IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY OFFICER'S KEPI - THE OWNER WAS KILLED IN ACTION

IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY OFFICER'S KEPI - THE OWNER WAS KILLED IN ACTION

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$22,000.00

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Item Code: 1268-1008

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This has to be one of the best out there for history, its classic appearance and condition. Peyton Johnston Junior was commissioned an officer in the Virginia 3rd Cavalry Regiment on 15 Aug 1861. He mustered out of this organization the end of March 1862 and on April 25th, 1862, he was commissioned a junior 2nd lieutenant in the Richmond Fayette Light Artillery (which was re-organized during the spring of 1861 with men from Richmond. Its origins went back to 1829).  It was attached to the 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery, then became an independent command. The unit was assigned to the 38th Battalion Virginia Light Artillery and R. M. Stribling's Battalion of Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia. It served in the Peninsula Campaign, South Mountain, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Suffolk and Gettysburg. Then they fought at New Bern and Plymouth North Carolina followed by Port Walthall Junction in Virginia, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. It was on June 1, 1864, at Cold Harbor that Peyton was killed. Please click on this link (Lieut Peyton Johnston Jr. (1843-1864) - Find a Grave Memorial)

THE KEPI. Certainly, a Richmond Virgina made cap it is in the French style with the top and sides made of red wool broadcloth. There are areas of scattered moth nips. The dark blue 1-inch-high band around the bottom is a tabby weave broadcloth. The cap measures 5 1/2 inches from the rear bottom to the top while in front it is 2 3/4 inches. Entirely hand sewn the cap has 3/16ths gold bullion (oxidized to a silver tone) flat-fall braid. One strand is located around the top edge of the blue band with another set 1/8th of an inch above it. Single strands extend up the back, front and sides. There is a single strand of braid around the edge of the top, while in the center is a single strand in quatrefoil. The unbound visor is patent leather and is 1 1/2 inches deep at front. The functional patent leather chinstrap has a small, stamped brass rectangular buckle and is held in place by small Virginia state seal buttons that appear to be of Albert's VA 20A type. Attached to the front of this cap are metallic thread crossed cannons that measure 1 1/4 inches wide at the top and 1 inch at the bottom. Their height is 3/4 of an inch. The interior of the cap in lined with black glazed cotton. The lining has a tear in the back and some minor loss but is 90% intact. This is gathered with a thin drawstring at its upper edge revealing the black tarred waterproofing disc. The leather 1 1/2-inch-tall sweat band is 100% intact as are all its original hand whipped threads holding it firmly in place.

With the cap is a letter that has always been with this cap and that is signed "Peyton Johnston Jr.". It that reads " Richmond 18th March (no year but we believe it is 1864). Dear Uncle William (who is Dr, William Hartwell Macon Sr.) I received your letter and take great pleasure in sending Hartwell (who is then 12-year-old William Hartwell Macon Jr.) a SOLDIER'S CAP and sword. I hope he will be amused with them. I shall be glad to accept of your kind invitation on easter. Love to aunt Nora and children. I remain your affectionate nephew...".  This note with the cap and sword were sent to Ingleside Plantation in Hanover County Virginia. The home survives to this day! The Peytons, the Johnstons and the Macons were among the "First Families of Virginia" (FFVs) they were very well off and their lineage goes back to the 17th century in the Commonwealth.

In the collection of the former Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond Virginia are several military items that belonged to Lieutenant Peyton Johnston Jr. when he was killed at Cold Harbor. Among them is his regulation Confederate lieutenants forage cap (please click on this link (Kepi | American Civil War Museum). One could conclude that the cap in the museum was a replacement for the cap he sent young Hartwell. Or that the cap that we are offering and was sent Hartwell and was the Lieutenant's full-dress cap that he generously gifted to his nephew. Another possibility is that this cap, size 6 7/8s, was custom-made by Peyton for the then 12-year-old Hartwell jr. Then there is a third possibility that the cap and sword were "picked up" by Lt. Johnston somewhere, possibly a battlefield. Perhaps further research will reveal the true back-story?

A 1998 letter of examination from one of this country's top uniform experts says in part, "This is a fine example of a Confederate artillery officer's kepi...It is completely original and untouched...It's history is quite significant and important." Formerly in the Bill Turner, Bob Walters and Ray Richey collections.  [pe][ph:L]

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