This small lot consists of a McDowell pattern forage cap and a framed albumen photograph of a Union officer seated at a table next to a Hardee hat with infantry insignia with a regimental number “8.”

This group was original sold by us in Catalog #27 back in the late 1990’s. At that time there was a pocket testament with the group with an inscription identifying the items to Captain Henry H. Huse of Company G. 8^th New Hampshire Volunteers. Since then the group has passed through a few hands and the testament has been separated from the group. Its present location is not known.

The forage cap is the classic McDowell pattern with a high crown and abbreviated visor. The body of the cap has faded either from age or use to a greenish brown color. There are some small areas where a hint of the original blue color can be seen. Especially in the front under the crown. The body is in amazingly good condition with no signs of any moth holes or tracking. The only damage is on the top edge of the disc toward the back. The damage is a separation due to stress. There is another small stress separation about an inch from this one. The side buttons are eagle “I” buttons. The visor has a heavily crazed surface with a smooth underside and is firmly attached to the cap body. The leather chin strap has some light crazing but is complete with both leather keepers.

The interior of the cap shows signs of heavy wear and use. The ox-blood sweatband is complete but has numerous small separations especially in the area of the right temple. There is a tear in this area that meas. approx. 1.75 inches wide. The lining looks to be brown polished cotton that has faded with age and stained with sweat and dirt. Again, there is heavy wear to the right side of the lining with a large piece missing in this area. The bottom of the crown is lined with a black oil cloth that has curled some with age.

The cap really does display well and the wear both inside and out testifies to the fact of its use in the field.

The image that accompanies the cap shows an officer seated at a table. He wears a dark frock coat with matching dark trousers. At his waist is his sword belt and sash. The belt plate is the Model 1851 NCO plate favored and used by many officers because of the attractiveness of the applied silver wreath. The waist belt is complete with the shoulder strap. The officer’s arm rests on a table that supports his sword. He holds the swords hilt which can barely be seen beneath the officer’s “Hardee” or dress hat. Attached to the front of the hat is an infantry insignia with a regimental “8.”The image is clear with great contrast. The image comes housed in a large thick gutta-percha frame covered in a leaf and scrollwork design. There is no back to the frame and the image is being held in place by tape. Framed the image meas. approx. 10.00 x 12.00 inches.

Since we first sold this group an identified image of Captain Huse has appeared on the internet and though it is a different pose from the image offered here, the facial features do not match as perfectly as we would have liked. It may be Huse or it may be another officer of the regiment. As far as we know the photo offered here has always been with the cap.

Henry H. Huse was born May 31, 1839 in West Fairlee, Vermont. He was a 22 year old school teacher when he was commissioned Captain of Company G, 8^th New Hampshire Infantry at Barnstead on October 4, 1861. He was mustered in on December 23^rd that same year.

The regiment was part of Butler’s Expedition to New Orleans arriving at Ship Island, Louisiana in March of 1862. The regiment march through New Orleans in April of 1862 and took up residence in Camp Parapet just above Carrolton, Louisiana. While in this camp on August 1^st 1862 Captain became ill with malarial fever and did not return to duty till October 1^st. He was present for the small action at Pass Manchac but at some point became ill again until January 1, 1863 when he assumed partial duties. His activities during the early stages of the siege of Port Hudson further deteriorated his health until on May 29, 1863 he was considered too ill to perform any duty. Huse was sick for months and during this time was promoted to Major on July 16, 1863 but he never returned to the regiment being discharged for disability on September 22, 1863.

After his service he returned to New Hampshire and opened a law practice. He died in Concord, New Hampshire on September 7, 1890 at the age of 51 leaving behind a wife and three children.

With the items are Captain Huse’s pension records as well as a copy of our catalog #27 showing the group as originally sold by The Horse Soldier. His military records could not be located at the archives due to misfiling.

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