The blue wool body of this officer’s kepi is in excellent condition with only minor evidence of moth action. The left side of the kepi has a small approx. 0.50 an inch wide. The rest of the body is in wonderfully sound condition with only light surface dirt from age, use and storage. The disc has a very nice welt around its edge. At front of the crown is an infantry hunting horn done in gold thread with a cord of twisted bullion. This is done on a base of black felt which is sewn to the cap. At center of the bugle is a false embroidered number “4.”

The leather visor is tightly attached to the cap despite some missing thread and has a bound edge. The surface of the leather on the visor body has some light crazing but is in otherwise good condition. The thin leather chinstrap is anchored to the cap by two state of Rhode Island cuff buttons. The leather slider is present on the chinstrap as is the brass keeper. Bottom of keeper is bent to keep it from digging into the leather of the visor. Underside of visor is stamped “CAPT. M. BUFFUM.”

Also, attached to the chinstrap is a modern tag that reads “CAPTAIN MARTIN P. BUFFUN / COMPANY C. / FOURTH RHODE ISLAND / INFANTRY OCTOBER 30, 1861 / MAJOR OCTOBER 10, 1862 / LIEUT COLONEL DECEMBER 24, 62 / BREVET COLONEL OF / VOLUNTEERS MARCH 13, 1865. / MUSTERED OUT MAY 10 1866.”

The interior has 80% of the original sweatband. The top edge of the sweatband has a drawstring running through it but it is frayed and broken in several areas due to wear and missing material. Behind the sweatband is the original stiffener running around the base of the cap. The lining is made of brown polished cotton but is badly torn and shredded. The underside of the disc is well lined.

Martin P. Buffum was born in Rhode Island on November 10, 1830. He enlisted as a Private in Company C of the 1^st Rhode Island on April 17, 1861 and was mustered in the following May 2^nd. He served with his regiment at 1^st Bull Run and was mustered out at Providence, R. I. on August 2, 1861.

Buffum was next commissioned Captain of Company B, 4^th Rhode Island Infantry on September 5, 1861 and was mustered in October 30^th. The regiment was assigned to the 9^th Corps of the Army of the Potomac and saw action at Elizabeth City, New Berne and Antietam.

Captain Buffum was promoted to Major on October 10, 1862 and served in that capacity at Fredericksburg. Shortly afterward he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on December 24, 1862.

During the assault on the Crater on July 30, 1864 Buffum was captured. He was confined at Macon, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina and was released on December 8, 1864 and he resigned nine days later on the 17^th. Buffum was given a brevet promotion to Colonel on March 13, 1865.

Buffum’s service was not yet done. On June 1, 1865 he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 9^th Veteran Volunteers of Hancock’s 1^st Veteran Volunteer Corps. This unit never saw action before the war ended. Buffum was mustered out on May 10, 1866.

After the war Buffum was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant in the 15^th US Infantry to date from March 16, 1866 and was promoted to 1^st Lieutenant on May 11, 1867. He served as Regimental Quartermaster from August of 1866 to November of 1867. There was scandal involving his wife Charlotta in 1870, and again in 1876, which probably led to his resigning from the Army on 22 February 1877. He killed himself in Texas in April of 1884 due to “dissipation.”

This is a nice looking kepi that displays well and has an interesting history.   [ad]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.