Confederate Slouch Hat from Gettysburg

[AUG]

Confederate Enlisted Slouch Hat Picked up on the Gettysburg Battlefield by a Member of the 107th Ohio Vol. Inf.The hat is accompanied by an old 1 1/8" X 5 7/8" typewritten note, now mounted on cardboard, with the following provenance, "This Rebel Hat was found after the Battle of Gettysburg near Culp's Hill by J. Bucher." (Image of card now posted on web site.) John Bucher served with the 107th Ohio, from 9/9/62 to muster out on 7/13/65. The 107th lost 220 officers and men at Chancellorsville and 400 out of 550 effectives in action on the 1st and 2nd days at Gettysburg, capturing the battleflag of the 8th Louisiana Tigers. The hat is of heavy brown wool felt, and appears to have been fabricated for folding. The edge is bound with a hand stitched 3/16" wide brown silk tape. There is a 7/16" wide brown silk hat band. The lightweight pigskin sweat band is 2 1/4" high, hand stitched, and in excellent condition but showing some obvious signs of wear. The hat is overall in excellent, untouched, sound condition, just exhibiting some 'moth tracking' on the exposed portion of the brim. Very impressive and very Confederate. An important addition to any Gettysburg or general Confederate collection with a superb history.
http://historical.ha.com/itm/milita...55-52082.s?ic4=OtherResults-SampleItem-071515

Given the circumstances, this hat most likely belonged to a Louisianian in Harry T. Hays' Louisiana Brigade. Hays' Brigade took part in the attack up East Cemetery Hill on the night of July 2, the 107th Ohio being one of the units they faced. I do wonder if this was the original shape it was worn in or if it was folded up after capture for easy storage. Though it wouldn't surprise me if some Reb wore it in that fashion; Confederate slouch hats came in all shapes and sizes.

 

[Package4]

I believe this was most likely the shape it was worn, the famous picture of the Louisiana dead on the Hagerstown Pike at Sharpsburg shows IIRC three such hats, though only one is readily identifiable.

 

[AUG]

Another similar example of this style I could find in a period photo is in the image of Confederate prisoners at White House Landing, Va., circa 1864. The officer wearing the frock coat at left center is wearing a hat in a similar fashion with the sides turned up, and the second man to the right of him has on a "beehive style" slouch with the brim rolled up.

 

[AUG]

Was searching for more examples of this style in photographs and artwork.

Holding the Line by Gilbert Gaul. Notice the guy at center with the banana-shaped hat, both sides folded up. Gives an idea of how it could have been worn sideways as well.

A Federal artilleryman in this photo of a section of the Keystone Battery is wearing a slouch in an almost identical fashion (standing third from right).

 

[CheathamHill]

I remember bidding on that the first time it was auctioned. I knew I had NO chance at 250.00

On another note, I forgot how amazing that image of the CS prisoners is posted above. Zooming in you can really make out great details....
so much so that...did...is this...could this be a a Unicorn in the wild? Hint: Back right shoulder.... Boy could that lead to some discussion no matter which way you go with it...HMMMMM

 

[Texian]

On another note, I forgot how amazing that image of the CS prisoners is posted above. Zooming in you can really make out great details....
so much so that...did...is this...could this be a a Unicorn in the wild? Hint: Back right shoulder.... Boy could that lead to some discussion no matter which way you go with it...HMMMMM

View attachment 240784

I presume you are referring to the young Black man behind the proud soldier's left shoulder (our right side). I am not making any political statements here. I have made a detailed close study of that photograph. It is possible there are as many as 4 Negros in the photo... I have focussed predominently on facial features since dirt and shadows make many faces quite dark. My estimations may well be wrong and I well may have missed some one or others. Be that as it will, they are honest errors and nothing else.

Such men were to be found throughout the Confederate armies right up to the end. They served in whatever capacity they were needed, primarily as cooks and teamsters but they were known to fight as well. All taken as prisoners were offered enlistment in Union "Coloured"[sic] forces. Some chose to go on to the prison camps with the men they knew for reasons of their own.
White Confederates were also offered service in the Union armies primarily in the west where many Native Americans and marauders of mixed race and loyalty to no government, took advantage of the war's depletion of troops in the west to wreak havoc. Those were derided by their former comrades as "galvanized Yankees."
I have done as well as I could to avoid any political focus and hold strictly to facts.

 

[CheathamHill]

Can't believe it's been 4 years since I made that post. Where does time go.
On another note, fantastic observations and work texian. I had missed the others, but it appears you are correct.
-CHeers