Gold laced kepi?

[Cavalier]

Recently I came across a photo of one of my favorite Generals, Phil Kearney, holding a kepi that appeared to have been decorated with the gold lace of a general officer. I have never seen any other photos of Union General officers with kepis with that gold lace. Black lace, yes but not gold.

I know the photo could have been doctored but am not sure why that would have been done.

Does anyone think there is any historical presedent for the gold braid on Kearney's kepi?

John

 

[captaindrew]

Officers supplied there own uniforms and some took some liberties with their embellishments. Just look at some of Custer's outfits. I'm sure it was just a personal preference.

 

[UCVRelics]

Without seeing the photo its hard to say as a lot of CW period photos had gold tones added to the buttons etc.

 

[Package4]

Recently I came across a photo of one of my favorite Generals, Phil Kearney, holding a kepi that appeared to have been decorated with the gold lace of a general officer. I have never seen any other photos of Union General officers with kepis with that gold lace. Black lace, yes but not gold.

I know the photo could have been doctored but am not sure why that would have been done.

Does anyone think there is any historical presedent for the gold braid on Kearney's kepi?

John

Are you talking about this photo, if so, that is gold braid and standard on GO kepis.

 

[Cavalier]

@Package4 That's the photo! And thanks for the photos of the caps. Thanks all you guys very much for the assistance! I had never realized Union Generals actually wore those, (sharp as a bowling ball seems to be the operative phrase).

John

 

[Package4]

@Package4 That's the photo! And thanks for the photos of the caps. Thanks all you guys very much for the assistance! I had never realized Union Generals actually wore those, (sharp as a bowling ball seems to be the operative phrase).

John

Keep in mind that generals had the means to have multiple caps/hats. You are correct that some officers had the subdued braid on their caps, though these were generally Line Officers. Generals did not really care too much about being inconspicuous since they usually had a fairly large staff and wanted to stand out so that couriers and such could locate.

 

[Cavalier]

@Package4 Well, you would think that after reading about this stuff since 1954 I would have figured this out by now. I would love to cop a plea for a senior moment but I don't think I can get away with that.

Gratefully, John

 

[War Horse]

@Package4 Well, you would think that after reading about this stuff since 1954 I would have figured this out by now. I would love to cop a plea for a senior moment but I don't think I can get away with that.

Gratefully, John

I know of one Confederate General who was very fond of his Kepi with Gold braid.

 

[Package4]

@Package4 Well, you would think that after reading about this stuff since 1954 I would have figured this out by now. I would love to cop a plea for a senior moment but I don't think I can get away with that.

Gratefully, John

Hey, that stuff is usually garnered through letters and diaries, not in regimental histories etc, I learned through collecting. Many of the Line Officer caps I have had over the years have the subdued braid and GO caps that I have had, usually had obnoxious braid.

Certainly not a topic covered in most Civil War reading, if you get a chance, Google French Crimean War GO kepis, talk about ostentatious……

Don't feel like you should have known

 

[Cavalier]

@Package4 and @War Horse Sorry for the delay in Getting back to you!

I have seen pictures of Confederate officers with the gold lace on them
before but don't remember ever seeing a Union officer with one other than Kearney's.

I spent yesterday evening looking up French Generals of the Crimean War. You nailed it. Those guys certainly knew how to look the part!

Thanks again for your kind assistance, John

 

[The Walking Dead]

Confederate General Bradley Tyler Johnson's Kepi.

 

[The Walking Dead]

General George Pickett's kepi.

 

[Package4]

@Package4 and @War Horse Sorry for the delay in Getting back to you!

I have seen pictures of Confederate officers with the gold lace on them
before but don't remember ever seeing a Union officer with one other than Kearney's.

I spent yesterday evening looking up French Generals of the Crimean War. You nailed it. Those guys certainly knew how to look the part!

Thanks again for your kind assistance, John

The picture of the first kepi I posted is actually the one supposedly worn at Gettysburg by Union General John Henry Hobart Ward, we know it is his kepi, just not known whether he wore it when wounded at Gettysburg.

Here is the kepi of Union General Cleaveland J Campbell and very subdued, possibly due to his late promotion

https://civilwartalk.com/posts/1478337

 

[James N.]

@Package4 That's the photo! And thanks for the photos of the caps. Thanks all you guys very much for the assistance! I had never realized Union Generals actually wore those, (sharp as a bowling ball seems to be the operative phrase).

John

Keep in mind that generals had the means to have multiple caps/hats. You are correct that some officers had the subdued braid on their caps, though these were generally Line Officers. Generals did not really care too much about being inconspicuous since they usually had a fairly large staff and wanted to stand out so that couriers and such could locate.

@Package4 and @War Horse Sorry for the delay in Getting back to you!

I have seen pictures of Confederate officers with the gold lace on them
before but don't remember ever seeing a Union officer with one other than Kearney's.

I spent yesterday evening looking up French Generals of the Crimean War. You nailed it. Those guys certainly knew how to look the part!

Thanks again for your kind assistance, John

Keep in mind the all-important distinction between Regular and Volunteer ranks and the officers who held them! Also that the French army was at the time considered to be the most powerful, influential, and hence fashionable in the Western World. Confederate Regulations DID call for gilt braid, whereas Union Regulations specified black mohair tape on greatcoat sleeve knots as well as kepi braid. (Forage caps being undress items didn't have braid.) HOWEVER...

The Regs were viewed by many if not most volunteers as mere "suggestions." Even Regular officers serving during the war in volunteer regiments or holding brevet or temporary ranks - think of those famously non-Regulation outfits usually sported by George Custer and other Union cavalry officers like Torbert, Duffie, etc. - could "get away" with wearing largely what they pleased. Outfitters like Tiffany's; Schulyer, Hartley, & Graham; Fitch & Waldo; Horstmann and others were happy to cater to the whims (and fat purses) of their customers, often importing such items directly from France, where they were Regulation as has already been pointed out.

The gentleman in question, Phil Kearney, was both independently wealthy, able to afford the best of anything he fancied; plus a veteran of the French Army and its recent 1859 Italian Campaign in which he had once again been wounded and decorated.

 

[Package4]

@Package4 and @War Horse Sorry for the delay in Getting back to you!

I have seen pictures of Confederate officers with the gold lace on them
before but don't remember ever seeing a Union officer with one other than Kearney's.

I spent yesterday evening looking up French Generals of the Crimean War. You nailed it. Those guys certainly knew how to look the part!

Thanks again for your kind assistance, John

And where might these gentlemen purchase such headgear? Picture from a Schuyler, Hartley, & Graham catalog:

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Can anyone explain what the designs on top of the kepis signify?

 

[Cavalier]

@Kathy the history sleuth No expert you understand but I believe the number of strips in the braid indicated the rank of the wearer. More stripes in braid, higher rank.

John

 

[Package4]

Can anyone explain what the designs on top of the kepis signify?

John, is absolutely correct, the number of braids determined rank; the design on top is called a quatrefoil and has many different meanings, some pertaining to luck, others to the four gospels, the design goes back in history all the way to the Celts. I imagine that the US and CS simply copied what the French were doing, since as James N. alluded to earlier, they were one of the predominate military powers in the middle 1800s.

 

[Cavalier]

Thanks to everyone most enlightening comments above, I am so enthused about these kepis I am going to purchase a reproduction for myself. If they were good enough for General Phil Kearney they should sure as h--- be good enough for an X pfc. Besides it would look good next to my reproduction sword.

Gratefully, John

 

[Package4]

Maryland kepi of a general officer