MCDOWELL PATTERN OFFICER’S OR PRIVATE PURCHASE FORAGE CAP

MCDOWELL PATTERN OFFICER’S OR PRIVATE PURCHASE FORAGE CAP

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$2,950.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1316-11

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

The “McDowell” cap was popularized early in the war by General Irwin McDowell (1818-1835,) who was perhaps a more inspiring in haberdashery than generalship. The style is characterized by a tall body made without a band around the base, flat top with rib around the edge, and a downturned, crescent visor, in this case bearing a very lightly stamped border line. These were commercially available for officers, who were obliged to purchase their own uniforms and gear from tailors and military goods dealers, with a certain amount of latitude for style within the general regulations. This shows a higher quality construction than the caps issued by the army to enlisted men, mainly evidenced by the black silk lining that is quilted on the underside of top.

This shows off very well with good dark blue color, tight seams, chinstrap with buckle and single loop keeper and side buttons in place, the visor secure, and the sweatband and quilted black silk lining securely in place inside. The top of the cap shows a dozen or so pencil point moth nips that blend in well, with about the same number and size on the left and right sides of the cap body, but also blending in for the most part. Both side buttons are general staff pattern, small size, and the leather chinstrap itself is ½” wide, with one element fixed to a flat friction buckle and the other end passing through that and end with a fixed retaining loop.

The sweatband is a soft brown leather, likely goatskin, with impressed checkered pattern and sewn over along the top edge. It is securely in place though showing a repair over the wearer’s right ear where a piece of thin dark brown oil cloth was glued in from behind to bridge a missing piece about 1/4” wide at the top edge and 1-1/4” wide at the bottom. The black silk lining is secure and shows just a couple of small wear spots over the wearer’s right eye and roughly at his right forehead where they fabric shows a little threadbare, and a short tear about 1-1/2” long on the rear center of the top. The only other defect is not very noticeable. The right edge of the top was apparently pushed inward somewhat while the cardboard stiffener was wet, moving its edge inward about 1” and doubling over the stiffener along the middle roughly from front to back. It is likely a conservator could remedy this by humidifying it and flattening it out again, but we have left it as we got it and it is far more evident to the touch than the eye since the neither the blue fabric of the top or the black silk lining is affected, and the cap is solid and shows off very well regardless.

This is a very good looking cap that would add to a headgear or officer’s display.  [sr][ph:L]

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