1858 OFFICER'S HARDEE HAT WORN BY A HERO WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT BATTERY WAGNER

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Like Colonel Robert G. Shaw of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, Haldiman Sumner Putnam died a similar death on the same battlefield. Offered here is his regulation Model 1858 officer's Hardee Hat.

Haldiman Sumner Putnam was the son of John L. and Adeline M. Sumner. He graduated West Point in June of 1857. He was breveted a 2nd Lieutenant of Topographic Engineers on July 1, 1857. He was soon appointed a permanent 2nd then 1st Lieutenancy. With the coming of The War of Rebellion he was assigned to General Irvin McDowell's staff where he soon received a Brevet to Major for meritorious service during the Manassas Campaign. He was commissioned by the Governor of New Hampshire as the Colonel of the 7th Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers on October 15, 1861. (Here is a link to the regimental history of this organization The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion : Little, Henry F. W., 1842- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive )

Putnam was in command of the entire 2nd Brigade during the attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, July 18, 1863.  Battery or Fort Wagner was the principal fortification on Morris Island during the Civil War. The powerful earthwork stretched across the island and was designed to keep the enemy from Cummings Point, the closest land to Fort Sumter. In the spring of 1863, the Federals planned a joint operation that called for a quick seizure of Morris Island, the erection of breeching batteries on Cummings Point, the bombardment and capture of Fort Sumter, and the removal of harbor obstructions to allow ironclads to enter the harbor and capture Charleston.

At dawn on July 11, 1863, Wagner’s garrison of 1,800 men under Colonel Charles Olmstead stopped a 1,230-man Union brigade. The Federals then constructed siege batteries and on July 18 opened a daylong land and naval bombardment of Battery Wagner. A Union division was drawn up to attack Wagner. It was spearheaded by the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, a regiment of black soldiers led by Colonel Robert Shaw. Some 1,600 men under General William B. Taliaferro (pronounced Toliver in the South) defended Wagner. The attack commenced at dusk, and though part of Wagner was overrun, the Federals were thrown back, suffering 1,515 casualties of the 5,000 men engaged. Among the dead were two colonels, Robert Shaw and Haldiman Putnam. The Confederates suffered 222 casualties. In this struggle Putnam advanced with the Brigade to the top of the southeast angle of Wagner, where he was shot through the head. His body was left for the Rebels to bury. Like Shaw's of the 54th Massachusetts, his body was never found.

The Hardee hat he purchased when becoming colonel of the 7th New Hampshire is a spectacular example. Made of the best black felt. The width of the brim is 3 1/4 inches and its black ribbed silk binding is 1/2 inch deep. The height of the crown is 6 1/4 inches. The gold and black cords have acorn shaped ends. The brim of the hat is looped up on the right side and secured by a gold metallic embroidered eagle badge that measures 3 inches by 2 inches. There are three large ostrich feathers on the left side. On the front is a 3 inch by 2-inch metallic gold embroidered infantry horn with a gold embroidered "7" in the middle. The condition of the exterior and all the attached devices is excellent. The black felt is faded to a very dark brown, but this is hardly noticeable. The interior of the hat has a silk dark rose colored lining. This is secured at its bottom raw edge to the sweat band and is 99% intact. The lining has printed into it in gold the elaborate trademark of the maker which reads: "ST NICHOLAS HOTEL. No. 519 B-WAY NEW YORK" over "WARNOCK & Co.". The Black leather sweat band is 2 1/2 inches high and is 95% intact. Natural shrinkage of the leather has pulled it away in a couple of places from the crown, but it is otherwise firmly in place. Evidently there was a patent leather chinstrap affixed to the swear band, but it was sadly lost in recent years.

Additionally, there were some period documents with the hat when found decades ago but these like his lieutenant's epaulettes are lost. What is with the hat are 2 Carte de Visite photographs one which is signed "Col. H. S. Putnam 7th NH Vols.".  Also include, besides reams of research and archival records, is a 1993 article written in Steve Sylvia's North South Traders CIVIL WAR magazine by Hugh Roden entitled, "Haldimand Sumner Putnam's Hardee Hat".

This hat when it first came to light was hailed as one of the best known. The tragic history of its owner at Battery Wagner adds to its mystique and desirability.   [pe] [ph:L]

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