89th NEW YORK CHASSEUR STYLE KEPI

89th NEW YORK CHASSEUR STYLE KEPI

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$4,500.00

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Item Code: 2026-1000

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This low crown, chasseur style kepi has a clear Baker and McKenney maker’s address impressed in gold lettering on the underside of the stiffener in the crown using their 63 Grand St. address, dating it 1864-65. It bears New York side buttons on the chinstrap and a false embroidered silvered “89” in a gilt stamped brass wreath on the front, indicating one of the two New York wartime regiments with that designation. Given the narrow yellow braid trim and black fabric chinstrap, it likely comes from the 89th NGSNY (the post-1862 designation of the NY State Militia,) a unit formed in mid-1863, with its Colonel’s commission dating June 25, 1863, a date suggesting it was organized in response to news of Lee’s push north in the Gettysburg Campaign, though the state was always worried about Confederate incursions along its northern border with Canada, civil unrest ( like the New York City draft riots,) the security of its coastal fortifications, policing and escort of draftees and prisoners of war, as well as repeated temporary emergency mobilizations under Federal call-ups for troops, which occurred during both the Antietam and Gettysburg campaigns.

The cap is dark blue, with a line of narrow yellow braid running along the upper edge of the band around the base of the cap and then up the rear seam and over the fold at the top to run around the perimeter of the inset crown. This follows the general lines of the cap officially adopted by the state in 1863, though some regimental distinctions in uniform were allowed, explaining the use of yellow worsted braid rather than white, with the interesting variation of having the braid run up the rear seam rather than the front, where it would be mostly hidden by the insignia.

The visor is black leather flat, with a raw edge. The chinstrap is a flat, black braid. The interior has a light brown sweatband in place, and brown two-thirds tall lining with open drawstring top exposing the black stiffener sewn to the underside of the crown. This is embossed in gold lettering: “BAKER & MCKENNEY / MILITARY GOODS / 63 WALKER ST. / NEW YORK.” See Bazelon’s Directory, Volume 1, for a full history of the firm, business addresses etc. Baker is Laura Baker, one of the few female military goods contractors and dealers, who took over the business of her deceased husband, John A. Baker in June 1864 and then partnered with former employee James McKenney starting at latest Jan. 9, 1864, judging by advertisements. The stiffener shows some rubbing from wear, affecting only the top center gold letters of the maker address- leaving the rest clear and unambiguous. The cap also shows wear and moth damage to the fabric at the wearer’s upper left at the edge of the crown and on the back along the rear seam, with some cursory attempts to close up the moth nips, which could be improved on. Mothing in those particular spots is often taken to result from the soldier donning the cap by holding the visor in his right hand and smoothing into position with his left, transferring perspiration and oils into the fabric at those spots. The cap is solid, however, the seams are good, and it displays very well.

This would fit well in a Civil War headgear collection or display focused on New York and its important contributions to the war effort. The regiment seems to have drawn mostly from the Jamaica area, judging from the residence of its first Colonel, Aaron A. Degrauw. His commission dates June 25, 1863. Those of his Lt. Colonel and Major, both also from Jamaica, date to September, and at least five of his Captains from July 1863 to November 1864. The regiment was eventually disbanded in the state’s 1868 reduction of forces. This is a scarce example of its early uniform.  [sr] [ph:L]

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