WONDERFUL IDENTIFIED CAP OF JULIUS CROSSMAN 142nd NEW YORK WITH FAMILY LETTER OF PROVENANCE AND COPY OF WARTIME LETTER FROM CROSSMAN- DIED APRIL 1863 AT FAIRFAX SEMINARY

$5,000.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 1179-406

This regulation issue Civil War forage cap comes with a letter from the great-granddaughter of the soldier who wore it and a 2003 conservator’s report with photographs and notes. The cap bears its original insignia on the top of the cap: a brass “I” over “142,” with the last numeral additionally secured by the soldier with some brown thread, and two slits indicating it once carried an infantry hunting horn insignia as well.

The cap belonged to Julius Augustus Crossman, who enlisted on August 21, 1862, at age 27 at Pierrepont, NY, as a private and mustered into Co. I of the 142nd New York on 9/29/62. The regiment recruited in St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, and rendezvoused at Ogdensburg, where it mustered into U.S. service for three years on September 29, 1862. Born Oct. 5, 1835, Crossman is picked up in the 1860 census as a farmer, living with his parents and four brothers, three of whom also joined the army. Two, Edward and Edgar, had signed up in the 16th New York in April 1861. A third brother, Marcus, joined Julius in the 142nd, enlisting just two days later. At some point after the 1860 census was taken, Julius married Matilda Hewitt and the couple had a son, Edward Charles Crossman, born Dec. 26, 1861. An original envelope addressed to Julius at Washington comes with the cap along with a photocopy of the first and last page of a letter written by him to his wife on Feb. 25th, 1862, referring to “Eddy” and discussing some family matters as well as adding, “I can’t tell if whether we shall ever go into battle or not, but hope we never shall for your sake, but if we ever do, I hope that I shall come out all right.” He also mentions having his portrait taken, so there may be an identified image of him out there.

The regiment left for Washington on October 6 and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade of Abercrombie’s Division of the Military District of Washington, redesignated in February 1863 as the 22nd Corps in the Department of Washington. The regiment remained at this post during Crossman’s service, moving to Suffolk, VA, and joining the 7th Corps in April and gaining a reputation as fighting regiment in the 4th, 11h, 10th, 18th, and 24th Army Corps, losing 129 officers and men killed or mortally wounded and another 163 of disease and other causes, of whom Crossman was one, dying of Typhoid Fever in hospital at Fairfax Seminary 4/6/63. As collectors and students of the war know, sickness and disease took a far higher toll in deaths than bullets in the war. His body was returned to Pierrepont, as had been the body of his brother Edward, who had also died of Typhoid, in November 1861. Marcus survived to be discharged in May 1865, having been wounded, captured and paroled in late September 1864 at Chaffin’s Bluff. Crossman’s widow survived to 1905 and his son to 1917. The town clerk’s register of men who served in the war indicates Julius had received a $50 bounty for enlisting.

The cap is now in excellent, displayable condition, having been professionally conserved. It had been stored flat and when it first came out from the family was dirty, stained, and had the visor detached. A detailed letter from the conservator details the condition of the cap and conservation process that largely involved just cleaning and backing a few small moth holes on the (wearer’s right side of the cap and left rear. These holes were small- the largest 3/8 inch and the others mostly 1/8. These were backed with matching fabric and are very, very hard to spot. Similarly, one hole in the lining was mended and the visor reattached. Photos make clear the sweatband, chinstrap and the insignia were still in place. A couple of very thin stains are visible on the top of the cap and on the lining inside the crown, but the cap now rates as excellent.

This is a great looking cap and very scarce not only as identified and with a recent direct family provenance, but with its original insignia in place. It is also a telling relic of a soldier and family who paid a terrible price in the conflict.  [sr] [ph:L]

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