John M. Taylor set himself up in the hat, cap and fur business in Lewisburg, PA, in 1869. His first advertisement in the local paper was that March, and he is on the list of licensed vendors in Union county from 1869 to 1872. A newspaper from July 1869, quoted by Bazelon, regarding the local zouave company says, “the new zouave uniform is gay attire. Fancy red trousers… blue jacket, cap a la woodpecker, and about a peck of silvered bullet buttons…” The “woodpecker” obviously refers the red top, and Taylor is specifically named in a September 1869 article as the “hattist” who supplied the company with, “those most neat and tasty caps.” While it is possible, it is very unlikely that Taylor supplied the same cap to any other company since individual uniforms were a point of pride in militia organizations and the cap is very much in the zouave style.

The cap has about a 4-inch rise from brim to crown and is in outstanding condition. The medium-blue wool body shows just one tiny moth nip on the right side near the juncture with the visor. Otherwise, there are no moth nips or even tracking. Narrow, flat gold braid, now a cream color, circles the bottom of the cap from either side of the visor. A second line runs completely around the body about an inch above that, and a single line of cording runs up the front, back and sides, extending over the tip fold of the sides to end at the juncture with the inset crown.

The bound, black leather visor is firmly in place with just one small section of stitching out at the right corner. The sweatband shows only very slight wear from use. The brown twill cloth side lining and quilted underside of the crown are very good, with light rubbing or sweat marks from use, but not holes or serious abrasion. The quilting bears the gilt embossed maker’s stamp reading: “J.M. Taylor / Lewisburg / P.A.” The chinstrap and side buttons are missing. Bazelon mentions the existence of another cap like this that bears gold side buttons. He does not mention their design, but given that the uniform had silver bullet buttons, they were likely plain gold bullet buttons, and could be replaced.

The Lewisburg Zouaves are mentioned in 1871 PA legislative documents, along with the Lewisburg Artillery, as being part of the 8^th Division of the PA National Guard, with a strength of 3 officers and 48 enlisted men. The officers all have rank dating to June 18, 1869, likely the date of the company’s acceptance into the National Guard. They are mentioned as taking part in the dedication of the Soldier’s Monument in Muncy in 1869 and the Lewisburg Fourth of July celebration in 1870. Not all service was parade oriented, though: they are recorded as helping to suppress a riot in Williamsport in 1872.

This is a mint condition cap that shows the ongoing fascination with zouave uniforms even after the Civil War and is a showy piece of Pennsylvania history.  [sr]

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