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RARE YANKEE "PLUG HAT" STRUCK AT ANTIETAM

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This hat, a rarely seen form of the slouch hat, was in two museums prior to our acquiring it - the Eastern Washington State Historical Society Museum of Spokane, Washington State where it was on display since 1936, and until recently The Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

When deaccessioned in 1991 the original 1936 accession entry passed to the then buyer. This is still with the hat today and reads: "3. Hat, Large, Felt. Hole in this hat was caused by a Minnie Ball at the Battle of Antietam. The hat was on the head (sic) of Comrade Horst when hit. Has gold and black cord, and gold bugle."  The source of the hat is noted as: " J.L. Reno Post #47 (G.A.R.) (Secured thru Mrs. A. Williams)"

HISTORY: John S. Horst enlisted in the 93rd Pennsylvania Infantry at Lebanon, PA on September 10, 1861. He served 3 years and was involved in the 7 Days battles around Richmond, Antietam (reserve), Fredericksburg, 2nd Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. His plug hat's military career allegedly ended on the Antietam battlefield September 1862. Here it was struck on the brim by a projectile. However, the regiment was in Pleasant Valley during the battle and did not reach the battlefield until the 18th. After the battle it helped bury the dead. So, one must wonder if the "wound" to the hat happened at Antietam or another of the many fields Horst fought on including Gettysburg. The 93rd was hard fighting combat unit and Horst's records show him rarely absent from duty.

THE HAT: This hat is fine quality and certainly a "private purchase". It is made of soft black felt. It is bound around the brim with 1/8-inch grosgrain made of a cotton silk blend. Originally black it, the grosgrain, has faded to a brown shade. The brim extends about 3 inches from the crown of the hat that rises to 4 3/4 inches high and which around its base has a decorative 3/4-inch band of grosgrain. Sewn to the front of the hat is a false embroidered infantry horn which is 3 inches by 1 3/4 inches. The horn appears to have never been off this hat. It has a deep patina on the front and as an enlisted man's badge it has no gilt finish. The interior of this hat has a fully intact hand whipstitched leather sweat band which is about 1 7/8 inches high and is 95% intact but showing honest wear. Attached to this is a decorative cotton lining with a draw string for adjustment. Its condition is perfect. The "gold and black" cords referred to in the museum's description are loose on the hat and do not belong to this hat. It was, in our belief that they were put much on later on "spice-up" the hat for display. They are post-Civil War and the type typically seen on GAR headdress. Inside on the sweat band is a very old hand executed museum tag which has on it. " J.H. Horst" over "831" over "3" over "Civil War". The condition of the plug hat is excellent with no losses or insect damage to speak of other than 2 holes in the brim of the hat. One on the right front is a long irregular shaped rent that measures about 2 inches by 1 inch with fabric loss in mid-space. Also, on the front left side close to the crown is a small 3/4-inch tear/jagged hole that shows cloth loss also. One must conclude that this damage was caused by a projectile (Minie Ball) coming from left to right just missing the wearers forehead and that the brim of the hat was sloping down over the forehead. The left smaller hole an entrance the right much larger hole the exit. Or the holes are explained by an artillery projectile exploding from above and fragmenting. This hat begs more research!

Accompanying this item besides Horst's records are documents that relate to the Spokane museum, its ownership and subsequent sale.   [pe] [ph:L]

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