THE CAP OF SEAMAN WILLIAM MARTIN, RECIPIENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

THE CAP OF SEAMAN WILLIAM MARTIN, RECIPIENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

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$9,500.00

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Item Code: 1179-657

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This is a very significant regulation Civil War US ordinary navy seaman’s cloth cap. One of the types that is instantly recognizable, made of thick blue-black cloth with wide, soft crown, and no visor. The top is relatively flat and about 9 1/2 inches in diameter. The band around the base is about 2 inches tall. The condition is very good, with just a couple of small moth nips on the top and tiny others scattered. The interior lining of the top is brown polished cotton and complete, showing some rubbing from wear, but no holes or tears. The excellent condition 2-inch-tall black tarred linen sweatband is hand stitched into place and complete. These caps are found both with and without sweat bands; the sweat bands often put in place by the owners. Also sewn in place is a wide "silk" black ribbon tied in a horizontal running bow extending all around the base band. The cap is fitted with a 5/8-inch six-armed gold bullion star sewn in the center of the top. This is within a square (rhombus) bordered by 1/8-inch-wide white wool braid decoratively sewn down with red thread; this is surrounded by a circle that is surrounded by a larger circle of 1/16th red wool braid and this slightly raised separate patch is within a 4-armed star of diameter 6 3/4 inches that is bordered with white wool. Such an elaborate device was not only decorative but of necessity applied by sailors to keep their comrades in the fighting-tops of ships from firing down on them in close-quarters boarding actions.

Stenciled in 1/2-inch-high capital letters is: "W. MARTIN". "Gunner" Martin served with distinction on the USS Varuna during the Civil War. And if you click on this link, you will be amazed to learn that on board this ship he won the Congressional Medal of Honor for action at Forts Jackson and St. Philip in 1862 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Martin_(American_sailor,_USS_Varuna)). Here again is his citation: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Seaman William Martin, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action, serving as Captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Varuna during an attack on Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Louisiana, 24 April 1862. His ship was taken under furious fire by the rebel Morgan and severely damaged by ramming. Steadfast at his station through the thickest of the fight, Seaman Martin inflicted damage on the enemy, remaining cool and courageous although the Varuna, so badly damaged that she was forced to beach, was finally sunk."

This historically important cap was formerly on display in the Texas Civil War Museum and would make a worth addition to any Civil War collection, whether focused on the navy, US uniforms in general, or Civil War headgear.  [pe][ph:L]

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