Were caps or hats better?

[major bill]

I do not believe the US Army had published clear decision on this. Without any official decision we are left to our own opinions. Still let us look a a few things.

1. Some people believe slouch hats were better, but were they? Hardee hats were not all that popular with Union troops, but a Hardee hat worn a month at a mobilization center and them a couple of weeks in the field was basically then a slough hat. Still many Union soldiers preferred the cap.
2. Despite a great amount of experience during the Civil War, the US Army adopted a fatigue cap and dress cap in 1973. Why did not the Army adopt a hat if they were better?
3. The Confederacy still made and issued caps until the end of the War. Perhaps this was a cost issue.
4. While the US Army went to hats for the Spanish American War, hat had been phased out by World War Two.
5. Post World War Two the US Army mostly wore caps. A few hats were worn during the Vietnam War but caps were standard issue.
6. Caps could be worn with waterproof rain covers, hats can not.

I will leave it to others to defend hats over caps.

 

[thomas aagaard]

Hardee hats were not all that popular with Union troops,

They where in common use by troops in the west who simply used them like any other hat.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

In terms of general preference, based on benefits, between these two types of headgear.

From a purely practical perspective, thought that any circular brim around a hat crown would generally offer better protection from the sun and the elements (like rain) than any single front visor on a cap.

However, a cap with an unstructured crown, being lighter and usually foldable, would generally be more comfortable to wear and easier to store than a structured hat with a brim.

For dress purposes, thought hat designs can have more variations than a cap and generally be more appropriate for formal use than caps.

If the choice was between these two competing types of headgear in a situation, then thought it might depend on present factors like the physical conditions and specific occasion (if any) in which the item is to be worn.

 

[Old Soldier]

That circular brim also gets in the way when drilling with rifle or sword - and catches the wind so well! (note the dent in, and the color of, the skin of the forehead when rammed on to keep it there!) It also catches branches, undergrowth and is an absolute BEAST to pack away as it never really regains its proper shape afterwards. Not terribly uniform then, is it?

 

[7thWisconsin]

A lot of men preferred hats because they keep the elements off better than a cap and are more comfortable. Officers in the uniform board preferred caps because they felt they were more military, and didn´t aid deserters in disguising their appearance. There´s a quote buried in Lord´s Encyclopedia attesting to the fact that the uniform board actually liked the British cap because it was stiff and had a stiff brim. All very snappy and military, but exactly the things that a soldier actually wearing it would despise.

 

[Present Arms]

I recall reading a first-hand account by a Revolutionary War British soldier who wrote that his issue three-cornered hat became a shapeless mass in the first rain. So, he and his mates cut them down into caps. You can see those caps in some contemporary drawings of soldiers in the field.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Oh yeah - cut caps were very common. Rain is terribly hard on hat felt. A hat will take shape again if you can put it on a form and let it dry out again, but obviously a soldier isn´t in the position to be able to do that. They made triangular boxes for hats back then too, but again, the private soldier isn´t going to have one in his baggage.

 

[Irishtom29]

Besides cutting their hats into caps British troops fighting our rebellion against Britain often unpinned their cocked hats and wore them as slouch hats. The British Army adapted to American conditions and troops often cut their coats shorter and even down into jackets, wore their hair short, carried hatchets and fought in fast moving 2 rank open and extended orders with from 18" to several feet between files. Not like in the movies and common American mythology. In effect even battalion companies often acted as and looked like Light Bobs.

 

[major bill]

Are hats better in the rain? I think this is an over used reason hats are better than caps. If you are a spldiery in the rain for any length of time your going to get wet wearing either a hat or cap. I hat might somewhat keep your face a bit drier. But if you are in the rain for long your face will get wet on either a cap or hat. Neither a cap or hat will help to keep your clothes dry. Hats also probably take longer to dry.

 

[Irishtom29]

Hats are far better in the sun.

 

[bamaman]

That circular brim also gets in the way when drilling with rifle or sword - and catches the wind so well! (note the dent in, and the color of, the skin of the forehead when rammed on to keep it there!) It also catches branches, undergrowth and is an absolute BEAST to pack away as it never really regains its proper shape afterwards. Not terribly uniform then, is it?

Personally I would choose the fez! It's a sexy look¡

 

[Borderruffian]

Brims in are always better.

 

[Old Soldier]

The Australian Army adopted the 'slouch hat' as their headwear late in 1903. These are few photos to show the field appearance (WW1 Gallipoli and Somme) and the modern parade version. Note that ALL had a leather chin strap. This was even attached to Volunteer's side caps (1914). (This is only included to give some idea of the appearance of these hats in the field!!)

The issue cap in 1914 was like the British field cap (first photo background), but it soon vanished. The official turn up in 1914 was to the left for infantry & support troops (rifle) and to the right for cavalry and artillery (sword).

The cap band varied from a 'puggaree' type to a plain cloth band or ribbon. There were some without a rim reinforcement. The pinned side is held by a 'rising sun' Australian army badge which is now usually removed when not pinned

 

[Nathan Stuart]

It also catches branches, undergrowth

That's a very compelling reason, by itself, against adopting the use of wide-brimmed hats in jungle or heavy vegetation terrain.

 

[RedRover]

Carleton McCarthy of the Confederate army noted post-war:

 

[John Winn]

Having spent 30+ years working and playing in the wildernesses I can just say that I always wore a hat with a brim. In the winter when it rained I had a rubber one and in the summer I had one that could just be crumpled up and stuffed when not in use. All together a hat with a brim deflected rain and sun. Also, in hot weather, a hat with a brim could be soaked in a convenient stream and put back on and would provide a sort of air conditioning to one's head. I never found a brimmed hat to be problematic regarding being knocked off by vegetation. One would have to really be crawling through thick brush (very rarely a route one would take) for that to be an issue.

When out in the elements making a fashion statement is definitely the last thing one considers regarding clothing (assuming one wants to be comfortable and survive).

 

[Pollaco]

There is usually always more sun than rain.I would think the brim of a hat gives more protection.

 

[A. Roy]

I wear a slouch hat for my (limited) portrayals of a civilian. A couple of weeks ago, I realized the possible value of a chin strap, as it was a windy day. A gust carried my hat away from me much faster than my aging legs can manage. Fortunately, I was talking to a young grad student at the time who cried, "I'll get it!", ran and grabbed it up out of ditch.
AR

 

[Seeking34]

Union soldiers in the western theatre wore simple hats far more often than Kepis. The Kepi/cap was far more prevalent in the eastern theatre. Look at this picture of Sherman's men on his march to the sea. Kepis are seen on what looks like an officer and one lower rank (judging on coats). The rest are in simple civilian type hats. The union soldiers in the west were seen as more rough and hard soldiers. They typically didn't follow US army uniform code. In fact, in post war parades Sherman's troops wore their uniforms differently and didn't follow US army dress code to show difference between them and their eastern counterparts. The western troops were made up of midwesterners and soldiers from the Upper south/Border south (Kentucky, Tenneesee, Missouri). Who were more ''rock and roll'' than the immigrant heavy army of the east.

 

[iron bender]

Big fan of the black hat on Yanks. Also nothing better looking than a forage cap