Hello,
I've been researching the Civil War for 10yrs and been collecting relics for a few years. I came across this hat insignia on the internet and hoping to get some opinions on authenticity. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
-Mark

View attachment 463909

View attachment 463910

View attachment 463911

View attachment 463912

I believe these to be fantasy pieces as none, to my knowledge have been dug in any of the areas of Irish Brigade action. There are no pictures of these devices on caps, though there are two very obscure examples of harp insignia. One is a shako cap plate from 1837 for the Boston Montgomery Guard, the other is an officer's private purchase embroidered green badge for a slouch hat.

I put these in the same category as the CS box plate.

 

[Package4]

My Kepi Harp.

View attachment 463935

View attachment 463936

I think I recognize that background, if I may ask, from whom did you purchase this piece?

 

[JOHN42768]

I think I recognize that background, if I may ask, from whom did you purchase this piece?

It was on eBay. I'll dig out the paper if you want

 

[mcarreiro]

Yes, that was on eBay no need for an investigation. Thank you all for your responses that was a great help. I will not be purchasing based on the information I've received.

 

[JOHN42768]

Yes, that was on eBay no need for an investigation. Thank you all for your responses that was a great help. I will not be purchasing based on the information I've received.

Welcome, enjoy

 

[Salterr]

I think I recognize that background, if I may ask, from whom did you purchase this piece?

It looks like secondhand collectibles background

 

[Woods-walker]

I believe these to be fantasy pieces as none, to my knowledge have been dug in any of the areas of Irish Brigade action. There are no pictures of these devices on caps, though there are two very obscure examples of harp insignia. One is a shako cap plate from 1837 for the Boston Montgomery Guard, the other is an officer's private purchase embroidered green badge for a slouch hat.

I put these in the same category as the CS box plate.

You make an excellent point about none dug. My father-in-law owned 80 acres that was all camp ground for the Union during the battle of Fredericksburg including the winter of 1862-63 camp. The Irish Brigade made part of that 80 acres their home that winter. I, my father in law and his two sons hunted that property exclusively for 28 years and we never dug one.

 

[Salterr]

Yes, that was on eBay no need for an investigation. Thank you all for your responses that was a great help. I will not be purchasing based on the information I've received.

I would say you've made a well informed decision if you look on eBay these sell almost weekly with the 69 and 28 soldered on. In addition to insignia of brass or embroidered you will notice that it is a post war manufacturing process to attach the numbers directly to insignia. Even though you may find the regimental number inside the infantry horn loop or inside of an embroidered artillery piece during the civil war, they are always separately attached. The same goes for embroidered insignia in the sense that if it's directly embroidered to the cap it's most likely post war.