RARE – Original Civil War issue Union Forage Cap with complete label

Being offered is an original Civil War Union forage cap, often referred to as a Type-II, having a fairly boxy profile, wide top, and flat visor. The cap has its original Civil War issue stamped brass hunting horn, indicating infantry service. The chinstrap is in place, secured by two small general service eagle buttons at the sides, and is the common issue pattern using a floating friction buckle that acts as a stop against the loops on either end of the two-piece chinstrap.

The cap shows scattered moth nips overall, with some on the lower portion exposing the light brown buckram lining stiffener, particularly around the lower rear edge. One spot on the wearer’s lower left front had a piece of matching fabric put in. On the top there is a semicircular tear near the mouthpiece of the infantry horn that has been left as is with no missing fabric

The interior has the full polished cotton lining in place, with the full label intact, though the sweatband has a tear on the wearer’s left front, and wear along the left rear. This has been stabilized by a line of stitching along its top and on the bottom, folded, edge where necessary. The visor has been restitched on the wearer’s front left, and there seems to be a small semi-circular glue mark on the right. Little of this shows on the exterior, however.

Thie original contractor’s paper label inside reads "Size No 4 / 7 8/1 / U.S. Army. / L. J. & I. Phillips." The “8/1” is an original printer’s error for “1/8,” the label providing both the standard army sizing and the normal civilian equivalent. Lewis J. and Isaac Phillips of New York had huge army contracts for caps every year of the war, furnishing some 35,000 in 1861, 175,000 or more in 1862, 251,000 in 1863, and 330,200 in 1864.

The forage cap was adopted as an army wide in 1858 and descended from the prewar shako, at least as it looked after exposure to the elements. They were intended to be worn on “fatigue” duties with the Hardee hat serving as the dress hat, but it is the forage cap that is the most recognizable piece of Civil War headgear. If there was a typical forage cap, it was likely one by L. J. & I Phillips. Most soldiers probably went through several of these caps in their army service and few thought to preserve them.

The cap shows dust and dirt from storage and the infantry horn has a matching aged patina. This is a great example of what a soldier wore during the Civil War. It would be a key piece in any Civil War collection or display – similar examples in good condition run over $2500.00. The friendly layaway option is available for this product.