- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
A member of the 11th Illinois Infantry (three month) described there caps on 21 July 1861 as " these caps are made so the circular top instead of dropping forward stand straight up. An Irish boy in our company called his a 'whicker bill' with the accent of the bill, so that is the name adoptee."
I have not seen the term "wicker bill" before and I am not sure what the term means.
The same soldier later while in the 11th Illinois Infantry (three year) wrote on 11 October 1861 "Drew new hats, we don't like the, they are grey with the sides turned up so the can be buttoned to the crown on each side , with a kind of beak in front. Austrian hats the call them." what kind of hat does he reference here?
These 'Austrian hats' did not last long. "24 October; We bought red caps to wear instead of those Austrian hats." Why would an infantry regiment purchase red caps, is not red usually for artillery units?
I have not seen the term "wicker bill" before and I am not sure what the term means.
The same soldier later while in the 11th Illinois Infantry (three year) wrote on 11 October 1861 "Drew new hats, we don't like the, they are grey with the sides turned up so the can be buttoned to the crown on each side , with a kind of beak in front. Austrian hats the call them." what kind of hat does he reference here?
These 'Austrian hats' did not last long. "24 October; We bought red caps to wear instead of those Austrian hats." Why would an infantry regiment purchase red caps, is not red usually for artillery units?