Uniforms Why the hats of the Texas Brigade did not match.

major bill

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
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Aug 25, 2012
The Texas Brigade was cut off from Texas and for a time the brigade was dependent on the charitable labors of the ladies of Richmond for uniforms. One thing the ladies could not make was hats. This is one way the men of the Texas Brigade solved the issue of obtaining new hats. Near their camp the railroad tracks went through a woods up a steep hill.

"When the train was fairly in the cut, the Texans would give a wild rebel yell. The passengers on the train would immediately look out, wondering what on earth the row was about. The wily Texans would then brush off all the male passengers hats with pine switches and picking up their booty, would rush off into the woods with whoops of success." (Thomas W. Green, Confederate Humour and Morale, Journal of the Confederate Historical Society Vol. 5 No. 1, 1967, p. 5)

This method of hat procurement might provide many hats per day, but the hats would be of every style and color. I have doubts the railroad officials received more than one complaint.
 
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