Havelock

[Manassas 1861]

Today's uniform photograph is of William H. House, of the 16th Georgia Partisan Rangers. Wearing and early war havelock and holding a fighting knife. Havelock's were used extensively on the early months of the war, but were thrown away due to them being useless.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Actually that´s not a havelock, but a bag cap. I believe they were also called Piedmont caps. They were in imitation of European military cap styles. They didn´t last past the first year generally

 

[major bill]

I have seen these called Sicilian caps the were worn over a cap or alone. Both Southerners and Union soldiers wore these.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

@Manassas 1861 have you thought about crediting the source of the photographs you are posting?

 

[Manassas 1861]

@Sowbelly and Hardtack . Military Images magazine

 

[7thWisconsin]

I have seen these called Sicilian caps the were worn over a cap or alone. Both Southerners and Union soldiers wore these.

Sicilian cap! That´s it!!!!!! Thank you!

 

[captaindrew]

Examples of original havelocks from Time Life's "Echoes of Glory"

 

[Manassas 1861]

Ok got it. He's wearing a sicillian cap not a havelock. I learn something new here everyday.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Have any of us reenactor types actually worn one? Are they hot? Or were they just considered silly looking (and European) and that´s why the troops discarded them?
I´ve read of soldiers shouting at a havelock-wearing companion ¨You forgot to take your laundry in!

 

[RedRover]

Yes, Sicilian caps, popularized by Garibaldi's red shirts, etc. in Italy?

CivilWarTalk: Sicillian Caps...

From the Chicago Press and Tribune, Sept. 5, 1860...

Havelock looked like this, from a sketch by David Hunter Strother...

Here's the pattern for them from the CS Army's 1861 clothing regulations.

 

[captaindrew]

The hat in the OP looks like it's over top of a regular cap. At first look I thought it was a sleeping/camp cap which were popular in that era. They show up in other period photos. Those were mostly made by family and/or sweethearts at home for which the photo was taken and wanted to show he was wearing it.

 

[7thWisconsin]

That flimsy looking belt around his waist is interesting, too. It looks about as wide as overcoat straps on a knapsack.

 

[captaindrew]

Here's another example of a similar hat, this time worn underneath his normal hat

 

[major bill]

Ok got it. He's wearing a sicillian cap not a havelock. I learn something new here everyday.

I have also seen the term Corsican cap for a similar item.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Have any of us reenactor types actually worn one? Are they hot? Or were they just considered silly looking (and European) and that´s why the troops discarded them?
I´ve read of soldiers shouting at a havelock-wearing companion ¨You forgot to take your laundry in!

I wore one---sort of. The 125th Bull Run reenactment was held in a huge vacant field not far from the original battle field. The temperature was 100+, high humidity and scorching sun. There were thousands of reenactors, and the sutlers were doing a good business in havelocks. Sounded like a good idea to me since it was one of the few battles where they were actually worn. Unfortunately, as we were forming up, our "brigade" commander ordered all havelocks taken off, because his "research" showed that the brigade we portrayed were not wearing havelocks in the actual battle. We were in no position to ask for his footnotes, so I never got to wear it and it became a dishrag. I managed to avoid sunstroke, although I had to fall out with stomach cramps and had a sunburned neck as a reminder. I've never been at a reenactment with so many ambulances crossing the field during the action. Ah, memories...

 

[RedRover]

I wore one---sort of. The 125th Bull Run reenactment was held in a huge vacant field not far from the original battle field. The temperature was 100+, high humidity and scorching sun. There were thousands of reenactors, and the sutlers were doing a good business in havelocks. Sounded like a good idea to me since it was one of the few battles where they were actually worn. Unfortunately, as we were forming up, our "brigade" commander ordered all havelocks taken off, because his "research" showed that the brigade we portrayed were not wearing havelocks in the actual battle. We were in no position to ask for his footnotes, so I never got to wear it and it became a dishrag. I managed to avoid sunstroke, although I had to fall out with stomach cramps and had a sunburned neck as a reminder. I've never been at a reenactment with so many ambulances crossing the field during the action. Ah, memories...

Some of the photographs of that event in the Civil War Times Illustrated were really awesome. Especially compared to the old pics. of the centennial reenactments.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I wore one---sort of. The 125th Bull Run reenactment was held in a huge vacant field not far from the original battle field. The temperature was 100+, high humidity and scorching sun. There were thousands of reenactors, and the sutlers were doing a good business in havelocks. Sounded like a good idea to me since it was one of the few battles where they were actually worn. Unfortunately, as we were forming up, our "brigade" commander ordered all havelocks taken off, because his "research" showed that the brigade we portrayed were not wearing havelocks in the actual battle. We were in no position to ask for his footnotes, so I never got to wear it and it became a dishrag. I managed to avoid sunstroke, although I had to fall out with stomach cramps and had a sunburned neck as a reminder. I've never been at a reenactment with so many ambulances crossing the field during the action. Ah, memories...

That´s dumb - here was a once in a decade chance to wear a piece of gear, spitting distance from where they were actually used and some Poindexter has to go and overthink it. I´ll bet he was picked last in gym class...