The regulations of 1859 for the U.S. Marine Corps distinguished between headgear for “dress” and for “fatigue” (i.e. every day and field use.) The specified the insignia for officers’ fatigue caps was gold bullion embroidered hunting horns with a silver Old English “M” in the loop on a crimson ground. This is the enlisted man’s version, which was to be of similar form, but less expensive, made of a stamped false embroidered horn “in yellow metal” with an Old English “M” in “white metal.”

Enlisted marines wearing the fatigue cap with this insignia are pictured in numerous Civil War photographs on board ship and ashore in their “undress” frocks and fatigue blouses (army only distinguishing between “dress” and “fatigue,”) and a few also show up in studio photos wearing the cap and insignia with their full dress coat. This is a nice example with a mellow patina, just a little rubbing on the tassels of the hunting horn cord, and the attachment loops present on the reverse.  [sr]

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