Top hats

[lelliott19]

Confederate Top Hats..... No, but they did have some contracts with English firms to import "Army Hats" that closely mimicked Federal Hardy hats. To someone who didn't know better from a distance they may be mistaken for top hats. Here is a photo of one of those suspected imports.View attachment 473695

Thanks Drew! I never knew about these import "Army Hats."

Below - Augustus Columbus Thompson Captain G 16th Georgia Infantry aka Jackson County Volunteers. Wearing what I always presumed to be a tophat. Is this an imported English Army Hat?

John Hamilton Skelton, Captain of Company C 16th Georgia Infantry aka Hartwell Infantry wearing what I always presumed to be a tophat. Is this one of those English Army Hats?

 

[captaindrew]

Thanks Drew! I never knew about these import "Army Hats."

Below - Augustus Columbus Thompson Captain G 16th Georgia Infantry aka Jackson County Volunteers. Wearing what I always presumed to be a tophat. Is this an imported English Army Hat?
View attachment 473758

John Hamilton Skelton, Captain of Company C 16th Georgia Infantry aka Hartwell Infantry wearing what I always presumed to be a tophat. Is this one of those English Army Hats?
View attachment 473759

It's possible but I don't think so being officers had to buy their own although that could still be a civilian import. I think it's just a tall crowned slouch hat. There were so many styles it's almost endless. You see photos of groups of Confederates and no two hats look exactly alike. Great images by the way.

 

[lelliott19]

It's possible but I don't think so being officers had to buy their own although that could still be a civilian import. I think it's just a tall crowned slouch hat. There were so many styles it's almost endless. You see photos of groups of Confederates and no two hats look exactly alike. Great images by the way.

Thanks. They aren't my images. A C Thompson is from the LOC and J H Skelton is from his descendants.

Thompson was wounded through the hip, captured/paroled, and disabled from further service at Crampton's Gap September 14, 1862. A few years ago, his 2x great grandson came to one of my presentations at the old Jackson County CH. When he walked in, I thought I was seeing a ghost - he looks just like Augustus Columbus Thompson.

John Hamilton Skelton was captured at Fredericksburg and again at Crooked Run/Front Royal Aug 16, 1864. His claim to fame (or at least what got my attention) was that he was exchanged so quickly at Fredericksburg. Until I started digging in the records, I had no idea there was an onsite exchange of prisoners at Fredericksburg on December 17, 1862. [That's a link to a thread about it.]

 

[Pollaco]

I have to agree with captaindrew that most of the soldiers just have on tall slouch hats. They aren't really the top hat or "stovepipe" that a man of fashion or a gentleman would wear to the opera.

 

[captaindrew]

Thanks. They aren't my images. A C Thompson is from the LOC and J H Skelton is from his descendants.

Thompson was wounded through the hip, captured/paroled, and disabled from further service at Crampton's Gap September 14, 1862. A few years ago, his 2x great grandson came to one of my presentations at the old Jackson County CH. When he walked in, I thought I was seeing a ghost - he looks just like Augustus Columbus Thompson.

John Hamilton Skelton was captured at Fredericksburg and again at Crooked Run/Front Royal Aug 16, 1864. His claim to fame (or at least what got my attention) was that he was exchanged so quickly at Fredericksburg. Until I started digging in the records, I had no idea there was an onsite exchange of prisoners at Fredericksburg on December 17, 1862. [That's a link to a thread about it.]

Wow that's amazing, knowing the stories of these guys and meeting his grandson. Here's a good article on the subject of these hats, it's my go to site for CS uniform info http://adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/two-rebel-hats.html

 

[lelliott19]

Wow that's amazing, knowing the stories of these guys and meeting his grandson. Here's a good article on the subject of these hats, it's my go to site for CS uniform info http://adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/two-rebel-hats.html

It's incredible to be able to share their stories with anyone who will listen. But when a descendant comes walking in to the same Court House where his ancestor enlisted 162 years ago and wants to know about his 2x great grandfather and the regiment.... WOW! That, my friend, is an AMAZING experience and one I will always cherish.

I like the article about the hats. Thanks for sharing it. That image #21 of Beard's hat at Mansfield LA - the one with the banded brim. It looks an awful lot like the one J H Skelton is wearing?

 

[captaindrew]

It's incredible to be able to share their stories with anyone who will listen. But when a descendant comes walking in to the same Court House where his ancestor enlisted 162 years ago and wants to know about his 2x great grandfather and the regiment.... WOW! That, my friend, is an AMAZING experience and one I will always cherish.

I like the article about the hats. Thanks for sharing it. That image #21 of Beard's hat at Mansfield LA - the one with the banded brim. It looks an awful lot like the one J H Skelton is wearing?

It does look similar doesn't it, could very well be an import, they were quite popular. I can't imagine what an experience that was. How far out is your book these days?

 

[lelliott19]

How far out is your book these days?

Still a good ways out. I got side-tracked (again) on another research rabbit-hole.

At least this time, it's about my regiment. So as soon as I can figure out all the stuff that goes with it, I'll write up the article and get it published. It will probably be the most important discovery I make and will likely appeal even to people who aren't interested in McLaws' division. It's slow going though. Like slogging through sorghum.

I wanted to do a couple of research trips this Spring, but a series of difficult events prevented me from travelling. Hopefully I can get those trips in later this Summer (or early Fall) and complete the necessary research, write the article, and get it published. I'm pretty excited about it. And it will make writing the book easier because that part at least will be written.

 

[A. Roy]

Not reenactor gear, but just coincidence that yesterday we were at the Smithsonian American History museum, where I came across the hat that Pres. Lincoln was wearing the night of his assassination:

ARB

 

[Pollaco]

I recently saw a display of Confederate Currency put out by Cheerios back in the 1950s. Not only did it bring back memories but look at the top hats

 

[edgeworthy]

One of the lesser reasons that the Stars and Stripes Trilogy drives people to insanity is the author's somewhat odd views on the subject of Top Hats.

He seems to regard wearing one as some sort of Biblical Mark of Cain, while managing to be oblivious to the implications of Abraham Lincoln's most distinctive item of clothing being a tall, cylindrical piece of headgear. With a levelled top and covered in a dark, yet reflective, material ... but everyone else who wears one is evil, wrong-bad!

 

[Old Soldier]

There are a few things I see in these pictures. First I bet these guys enlisted and walked right down the street to have their picture taken in the local studio. The young man on top by the way he's improperly wearing ill fitting acoutraments tells me he hasn't had the first day of training yet and could be even studio props.

It is a 'tintype' mirror image. The jacket is buttoned up on the wrong side and the bayonet is on the wrong side of the muzzle. He has been told to swap shoulders for his ammo pouch and refasten his belt and to hold his rifle in the left hand to make it 'look right'. This will not have helped the 'set' of the uniform. The buttons and belt buckes were usually 'tinted' afterwards to disguise the mirrored letters. His Hardee hat would have been pinned up on the left too. Flip it, and you get the real picture:

BTW - top hat rims were quite rigid and did not take easily to folding.

 

[captaindrew]

It is a 'tintype' mirror image. The jacket is buttoned up on the wrong side and the bayonet is on the wrong side of the muzzle. He has been told to swap shoulders for his ammo pouch and refasten his belt and to hold his rifle in the left hand to make it 'look right'. This will not have helped the 'set' of the uniform. The buttons and belt buckes were usually 'tinted' afterwards to disguise the mirrored letters. His Hardee hat would have been pinned up on the left too. Flip it, and you get the real picture:

View attachment 474057View attachment 474058
BTW - top hat rims were quite rigid and did not take easily to folding.

Even swapped they are still ill fitting and not worn correctly, you'd never wear your waistbelt that low and the buckle off to the side, it would be around your knees after a few steps and the box would be more on your hip, not hitting your thighs every step. I still believe he is a very raw new recruit. Not to say it isn't an excellent image, it certainly is. And I do agree with the OP, the way the crown flares out it certainly does look like a top hat in this instance.

 

[lelliott19]

No, but they did have some contracts with English firms to import "Army Hats" that closely mimicked Federal Hardy hats. To someone who didn't know better from a distance they may be mistaken for top hats.

Wow that's amazing, knowing the stories of these guys and meeting his grandson. Here's a good article on the subject of these hats, it's my go to site for CS uniform info http://adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/two-rebel-hats.html

I'm happy to have learned about the English import Army hats. Thanks again for sharing that link to the article. You literally learn something new every day here at CivilWarTalk!

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I can't imagine something as impractical as a top hat was very common. Maybe early war, but pretty quickly replaced for something more suited to military life.

 

[captaindrew]

I'm happy to have learned about the English import Army hats. Thanks again for sharing that link to the article. You literally learn something new every day here at CivilWarTalk!

My pleasure, glad to contribute something, I'm always the one learning from everyone else around here. That's a great site if you ever have any uniform questions, more than likely the subject is covered in one of his articles. I send everyone there who has a CS uniform question.

 

[Old Soldier]

Even swapped they are still ill fitting and not worn correctly, you'd never wear your waistbelt that low and the buckle off to the side, it would be around your knees after a few steps and the box would be more on your hip, not hitting your thighs every step. I still believe he is a very raw new recruit. Not to say it isn't an excellent image, it certainly is. And I do agree with the OP, the way the crown flares out it certainly does look like a top hat in this instance.

The main point is that he was dressed to suit the photographer and has swapped his kit around especially for the photographer, not the drill sergeant. Remember, these guys were NOT soldiers but civilians in uniform - the 'soldier' would emerge later on.

 

[captaindrew]

The main point is that he was dressed to suit the photographer and has swapped his kit around especially for the photographer, not the drill sergeant. Remember, these guys were NOT soldiers but civilians in uniform - the 'soldier' would emerge later on.

Exactly, that was my point

 

[PrivateBrooke]

One thing I keep in mind for impressions: I'm portraying someone who was, essentially, living out of a backpack. Plain and dirty is the way to go. lol

 

[Pollaco]

Alfred Waud's sketch of Gettysburg prisoners being marched to various camps. No top hats here or can you spot one?