A CONFEDERATE CAVALRYMAN'S SLOUCH HAT FROM THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN

A CONFEDERATE CAVALRYMAN'S SLOUCH HAT FROM THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN

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$13,950.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1310-01

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This wonderful hat, probably a trooper's but perhaps an officer's, was found very recently in the town of Dover in south central Pennsylvania. Dover, near both York and Hanover Pennsylvania, witnessed significant events during Lee's invasion of the North June and July of 1863. "Gen. J.E.B. Stuart with three brigades of Confederate cavalry, commanded by Wade Hampton, Fitzhugh Lee and John R. Chamblis (sic), in all 6,000 men, entered Dover on the morning of July 1, 1863, the day after the Battle of Gettysburg opened. Stuart had been defeated by Kilpatrick’s cavalry at Hanover June 30 and marched all night with a train of 125 wagons through Jefferson and York New Salem to Dover in order to meet Early’s infantry division which had taken possession of York on June 28. After Stuart had heard that Early had withdrawn from York he marched with his entire column toward Carlisle, and from thence to Gettysburg. Before leaving Dover, he paroled about 250 Union prisoners who had been captured at Hanover and elsewhere."

THE SLOUCH HAT: Looking for all the world like a domestic product this hat, like General Jeb Stuart's, is a war time French import. The interior multicolored lining of silk is amazingly 98% intact and is lightly embossed " PARIS". 85% of the original 3-piece 1 1/4-inch-high sweat band remains hand stitched in place. The body of this felt hat is a "mouse brown" in color. The brim is almost 4 inches deep and is held up on the right side (like Stuart's hat) by a loop of twisted cotton over a plain brass coin button. The button, which is painted a mustard yellow, is a replacement but actually came off a Confederate Cavalry jacket that was once in the possession of this compiler/restorer (lacquer was applied to preserve the flaking paint). Affixed to this side is the thin cardboard core of which was once a sequined five-pointed star (95% intact).

The brim of this hat shows evidence of a now lost grosgrain certainly a fragile silk blend. Additionally, there are losses due to insect damage; these do not affect its soundness. The crown of the slouch hat rises to 4 inches.  This crown suffered age and wear loss and is now 85% intact. At its base are the remains of the yellow worsted woolen cords of a cavalry trooper; they are 65% intact. Coming untwisted in spots these originals are sewn in place as made; they have never been removed and have not been resewn. Additionally, there is on the left side of the hat a cotton cord 6 inches long that was designed to tie the hat in place when riding while on the right only a tiny remnant is visible. Also, of interest is the remnants of an inked name. Sadly, this compiler cannot make it out fully, but the last name may be "Hill".

When found this slouch hat was folded along its length and resembled a crescent. Restoration entailed "blocking"; that is reshaping the hat to its original Civil War appearance. There is no reason what-so-ever to believe this hat was made as a so-called "crusher". This was accomplished by using another 19th century slouch hat crown of identical material as a stabilizing core. This was inserted up into the damaged original crown. This core, of an intentionally chosen darker shade (there being no attempt to disguise), was then both sewn and spot glued (using a water-soluble adhesive-easily removed) into place. The only other addition required in this restoration was the button referenced above.

This Confederate cavalryman's hat is a collector's dream. It is an actual artifact of the Gettysburg Campaign and has that look that is so desperately sought.   [pe][ph:L]

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