The three items in this group are identified to Captain Frederick W. Backus who served for a short time in the 1^st Michigan Cavalry and the 17^th New York Infantry before dying of disease in 1862.

The slouch hat is made of a fine black felt that is in excellent museum quality condition. The felt is very soft and pliable. There is some light surface dirt but nothing that detracts. The crown is creased in a “fore and aft” pattern with a small hole cut at top center for ventilation. Barely visible on the front of the crown are two small slits for attaching insignia. Around the base of the crown is an original Civil War officer’s hat cord. This is a replacement. The original cord comes with the hat but is frayed at front and missing one of the acorns. It should also be pointed out that the edge of the hat brim is bound in black ribbed tape.

The hat interior has a large ox-blood colored sweatband that meas. approx. 3.00 inches in height. The sweatband has one tear from top to bottom at front but none of the band is missing. It is 100% intact. The surface of the sweatband shows some signs of wear and dirt from use.

With the hat is a poor conditioned quarter-plate ambrotype of Frederick Backus with an older gentleman. Image is a three-quarter standing view. The emulsion on the image has deteriorated in the area of both subject’s bodies but from the chest up it is fair with just some moderately scattered spots of brown discoloration. The facial features on both men are good. There is a small modern label with the image that reads “AT RIGHT LOOKS LIKE F. W. BACKUS.” There is no doubt that the man standing at right in the image is indeed Backus. Image comes in a full but split leather case with plain brass mate and scrollwork frame.

Also with the item is a large binder of information containing a notarized letter tracing the ownership of the slouch hat from Captain Backus to his descendants, to a dealer and from him to a customer from whom we obtained the item. Also in the binder is an original early 1900’s photo of the Backus home in Minnesota, a COPY of an album page showing a photo of a hotel in Washington, D. C. with a hand written inscription “WHERE MY DEAR FATHER DIED.” This packet also contains an ORIGINAL CDV image of Backus as a Captain in the 1^st Michigan Cavalry. The image shows Backus standing by a table on which rests his overcoat and a forage cap with crossed sabers insignia. Backus is posed with one hand on his sword hilt and the other on the table. He wears a dark frock coat with shoulder straps and matching trousers. At his waist is his sash and sword belt with rectangular plate and cavalry saber. On his hands are a pair of leather gauntlets. Image is by Brady and so marked on the mount. The image is in fair condition. There is what looks to be silverfish damage around the edges but the details of Captain Backus are very good. Reverse bears a period ink inscription that reads “WILLIAM BACKUS” and felt marker that reads “GRANDFATHER OF ARCH, FRED, EAILY (?) “ Also in the binder is a genealogy and a family inventory of different items.

The slouch hat and images come with copies of Captain Backus records from the archives and a large old manila envelope that was used to store the hat for years. Written on the envelope in old, but not Civil War period ink, is “HAT WORN BY CAPT. F. W. BACKUS.”

Frederick William Backus was commissioned Captain in Company E, 1^st Michigan Cavalry at Detroit on August 22, 1861 and resigned on December 7, 1861.

The 42 year old Backus then received a commission as 1^st Lieutenant of Company I, 17^th New York Infantry at Washington, D.C. on April 20, 1862. During his time with the 17^th Backus seemed to be detached as a staff officer for General Wadsworth and then General Butterfield (who is listed in Backus’ record as “Butterworth.”) Lieutenant Backus became sick and on August 10, 1862 he died in Washington, D.C. at a place called “The Ebbitt House.” He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York.

This is a wonderful first class example of a wartime slouch hat with great provenance.   [ad]

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