Shakos and Bearskins

[10thMountain]

Hello,
Were there any formations at First Manassas that wore Shakos or Bearskins?
Thank you

 

[Old Soldier]

The peaked cap worn by most civil war soldiers of both sides could be termed a 'shako'. Unlike a Napoleonic shako, however, most were not stiffened to stay upright in the same style of the old French shako. BTW - shako = peak (Hungarian - csákó) The unstiffened 'forage cap' of the French army was the kepi (little cap) very similar to the Civil War caps. and was worn off duty, on exercise or on campaign.

The shako at this time, like the bearskin, was ceremonial or full dress wear and would not be worn in the field. Although there were some units with bearskins in parade dress, they would not be worn on campaign. Most parade headdress in the USA and Europe were replaced by parade helmets from 1870 onwards. The current french kepi is a stiffened 'cap' for formal wear only and replaced the shako in 1870

 

[JOHN42768]

Hello,
Were there any formations at First Manassas that wore Shakos or Bearskins?
Thank you

Welcome, enjoy

 

[RedRover]

Hello,
Were there any formations at First Manassas that wore Shakos or Bearskins?
Thank you

Probably not.

Many of the Volunteer Militia corps, which wore a fancy parade dress with shakos or bearskins, etc.,; when mobilized for active service adopted a service dress more conducive to camp and field.

And the majority of the Regular troops were wearing generally their "fatigue" dress in the field... and the US Volunteers, following their lead, did much the same.

American regulars had generally worn fatigue dress in the field for some decades before the 1860s, and made no change in this mode during the war.

On the march to Manassas, the troop often discarded even much of the clothing worn, as it was very hot.

The following depictions of the fancier uniforms of the Union and Confederate forces in Virginia were published shortly after the Battle...

Union...

Confederate...