When the Hardee hat became the regulation headgear for all branches of service in the 1850s some companies of light artillery adapted quickly and others preferred the old pre-1851 Mexican War style Ringgold pattern shakos. Interest in the traditional headgear of the light artillery resurfaced from time to time during the Civil War. In 1863 a New York battery in North Carolina even requested them. So, in January 1864 the government contracted with William C. Dare of Philadelphia for some 1,400 slightly modified patterns of the shako, along with an order to Horstmann for the fittings. These caps are very rare and this one has the added bonus of having Dare’s label inside the crown bearing a large size number “5” along with Dare’s name and Philadelphia address.

The cap is constructed of a dark blue wool covered pasteboard body with an inset leather crown and leather band around the base. A thin, tarred leather chinstrap with floating adjustment buckle is secured at each side by a small brass eagle button. The tall leather sweatband is still in place inside and is secure. The interior has a grayish green fabric on the sides and natural leather on the underside of the crown bearing the Dare label. The flat, tarred leather unbound visor has the correct slight flare at the sides and is firmly in place.

The blue fabric of the body shows some wear and light staining. A few areas, particularly on the left rear had fabric losses that have been backed with matching blue wool. Some light dust and scattered white pilling from storage material will clean off. The cords, plume and fittings are correct for the helmet, but are likely a mix of original and restrikes. The shako itself, however, is extremely scarce, made by the firm who received the 1864 contract, and displays impressively. It was a Confederate general who observed that with Confederate infantry and Yankee artillery, he could “whip the world.”  [SR]

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