What hat is this?

[civilwarincolor]

I am working on a colorization of Nathaniel Banks and he has a hat that I am not familiar with. This is an amazing hat that I have never seen in another CW image.

Does anyone have an idea of what this is called, an image of it from a museum or collection?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

It appears to be a Chapeau.

"The chapeau de bras is only rarely seen in Civil War images, but was a regulation optional headgear. The regulations stated that a light French chapeau was optional for generals, staff officers and chaplains. The chapeau evolved from the tricorn hat of the Revolutionary era. In the case of the chapeau or "bicorn" the front and back were cocked up and an ornamental cockade and strap with eagle were displayed in the front. Chapeau came to be worn in a "fore and aft" style rather than the side-to-side "athwart" style of Napoleon. Chapeaux de bras continued as a dress item into the Twentieth Century and was not given up by the Navy until 1940".
http://howardlanham.tripod.com/linkgr5/link229.html

Another image of General Banks wearing the chapeau:

http://civilwardailygazette.com/mutiny-at-fort-jackson/

 

[Legion Para]

It appears be a Chapeau.
View attachment 90542

"The chapeau de bras is only rarely seen in Civil War images, but was a regulation optional headgear. The regulations stated that a light French chapeau was optional for generals, staff officers and chaplains. The chapeau evolved from the tricorn hat of the Revolutionary era. In the case of the chapeau or "bicorn" the front and back were cocked up and an ornamental cockade and strap with eagle were displayed in the front. Chapeau came to be worn in a "fore and aft" style rather than the side-to-side "athwart" style of Napoleon. Chapeaux de bras continued as a dress item into the Twentieth Century and was not given up by the Navy until 1940".
http://howardlanham.tripod.com/linkgr5/link229.html

Another image of General Banks wearing the chapeau:
View attachment 90543
http://civilwardailygazette.com/mutiny-at-fort-jackson/

7th Mississippi Infantry is 100% correct.

 

[CWDF]

Here's one from the New York State collection.

Larry Keener-Farley

 

[civilwarincolor]

It appears be a Chapeau.

http://civilwardailygazette.com/mutiny-at-fort-jackson/

I think you might be right. I was not thinking about that type of a hat because the emblem seemed to be on the front rather than the side as it is with a Chapeau. I have to say though when I clicked on the Civil War Daily Gazette link and scrolled to the bottom to the image it was the caption for that image that REALLY got me.

For those of you that have not clicked through yet the caption reads (and I am just copying and pasting):

"Nathaniel Banks and his stupid hat."​

Absolutely the best caption ever.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Larger image:

http://civilwardailygazette.com/mutiny-at-fort-jackson/

 

[civilwarincolor]

Thanks everyone for your quick responses. I was looking at this hat all wrong and really thought the emblem was on the front and not the sides and could not imagine how wide the hat must be. This helps a lot.

The image is for our Facebook post for this weekend. When it is finished and the post is complete I will let you know.

Thanks.

 

[AndyHall]

It was an official part of the dress uniform, but (as you can imagine) a major headache to keep and totally unsuited for use in the field.

Then again, Banks was partial to fancy duds:

 

[Mike Serpa]

A similar thread.

 

[civilwarincolor]

As promised the color version is done. You can find the thread for it here.

 

[Nathanb1]

You know, after play practice, I'm always intrigued by emphasis on words and how that can change the meaning of a sentence.

"Nathaniel Banks and his stupid hat."

"Nathaniel Banks and his stupid hat."

Texans have to love Banks and the Red River campaign.

 

[Mr. King]

It was an official part of the dress uniform, but (as you can imagine) a major headache to keep and totally unsuited for use in the field.

Then again, Banks was partial to fancy duds:

I suppose this is was known as a "dandy"?

 

[James B White]

I suppose this is was known as a "dandy"?

For the 1840s, he's got it all going on, tight sleeves andd tight tailcoat in general, high collar, stupid oversize floppy cravat, but what is up with the white gap between his coat and trousers? Is that his vest or, more what it looks like, his shirt showing because his trousers are riding low. Was that a thing?

 

[Mr. King]

For the 1840s, he's got it all going on, tight sleeves andd tight tailcoat in general, high collar, stupid oversize floppy cravat, but what is up with the white gap between his coat and trousers? Is that his vest or, more what it looks like, his shirt showing because his trousers are riding low. Was that a thing?

He would most definitely be a hipster if he were here today. Or a lumbersexual... You know, flanel shirt, skinny jeans, JEB Stuart beard, work boots, pomade treatment in the hair... But hands soft as a baby's hind-end because he's never touched an ax or even smelled 2-stroke smoke from a chainsaw.... Follow that dude into battle against Stonewall.... You'd run 35 miles back to Maryland too.

 

[major bill]

U.S. Marine offices also wore this style of hat during the Civil War era. Perhaps not a good hat for wearing aboard ship.

 

[NedBaldwin]

He would most definitely be a hipster if he were here today. Or a lumbersexual... You know, flanel shirt, skinny jeans, JEB Stuart beard, work boots, pomade treatment in the hair... But hands soft as a baby's hind-end because he's never touched an ax or even smelled 2-stroke smoke from a chainsaw.... Follow that dude into battle against Stonewall.... You'd run 35 miles back to Maryland too.

When he was young Banks worked in a cotton mill (thus the 'bobbin boy' nickname) and later worked as a machinist, so your snear is more of the negative propaganda. As for the men who followed him, this is what Peter Cozzens said in an interview about his book Shenandoah 1862: "in the immediate wake of his defeat at Winchester – often in letters penned the same night – Banks's officers and men praised him for his conduct of the retreat from Strasburg to Winchester, of his handling of the battle itself, and of his personal courage and fine leadership during the retreat to the Potomac. Men who have just suffered a defeat don't praise their commander unless he did something right..."