Uniforms Light Artillery Uniform Caps.

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There seems to be a lack of information on the Light Artillery Uniform Caps of the Civil War. I have seen the Civil War version called "Ringgold caps". However, were the Light Artillery Uniform Caps 1863 Pattern the same design as the 1844 Pattern? I know that starting in 1857 some light artillery officers were returning to "Ringgold" style caps, but it appears enlisted men probably wore standard 1854 pattern enlisted caps with special artillery trim, or commanders could request hats for the enlisted men. In 1863 it appears that some form of Light Artillery caps were being issued. In January 1864 the quartermaster had W.C. Dare of Philadelphia make up 1,452 additional Light Artillery caps.

The 1865 quartermaster manual gives a detailed description of the 1864 style caps. So I have a couple of questions.
1. Did the Army simply use original 1844 Ringgold patterns caps from storage until 1864 or were new Light Artillery caps made?
2. Did the 1864 pattern have curved visors? This was what the regulation required, but I have seen the Schuyler, Hartley & Graham's advertisement which seems to show a brim with a more or less square cut. Photos seem to show a brim with a flat front but rounded corners. I know the Light Artillery cap of 1844 was based on the Dragoon Cap of 1833. this cap had a much more rounded visor than the 1864 Light Artillery caps. Part of my problem is finding the regulations for the older Light Artillery cap and there are few photo of it.
3. I have seen the 1864 Light Artillery Cap called the Light Artillery Shako is the preferred name "cap" or "shako"?

 

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I am assuming that most light artillerymen in the field wore forage caps or hats, and that the shako style Light Artillery Caps were mostly worn in garrison. Some may have been worn by militia artillery units early in the war. Has anyone seen a reference to these caps being worn for field duty?

 

[Package4]

I am assuming that most light artillerymen in the field wore forage caps or hats, and that the shako style Light Artillery Caps were mostly worn in garrison. Some may have been worn by militia artillery units early in the war. Has anyone seen a reference to these caps being worn for field duty?

The M1864 shako was an unwieldy beast that was basically issued to garrison troops for dress parade, where the cap gained favor was post war. There was actually a run on them and more orders had to be produced as the 2,886 or so that were in stock at the end of the war were issued by 1868. Schuyler, Hartley & Graham produced quite a few orders for militia and officers and in 1868 the Third Artillery wanted to procure the cap and had to order from Horstmann. The artillery branch, now had little to do and reveled in the pomp and circumstance of dress parade, the cap made the perfect presentation with the red horse hair plume, incredibly complex aiguillette and high crown. I believe that photographs of this hat in the "field" are post war garrison views.

 

[Package4]

For those unfamiliar with this particular piece of headgear: