lelliott19
Brigadier General
★ Moderator
* OFFICIAL *
CWT PRESENTER
CWT PRESENTER
Forum Host
Silver Patron
Regtl. Staff Chickamauga 2018
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2013
(Dimensions 3.5" high x 2.5" wide. Seal 1" in diameter)
Did Lafayette McLaws wear this on his hat when he served as Major General in the Confederate Army? The item is in the collection of the Georgia Historical Society, along with a number of other articles donated by McLaws' family including a M1840 cavalry (wrist breaker) saber; a Model 1851 Colt "Navy" revolver (.36 caliber, percussion lock, rifled barrel, Serial #22089); a leather officer's belt with 2 piece CS belt plate; a pair of epaulets; a pair of spurs; and an assortment of personal items and photographs.
The hat brass is described as "Brass hat plate with a metal seal of the State of Georgia." The dimensions are 3.5 inches high x 2.5 inches wide, with the state seal being 1 inch in diameter. McLaws was a Captain in the Georgia Infantry Volunteers during the Mexican War and a Confederate Colonel, Brigadier General, and Major General during the Civil War.
Would McLaws have worn this on his hat during the Civil War? Or is this from the Mexican War? or some kind of post-war piece? If this has been discussed here before, I apologize. Thanks in advance for any help on this question. @ucvrelics @Package4 @major bill and anyone else who might know.
BTW - The saber in the collection of the GHS is attributed to his Mexican War service, although that may simply be a result of incorrect assumptions on the part of the GHS staff. The other items, including the hat brass, are not attributed to a specific period of service. Obviously, the belt plate is from his CS service. https://georgiahistory.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=McLaws%2C+Lafayette%2C+1821-1897
This is the only image of him that shows a hat. In every other image of him, he is bare headed. Here is a cleaned up version of the same image from wkipedia. No hat brass visible.
Images Courtesy of the Georgia Historical Society.
https://georgiahistory.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/6347F358-C41F-4B1A-B160-257930128129
https://georgiahistory.pastperfectonline.com/photo/5438811F-A8E2-4807-BB9D-056561799437
Last edited: