The Kossuth hat

[major bill]

The U.S. model 1858 uniform hat was known by several names. It was called the Jeff Davis hat, the Hardee hat and the Kossuth hat. The first two men are well known to most Civil War students but Louis Kossuth is less known. This begins with his name, Louis Kossuth's real name was Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva.

 

[Booner]

Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva

No wonder it was also called the Hardee

 

[major bill]

I have seen many pre war references calling it the "Kossuth hat" but it seems that term was falling out of use by the start of the Civil War and the term "Hardee hat" seems to be a more common Civil War name for this headgear. Hardee was a board member and the recorder of the board that suggested the hat. Davis was Secretary of War who approved the hat. Louis Kossuth I guess simply wore a hat similar to this style. It should more properly be called the '1858 Army hat' or 'the 1858 pattern hat'.

 

[donna]

Interesting. Do you have any biographical information on Louis Kossuth?

 

[donna]

To answer my own question there is interesting information on him in Wikipedia. Also there is his statue at 113th Street and Riverside Drive in New York City.

Pat Young probably knows about him and has seen his statue.

 

[major bill]

For those who do not know of him, Louis Kossuth was a Hungarian freedom fighter who lead a revolution in Hungary that sought to establish Hungarian independence and a constitutional democratic form of government. Russian intervention force him from power. He then toured the United Kingdom and the United States trying to gain support for intervention in Europe to establish democratic government there. He gain some support in the United States particularly among German immigrants.

 

[MaryDee]

Actually, in Hungarian he was Kossuth Lajos. The Hungarians put the family name first.

 

[major bill]

Actually, in Hungarian he was Kossuth Lajos. The Hungarians put the family name first.

Yes they do. I went with the semi English name because that is how it comes up on Web searches.

 

[Legion Para]

There is an article on the Kossuth Hat in the Winter 2016 issue of Military Images Magazine.

http://militaryimagesmagazine.com/2015/12/09/finding-aid-winter-2016/


Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 38-39)
McAfee explores the Hungarian connection to the Union Army's Model 1858 uniform hat. It was known by various nicknames, including the "Kossuth hat" in honor of Louis Kossuth (1802-1894) of Hungary, a freedom fighter celebrated across the antebellum U.S. but hardly remembered today.

 

[major bill]

There is an article on the Kossuth Hat in the Winter 2016 issue of Military Images Magazine.

http://militaryimagesmagazine.com/2015/12/09/finding-aid-winter-2016/


Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 38-39)
McAfee explores the Hungarian connection to the Union Army's Model 1858 uniform hat. It was known by various nicknames, including the "Kossuth hat" in honor of Louis Kossuth (1802-1894) of Hungary, a freedom fighter celebrated across the antebellum U.S. but hardly remembered today.

This is reminded me of the various names for the 1858 hat and why the hat was so named. Next question did Burnside really wear a "Burnside hat"? A Burnside style hat is a type of tall Jeff Davis hat, or Hardee hat or Kossuth hat with a rounded crown.

 

[Package4]

I have seen many pre war references calling it the "Kossuth hat" but it seems that term was falling out of use by the start of the Civil War and the term "Hardee hat" seems to be a more common Civil War name for this headgear. Hardee was a board member and the recorder of the board that suggested the hat. Davis was Secretary of War who approved the hat. Louis Kossuth I guess simply wore a hat similar to this style. It should more properly be called the '1858 Army hat' or 'the 1858 pattern hat'.

Hardee actually served with the 2nd Dragoons, who wore the Voltigeur broad brimmed hat as early as 1847 and was keen to have a more serviceable hat for mounted troops. The 1855 cavalry hat was the result, which morphed into the general service 1858 Army hat. What is not known by most is that the board adopting the 1858 Army hat soon to be known as either the Hardee or Davis, did not have Hardee on it and Davis had been out of the Secretary of War's office for a year.