Sicilian cap

[Manassas 1861]

I'm hoping to put together a Confederate uniform. Does anybody know where I can buy a reproduction sicillian cap online?

 

[captaindrew]

Why? It was not remotely a typical piece of headgear

 

[captaindrew]

So you want to put together a decent Confederate uniform, there's lots to think about. What time frame? Early, mid, or late war? What theater? ANV, AoT, Trans Mississippi, or Deep South? Choosing the right jacket is very time, area specific. The rest can cross over if you keep it generic. Drab jean trousers, white issue shirt, and either a jean kepi or civilian slouch hat will work for all.

 

[Manassas 1861]

@captaindrew I want to make it an early war ANV impression. I was thinking of a frock coat, and an 1839 US army cap.

 

[captaindrew]

@captaindrew I want to make it an early war ANV impression. I was thinking of a frock coat, and an 1839 US army cap.

A frock coat is a good choice and versatile, they were worn in every theater. One thing to take into consideration is a good quality frock is going to cost some $$$. Why a 1839 cap? That was a Mexican War thing, most CW enlisted men would have been young children at that time. What does show up some in photos is a civilian wheel cap or mechanics cap which was popular at the time. They looked similar to the old army cap. I would say an early war trimmed kepi would be a much better looking choice. A good slouch hat was always in style and you could even use it portraying Federal.
So what's your goal? Do you want to participate in some events as Confederate? You have a group in mind? If I can give advice I would make it as versatile as possible unless you can afford several jackets and hats. A frock is a good choice or a good commutation jacket is also very versatile. If you're mainly wanting an ANV look I would go with a jean Richmond Depot type 2. Would cover you from mid 62 on.

 

[RedRover]

I'm hoping to put together a Confederate uniform. Does anybody know where I can buy a reproduction sicillian cap online?

Probably easier to just make one. The museum of the Confederacy has one that belonged to O. Jennings Wise, killed at Roanoke in 1862. They can provide on request a description, diagram, showing its size and construction for a fee.

Museum of the Confderacy: Wise Cap...

We've already seen a few early war images with the Johnny Rebs wearing such caps over the crowns of their forage caps, or under them... for the photographers... I think an earlier thread on this forum made a strong case that they were in fact made up for "fatigue cap covers" viz. to act something like a havelock to protect the military cap, and the baggy falling crown for decoration, shade, etc. For example, from a reference to Company F, 10th Georgia Volunteers in 1861, they were outfitted with "cap covers...parti-colored or plaid, long and pointed, and so arranged that they may be thrown back on the neck or over the visor."

In other words, something like the havelock. For example, though "havelocks" were regulation for the CS Army, and popular for troops....

Charleston Courier, 5-29-1861.

....not everyone knew what they looked like...

Charleston Courier, 6-12-1861.

Charleston Courier, 6-6-1861.

So such fancy "parti-colored" (many colored) jaunty cap covers appear simple enough to make; but on any such score they were certainly no more successful where employed than the "havelock" pattern cover, and likely fell out of favor as quickly.


Regarding 1839 army forage caps...

As mentioned, old army clothing was not something to be found around in 1861. there were no "military surplus stores" back then. All the surplus army clothing produced during the War with Mexico was issued until exhausted in the 1850s, including the 1839 pattern forage caps, which were in use as fatigue wear by regular soldiers through the late 1850s...

Civilian caps were more common. Sometimes used by militia corps as fatigue caps...

Here's an excellent example of a Confederate used citizen's style glazed cap...

CWTalk, Confederate glazed cap, 1st VA Cavalry...

From Library of Congress...

Some Missouri State Guards, 1861:

Here's a chap of the 11th Virginia Volunteers, 1861...

Before the blockade choked off trade, etc., the Confederate volunteers could outfit as they saw fit.

Charleston Mercury, 2-13-1861.

By the close of the year, common glazed caps, 2.50 per dozen!

Ibid., 11-14-1861.

Ibid., 1-6-1862.


The company of Louisiana State troops who secured the New Orleans Barracks in early 1861 in their common hats and caps...

Daily Dispatch, Richmond, 1-22-1861.


The Confederate regular army adopted the "kepi" style as regulation in June, 1861. While it set the fashion, and perhaps guided the market and later the Confederate government's depot production from the close of 1862, the Confederate volunteers wore whatever, though principally slouch hats where available.

Perote Guards, 1st Alabama, Volunteers, April, 1861...

Forbes sketch of CSA prisoners captured at Chancellorsville, a variety of hats and caps... looks like a common cap at center perhaps...

Forbes sketch of CSA prisoners taken in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, a chap with a common cap sketched in front...

POWs taken at Five Forks in April, 1865...

Newly freed men in Richmond mid-1865:

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

@captaindrew I want to make it an early war ANV impression. I was thinking of a frock coat, and an 1839 US army cap.

@Manassas 1861 how early are you talking? The second half of 1861 which would cover 1st Manassas? Or the first half of 1862?

 

[RedRover]

From June, 1861 to March, 1862, the Confederate Army in Northern Virginia was the "Army of the Potomac." Renamed the "Army of Northern Virginia" in March, 1862 evidently.

An Englishman in Richmond in June, 1861 noted:

William A. McClendon of the 15th Alabama Volunteers noted that in late 1861 his company got up a "fatigue suit" on taking the field of red flannel shirts and gray pants... and in November, 1861 received their gray "uniforms" for which they had been measured and contracted for previously, consisting of "scissor tailed" coats, and caps, etc. He says his comrades were generally pleased as it placed them nearly as uniform in dress as the 7th Louisiana Volunteers and the 1st Kentucky Volunteers, who he stated were then the "best dressed regiments I saw during the war."

Here's the dress of the 7th Louisiana in 1861. In 1862 there is notice their caps bore regimental insignias, etc.

The 1st Kentucky Volunteers... from Harper's Weekly, "a Confederate Uniform with unmistakable Kentucky flair. The uniform features fringe on both the jacket and the pants."

"They number about six hundred, are uniformed in blue woolen hunting shirts and trousers, with slouched hats, and are commanded by Col. Blanton Duncan, a wealthy gentleman of Kentucky, who served in the regiment of that State with distinction during the Mexican war. Col. Duncan raised, equipped and transported his regiment to Virginia entirely at his own expense. The Kentuckians are armed with Minnie rifles. They are specially detailed to guard the strongly fortified Maryland Heights, the key to the whole position."

Richmond Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia), 17 May, 1861. Illustration from Harper's Illustrated, August, 1861:

The Kentucky Regiment was notable for its uniform, etc., but according to another witness, for all that they were not well drilled...

Here's a "Grayson Daredevil" with a one of the scicilian cap covers... Their initial outfit included red hunting shirts, which they intended to exchange for gray in active service, etc., leggings, moccasins, etc...

by August, 1861, the federal Blockade was having an effect, and shortages of suitable cloth for fancy uniforms at reasonable prices was a result. Homespun had been much resorted to already, but the economy suffering, there was a large public appeal for the citizens to make up or contribute suitable clothing to the soldiers in the field... President Davis evidently notifying the Governors of the States that they must enjoin their citizens to get cracking before cold weather...

Richmond Whig, Aug. 27, 1861.

The Governors then appealing to public aid, etc. Like from Governor Letcher of Virginia:

Richmond Inquirer, Aug. 23, 1861.

The General description of the wanted clothing for the troops appearing in Southern papers was as follows:

Augusta Chronicle, Georgia, Aug. 21, 1861.



By October, quantities of this clothing was being received in Virginia for winter wear...

Charleston Mercury, 10-7-1861.


General Joe Johnston commanding in Virginia later noted that in March, 1862, upon the abandonment of the Manassas line, a vast depot of stores there, consisting of the baggage, uniforms, and other clothing sent from the South, was burned in place, putting the Confederate troops in Virginia into a bad state they never completely recovered from as far as clothing...

Quoted from Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist, vol. 8, p. 7.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I´ve looked at that Harper´s illustration my whole life. How many of those uniforms do you think were actually worn more than once? Or which ones were pure fabrications based on second-hand descriptions?

 

[captaindrew]

Great info as always @RedRover but one point I've been trying to get to with the OP is not to box themselves into a corner when putting a Confederate impression together. I've seen it before. I'd hate to see someone spend a lot of money on a very specific impression that's really only appropriate for the 1st summer of the war. There's only so many 1st Manassas events that come along. That's great if you can afford to do so and that's just what some imersive events are looking for but it gets expensive. I have a closet full of CS jackets but I've been picking at it for over 30 years. It's also important to know if you're putting together a CS kit what unit you may be falling in with. Some of the states like the examples above did a good job outfitting their troops before sending them off, others not so much. A nice state impression would go well for early war but again you're getting very time and place specific. When putting together your first CS kit I would always highly recommend keeping it more generic so you can be appropriate at most events. A frock or commutation jacket is a good choice or if you're in the Mid Atlantic or Northeast you're probably going to be doing a ANV impression, a good Richmond Depot jacket is appropriate for most events. That would be my recommendation for whatever that's worth.

 

[52ndFandS]

A frock coat is a good choice and versatile, they were worn in every theater. One thing to take into consideration is a good quality frock is going to cost some $$$. Why a 1839 cap? That was a Mexican War thing, most CW enlisted men would have been young children at that time. What does show up some in photos is a civilian wheel cap or mechanics cap which was popular at the time. They looked similar to the old army cap. I would say an early war trimmed kepi would be a much better looking choice. A good slouch hat was always in style and you could even use it portraying Federal.
So what's your goal? Do you want to participate in some events as Confederate? You have a group in mind? If I can give advice I would make it as versatile as possible unless you can afford several jackets and hats. A frock is a good choice or a good commutation jacket is also very versatile. If you're mainly wanting an ANV look I would go with a jean Richmond Depot type 2. Would cover you from mid 62 on.

I can't speak for the kit as what I'm putting together is deep south and very generic. But headgear is another thing. Of course wearing its another too. I have a planter hat but I'm not using it in the field, but is nice when I mow the lawn.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

My 61-62 impression is a plain enlisted frock, depot pants, and slouch hat. Or a North Carolina sack coat if I'm doing my home impression(even then I still often wear the frock). After that RD2 jackets, same hat and trousers. I just ordered an EAC type 2, so I'm gathering jackets like they're going out of style apparently. I still need to upgrade my jean shell jacket too, which I'll do ASAP. You sure you want to get into this?

Also I think Beauregard's Tailor makes those caps, but they really aren't very useful outside of specific circumstances..

 

[major bill]

While popular early in the Civil War, I could never understand why. The brimless Sicilian caps seem to not have any real practical benefits other than decoration. The ones with brims are not much of an improvement over a forage cap or a fez. To my modern eyes they are not overly attractive.

 

[DoctorKingSchultz]

Probably easier to just make one. The museum of the Confederacy has one that belonged to O. Jennings Wise, killed at Roanoke in 1862. They can provide on request a description, diagram, showing its size and construction for a fee.

View attachment 511316

Museum of the Confderacy: Wise Cap...

We've already seen a few early war images with the Johnny Rebs wearing such caps over the crowns of their forage caps, or under them... for the photographers... I think an earlier thread on this forum made a strong case that they were in fact made up for "fatigue cap covers" viz. to act something like a havelock to protect the military cap, and the baggy falling crown for decoration, shade, etc. For example, from a reference to Company F, 10th Georgia Volunteers in 1861, they were outfitted with "cap covers...parti-colored or plaid, long and pointed, and so arranged that they may be thrown back on the neck or over the visor."



View attachment 511317

View attachment 511323

In other words, something like the havelock. For example, though "havelocks" were regulation for the CS Army, and popular for troops....

View attachment 511320
Charleston Courier, 5-29-1861.

....not everyone knew what they looked like...

View attachment 511319
Charleston Courier, 6-12-1861.

View attachment 511321
Charleston Courier, 6-6-1861.

So such fancy "parti-colored" (many colored) jaunty cap covers appear simple enough to make; but on any such score they were certainly no more successful where employed than the "havelock" pattern cover, and likely fell out of favor as quickly.


Regarding 1839 army forage caps...

As mentioned, old army clothing was not something to be found around in 1861. there were no "military surplus stores" back then. All the surplus army clothing produced during the War with Mexico was issued until exhausted in the 1850s, including the 1839 pattern forage caps, which were in use as fatigue wear by regular soldiers through the late 1850s...

Civilian caps were more common. Sometimes used by militia corps as fatigue caps...

View attachment 511313


Here's an excellent example of a Confederate used citizen's style glazed cap...

CWTalk, Confederate glazed cap, 1st VA Cavalry...

From Library of Congress...

View attachment 511301

Some Missouri State Guards, 1861:
View attachment 511302

View attachment 511303

Here's a chap of the 11th Virginia Volunteers, 1861...
View attachment 511304

Before the blockade choked off trade, etc., the Confederate volunteers could outfit as they saw fit.

View attachment 511305
Charleston Mercury, 2-13-1861.

By the close of the year, common glazed caps, 2.50 per dozen!
View attachment 511309
Ibid., 11-14-1861.

View attachment 511308
Ibid., 1-6-1862.


The company of Louisiana State troops who secured the New Orleans Barracks in early 1861 in their common hats and caps...

View attachment 511311
Daily Dispatch, Richmond, 1-22-1861.


The Confederate regular army adopted the "kepi" style as regulation in June, 1861. While it set the fashion, and perhaps guided the market and later the Confederate government's depot production from the close of 1862, the Confederate volunteers wore whatever, though principally slouch hats where available.

Perote Guards, 1st Alabama, Volunteers, April, 1861...
View attachment 511307

Forbes sketch of CSA prisoners captured at Chancellorsville, a variety of hats and caps... looks like a common cap at center perhaps...
View attachment 511315
Forbes sketch of CSA prisoners taken in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, a chap with a common cap sketched in front...
View attachment 511314

POWs taken at Five Forks in April, 1865...
View attachment 511306

Newly freed men in Richmond mid-1865:
View attachment 511310

You're quite certain these are glazed hats? Not those waterproof hat covers you see in some images on kepis that give them that shiny look.