Hat brass on Confederate militia

[RetiredCanuck]

My question is twofold. Were pre-war militia companies organized under a regimental and brigade umbrella structure as well, in let's say 1860? For example, I did an impression as a member of the 18th Mississippi, Co. B for years. Pre-war, this was a militia company called the Benton Rifles out of Yazoo County.

Would they have banded together with other companies pre-war for large scale drills and tactical exercises? My impression is they did not. IIIRC the regiment was only formed during 1861, from a group of companies. Prior to that I assume they were more or less independent?

If that is the case, would it would be likely for these troops to affix brass regimental numbers and company letters on their kepis? Or were we just extrapolating from the examples on Federal troops?

It also begs the question of how common hat brass on enlisted Confederate troops was at all? I've not reenacted for more than two decades because I'm 70, but am learning more and more from this site that we probably did a lot of things wrong.

 

[RedRover]

The Mississippi Militia in the 1850s was organized as a "regular" militia system, under which the laws divided the whole free white male population into companies, battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions. Only the officers were, by law anyway, required to have uniforms, akin those of the US Army. Volunteer companies were authorized, but had to wear a uniform entire, and were attached to regular battalions and regiments (generally as light infantry or rifle companies).

During the decade some of the State authorities wanted to emphasize a "volunteer" militia system, of multitudes of uniformed volunteer companies formed into their own battalions, regiments, etc. exterior to the regular battalions and regiments. The establishment of this mode apparently commenced in earnest in 1858...

And four companies of volunteers were accepted into the new Volunteer Militia, exterior to the regular. The Volunteer Militia force really developed after late 1859... and by 1861 was organized as below...

The State laws made provision to arm these volunteer companies (where the regular militia generally made due with private arms).

The Companies generally adopted their own uniforms and insignias, more or less according to their taste and the bells and whistles available on the open market...

After secession in early 1861, a military board of the State published notices of preferred uniform dress for the State troops, and apparently some of the volunteer companies, particularly those formed thereafter, conformed more or less.



Hat brass, as a general thing, wasn't considered useful in active service, and the short supplies of brass etc. were considered better applied in other ways, etc. so apparently most Confederate troops did without it.

Supposedly some Mississippi volunteer troops, CSA photographed at Fredericksburg in 1863...

The only one with anything visible on his hat, at rear of left center, looks more like one of the "ambulance corps" badges worn on the hats of soldiers detailed for that service.

American Battlefield Trust

Candid in War, Fredericksburg, Virginia. - You are looking at a group of Barksdale’s Mississippians posing on a ruined railroad bridge in the town of Fredericksburg sometime in the spring of 1863....

www.facebook.com

From Lee's army, 1864...

Prisoners from the Army of Tennessee, 1864... one fellow, just to the right of the Union officer, with a button or star on his hat...

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Thanks. I was not aware of the significant effort to group existing pre-war militia companies and this is just the information I was looking for.
You've more or less confirmed my suspicions about the general use of cap brass in Confederate troops as well.
For example, only a minority of the original caps in the link here show evidence of hat brass.

The Quintessential Confederate Cap, Part I: Overview

The Quintessential Confederate Cap, Part I: Overview of Manufacture, Regulations and Various Designs Fred Adolphus, 28 April 2023 Updated 27 April 2025

www.adolphusconfederateuniforms.com

 

[Stryker65]

My question is twofold. Were pre-war militia companies organized under a regimental and brigade umbrella structure as well, in let's say 1860? For example, I did an impression as a member of the 18th Mississippi, Co. B for years. Pre-war, this was a militia company called the Benton Rifles out of Yazoo County.

Arkansas, Virginia, and the Carolinas most certainly did -- Virginia had upwards of 180 militia regiments before the war (this included present-day West Virginia's, as well), Arkansas had around eighty, North Carolina had over a hundred, and South Carolina somewhat less. Arkansas had eight geographical brigades, each with about ten regiments; Virginia had something of twenty-five-ish brigades, each with four to eight regiments, and North Carolina had nine...I think.

Would they have banded together with other companies pre-war for large scale drills and tactical exercises? My impression is they did not. IIIRC the regiment was only formed during 1861, from a group of companies. Prior to that I assume they were more or less independent?

Most Confederate regiments were not formed directly from militia companies/regiments. Some regiments contained a few militia companies, but I don't believe that any contained entirely militia companies. For more information on this, I'd recommend reading about how the Stonewall Brigade was formed, as it contained dozens of militia companies from the Shenandoah.

If that is the case, would it would be likely for these troops to affix brass regimental numbers and company letters on their kepis? Or were we just extrapolating from the examples on Federal troops?

I seem to remember that Confederate militia companies didn't use letters, they were just known by their original names as part of their regiment. So, the 31st Georgia militia might contain the companies: __ Guards, __ Howitzers, __ Fusiliers, __ Assassins, ___ Boys, etc.

 

[Championhilz]

The pre-war militia company the "Volunteer Southrons" of Vicksburg, wore a tall shako hat with a brass diamond on the front with the letters "VS" in the center. They also had a "VS" cross belt plate and waist belt. After the war started the Volunteer Southrons became Company A, 21st Mississippi Infantry.

 

[Trooper "D"]

The Mississippi Militia in the 1850s was organized as a "regular" militia system, under which the laws divided the whole free white male population into companies, battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions. Only the officers were, by law anyway, required to have uniforms, akin those of the US Army. Volunteer companies were authorized, but had to wear a uniform entire, and were attached to regular battalions and regiments (generally as light infantry or rifle companies).

During the decade some of the State authorities wanted to emphasize a "volunteer" militia system, of multitudes of uniformed volunteer companies formed into their own battalions, regiments, etc. exterior to the regular battalions and regiments. The establishment of this mode apparently commenced in earnest in 1858...

View attachment 551778

And four companies of volunteers were accepted into the new Volunteer Militia, exterior to the regular. The Volunteer Militia force really developed after late 1859... and by 1861 was organized as below...

View attachment 551775
View attachment 551777

The State laws made provision to arm these volunteer companies (where the regular militia generally made due with private arms).

The Companies generally adopted their own uniforms and insignias, more or less according to their taste and the bells and whistles available on the open market...

View attachment 551780

After secession in early 1861, a military board of the State published notices of preferred uniform dress for the State troops, and apparently some of the volunteer companies, particularly those formed thereafter, conformed more or less.



Hat brass, as a general thing, wasn't considered useful in active service, and the short supplies of brass etc. were considered better applied in other ways, etc. so apparently most Confederate troops did without it.

Supposedly some Mississippi volunteer troops, CSA photographed at Fredericksburg in 1863...

View attachment 551781

The only one with anything visible on his hat, at rear of left center, looks more like one of the "ambulance corps" badges worn on the hats of soldiers detailed for that service.

American Battlefield Trust

Candid in War, Fredericksburg, Virginia. - You are looking at a group of Barksdale’s Mississippians posing on a ruined railroad bridge in the town of Fredericksburg sometime in the spring of 1863....

www.facebook.com

View attachment 551784

From Lee's army, 1864...
View attachment 551782
View attachment 551783


Prisoners from the Army of Tennessee, 1864... one fellow, just to the right of the Union officer, with a button or star on his hat...

View attachment 551785

Apparently hat cords were not too popular either.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Arkansas, Virginia, and the Carolinas most certainly did -- Virginia had upwards of 180 militia regiments before the war (this included present-day West Virginia's, as well), Arkansas had around eighty, North Carolina had over a hundred, and South Carolina somewhat less. Arkansas had eight geographical brigades, each with about ten regiments; Virginia had something of twenty-five-ish brigades, each with four to eight regiments, and North Carolina had nine...I think.

Most Confederate regiments were not formed directly from militia companies/regiments. Some regiments contained a few militia companies, but I don't believe that any contained entirely militia companies. For more information on this, I'd recommend reading about how the Stonewall Brigade was formed, as it contained dozens of militia companies from the Shenandoah.

I seem to remember that Confederate militia companies didn't use letters, they were just known by their original names as part of their regiment. So, the 31st Georgia militia might contain the companies: __ Guards, __ Howitzers, __ Fusiliers, __ Assassins, ___ Boys, etc.

Don'tDon't forget Goober Getters in Georgia. Eatin' Goober Peas!

 

[Trooper "D"]

Arkansas, Virginia, and the Carolinas most certainly did -- Virginia had upwards of 180 militia regiments before the war (this included present-day West Virginia's, as well), Arkansas had around eighty, North Carolina had over a hundred, and South Carolina somewhat less. Arkansas had eight geographical brigades, each with about ten regiments; Virginia had something of twenty-five-ish brigades, each with four to eight regiments, and North Carolina had nine...I think.

Most Confederate regiments were not formed directly from militia companies/regiments. Some regiments contained a few militia companies, but I don't believe that any contained entirely militia companies. For more information on this, I'd recommend reading about how the Stonewall Brigade was formed, as it contained dozens of militia companies from the Shenandoah.

I seem to remember that Confederate militia companies didn't use letters, they were just known by their original names as part of their regiment. So, the 31st Georgia militia might contain the companies: __ Guards, __ Howitzers, __ Fusiliers, __ Assassins, ___ Boys, etc.

I have a small book that has all the Confederate units with their names of they had one. Goober Getters isn't listed unfortunately. I thought it was a very nice name for a Company of Georgians.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

I seem to remember that Confederate militia companies didn't use letters, they were just known by their original names as part of their regiment. So, the 31st Georgia militia might contain the companies: __ Guards, __ Howitzers, __ Fusiliers, __ Assassins, ___ Boys, etc.

Yes. B company, 18th Miss was the Benton Rifles before the war. Try to fit that on your cap LOL.

 

[Championhilz]

Yes. B company, 18th Miss was the Benton Rifles before the war. Try to fit that on your cap LOL.

I have seen one photograph of a Mississippi soldier with the word "Mississippi" spelled out on the top of his kepi.

 

[TerryB]

I believe the men in fancy dress uniforms are part of Old Company B, 9th Miss Inf.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

I believe the men in fancy dress uniforms are part of Old Company B, 9th Miss Inf.

The 18th Miss had similar stripes. Note the straight cuff details. Both would be red for infantry. If you search my older posts I've posted photos of that.

 

[Mississippian1861]

Hat brass is fairly rare but you see it occasionally. Here is a receipt for infantry horn insignia and brass pelicans for the whole of the 25th Louisiana Infantry.

 

[Mississippian1861]

Also here is another Louisiana solder, I believe with the 30th Louisiana.

 

[SethJ]

I have seen one photograph of a Mississippi soldier with the word "Mississippi" spelled out on the top of his kepi.

That'd be quite the sight.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Reminds me of the story of Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff.
He would have been the first Swiss player in the NHL, but they couldn't fit his name on the jersey.