The U.S. government ordered 10,000 sets of French chasseur (light infantry) uniforms and equipment in late 1861. McClellan awarded many of these to regiments in 1862 that excelled in drill and early war U.S. soldiers not infrequently appear in photographs wearing the uniforms. This shako formed part of the uniform set issued. The pattern is French, but the front plate features an American eagle perched over an infantry hunting horn surmounted by a separate red, white and blue rosette.

The shako is black leather, with external bands applied at the base, around the crown, and in two V-shapes at either side with a ventilation hole between. The bound visor is firmly affixed and has a green underside with an impressed “V,” probably the individual French maker. The tall sweatband is in place and complete, but shows wear to the finish. The chinstrap is inside the cap, but is broken on one end and missing the buckle. The exterior shows just slight indentations at the rear and top.

Some of the shako plates have been excavated in camps, but most of the shakos were eventually taken back into stores for reissue as the French uniforms were replaced and sometimes later appear on bandsmen of the Veteran Reserve Corps and others. This is a pattern of shako known to have been issued in the Army of the Potomac during the war and not a militia piece or one generally of the period. [sr]

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