"Burnside" hat question

[Billy1977]

Hello everybody, this is a question about a Union hat type known as the "Burnside". It's certainly less familiar to most than the forage cap or the slouch hat or the Model 1858 "Hardee" dress hat. Here are a few pictures of it.

My question is, was this "Burnside" style hat only for officers? Or was there an enlisted man's version of it as well? Because in the comparatively few photos I've seen of it it's always had the officer's quality embroidered branch insignia, never the enlisted brass insignia.

 

[major bill]

This was not an issue hat. I guess soldiers could purchase on if they wanted to and wear it if their officers did not object. Early in the was some Union states issued hats to some of their regiments. I guess a few might have resembled the "Burnside" hat.

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

The 'Burnside" is a standard Hardee hat. The officer's version has a bound brim. Burnside has punched the top out with a little steam to form a dome. It was a personal affectation he preferred, like his mutton chops.

 

[Billy1977]

Oh. No wonder it looks like a squished/"telescoped" Hardee hat. That's really what it was? Because the book Uniforms of the Civil War by Francis Lord seems to infer that it was its own design. The book could be incorrect of course.

 

[major bill]

 

[major bill]

There may be some other differences besides the flat top verses the rounded top. A typical Army Hat of 1858 had a crown 6 1/2 inches tall. Some people believe the Burnside Hat to be only 5 1/2 inches tall. Also the standard brim was 3 inches and a Burnside Hat also had a 3 inch wide brim. The problem is that so many different manufactures were used during the Civil War that the "Army Hats" purchased by the Federal government might have 6 1/2 inch tall crown while others might have crowns only 5 1/2 inches tall. Remember the less material used the more profit for the hat makers. So a well worn Army Hat could end up looking like a Burnside Hat.

Note the term often used for a tall hat with a 6 7/8 tall crown and with a fore and aft blocked crown was the "General William Sherman Hat".

 

[Billy1977]

Major Bill, that's the same picture that is in the book I was talking about. Neat!

 

[Package4]

Keep in mind that Schuyler, Hartley and Graham sold private purchase gear and not US issue. Officers were not issued their weapons or uniforms and had to purchase from purveyors such as S,H & G. Enlisted with means also purchased uniforms and headgear, but their gear had to comply with regulations.

Officers were able to get away with more uniform affectations than the enlisted; Burnside's hat and Custer's uniform are two that come to mind.