Donald Duck hat or pancake cap?

[major bill]

US and Confederate sailors often wore flat topped sailor caps during the Civil War. In Navy regulation these appear to be simply called "caps". Some modern terms for these sailor caps include Donald Duck hats and pancake caps. I prefer to try to use Civil War era terms when I describe a uniform item. Has anyone seen a good period term for this style of naval cap?

 

[ikesdad]

Cover

 

[Michael W.]

Just "cap" is all I believe they called them then, sometimes the term "flat hat" was used.

 

[ikesdad]

Unlike today, there was no other cover to compare it to. It was the only cover they had.

 

[major bill]

In general ikesdad is correct. Sailors wore blue covers and white covers. Naval officers had a couple style of headwear. Sailors still wore the sennit (straw) hat a fair amount during the Civil War, sometimes tarred. There are also Civil War era photo showing ratings wearing officer-style brimmed caps. There are also images and surviving examples of a style of brimless fatigue cap.

 

[Carronade]

I can't claim any definitive evidence, but "cover" seems like a modern term to me. Can anyone cite it being used in the Civil War era?

 

[ikesdad]

There are no modern terms in the Navy.