A very strong example of the regulation Civil War Union infantry officer’s hat badge- 3-1/4” by 2-1/2” overall with embroidered gold bullion infantry hunting horn on black velvet sewn over an internal stiffener with brown cloth backing and a jaceron wire border around the edge of the face. Three small false-embroidered numerals are mounted in loop by short pins on their backs that are bent on over on the reverse. One of the two brass wire mounting loops is still present on the back of the insignia, slightly bent to the side.

The badge is in very good condition with just some light rubs to the velvet at left and right, a slight nip on the very left edge, and a small bit of the backing fabric missing. This seems clearly to have been worn- in addition to the regimental numerals, the reverse edge shows small brown wear spots on the material between the stitching of the front to the back. We note that the embroidered bullion hunting horn itself shows as silver, while the cords, tassels, sequins around the mouth of the bell and the interior of the mouth, like the numerals, distinctly retain their gilt. This appears to be a deliberate choice by the maker to use contrasting silver and gold bullion rather than rubbing or oxidation, though we do see some darker color in the recess between the loop of the horn and the bell.

This could have been worn by an officer in one of just five infantry regiments who bore that number- regiments from Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It would display well in a collection focusing on one of those regiments or even a specialized collection of embroidered bullion insignia.   [sr][ph:L]

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