Need help with hat identification

[OldReliable1862]

I'm trying to identify the particular type of hat worn by one of the soldiers in one of my favorite paintings of the war. It's the soldier in gray standing in line, fifth from left with the powder smear on his cheek and rifle raised over his head. It looks very much like a US cap of the Mexican War. I first saw it worn by a Confederate reenactor in a Shiloh documentary, and seeing this in a Shiloh painting have made me start calling it the "Shiloh cap." Is there any information on what these caps were called, and if any were ever issued to Confederate units?

 

[UCVRelics]

Thats a tough order looking at the print calling @Package4

 

[sjw83071]

Mexican War Wheel Hat

 

[Gandycreek]

I've seen pics of Confederates wearing these. They were Mexican war issues. Here's a pic of one with an oilskin cover on.

 

[Gandycreek]

another

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Besides their military use during the Mexican War, they were a common civilian cap style of throughout the period.

 

[AUG]

Private Japhet Collins, Company D "Bastrop County Rawhides," 12th Texas Cavalry, ca. 1861.
http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/jtx/id/960


They're usually thought to have been more prevalent early in the war, but one Confederate even appears to be wearing one in this 1865 image of CS prisoners captured at Five Forks. https://www.loc.gov/item/2015647553/

 

[Package4]

It's a common wheel cap, sometimes referred to as a mechanics cap. These were worn by civilians and as such the one depicted in the painting appears to be civilian in nature. Early in the war you will see these utilized, some even survivors of the Mexican war M1839 forage cap.

I have one that was worn by a trooper of Company B 1st Va Cavalry, a completely tarred cotton cover, these didn't last long and were replaced as soon as possible, thus the great shape.

 

[major bill]

These were common fatigue wear for many militia companies at the start of the Civil War. Hat makers were still offering these to militias. These militia fatigue caps were all based on the style of caps worn during the Mexican American War.