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Hessian Miter Cap

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Description
Physical Description
Cloth body with brass fittings and a cap plate. The straw-colored cloth matches the regimental facings on their uniforms. The brass finial, supports, and crown are stamped with a variety of military symbols. The brass cap plate is stamped with the Hessian lion. The lion is rampant, rearing on the left hind leg with the forelegs elevated, the right above the left, and usually with the head in profile and holding a sword. The sword is engraved with the initials "FL" for Friedrich Landraf, the ruler of Hesse-Cassel.
Specific History
The Fusilier Regiment von Knyphausen was one of the regiments of the Second Division of troops from the German principality of Hesse-Cassel. It served as an auxiliary troop to the British Army during the American Revolution. Fusiliers were light infantry regiments in German armies and their distinctive miter cap differentiated them from other units.
General History
The miter is a ceremonial, peaked headdress.
1775
ID Number
1978.2180.01
accession number
1978.2180
catalog number
1978.2180.01
84815M
Object Name
Cap
Other Terms
Cap; Man; Army; Fusileer
Physical Description
metal (overall material)
wool (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 8 5/8 in x 6 7/8 in x 9 1/8 in; 21.9075 cm x 17.4625 cm x 23.1775 cm
Associated Place
Germany
See more items in
Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
Military
Exhibition
Price of Freedom
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
related event
Battle of Trenton, 1776
American Revolution
Revolution and the New Nation
Record ID
nmah_433169
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a2-4121-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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