Object Details
- Description
- Physical Description
- Dark blue wool coat with gold-colored buttons. Black wool hat with ostrich plume and blue cord ribbon. Brass Jager horn and "A" insignia.
- Specific History
- This is the type of coat and hat worn by a Union private.
- General History
- In 1855 Secretary of War Jefferson Davis was instrumental in the creation of two regiments of cavalry. It was recommended that the cavalry have a distinctive hat; it is sometimes called the Jeff Davis hat. It also was referred to as the Hardee hat, after William Joseph Hardee, an officer of the 2nd Cavalry. In 1858 the hat was approved for the entire army. The hat was made of black felt and had various insignia, which were embroidered for officers and brass for enlisted men. It was looped up by an eagle on one side and decorated with ostrich feathers on the other. The side on which the hat was looped up was changed several times during the period the hat was in use. From 1858–1861 the hat looped on the left for artillery and infantry officers. On the front of the hat was the insignia of the branch of service. The Jager horn represented the infantry. In some cases the hat bore the regimental number and company letter. Hat cords were in the branch color for enlisted men, in mixed black and silver for company or field officers, and in gold for general officers.
- Associated Date
- 1857 - 1872
- ID Number
- AF.22817 [dup5]
- catalog number
- 22817
- accession number
- 64127
- Object Name
- coat
- Other Terms
- coat; Man; Army; Infantry; Private; Enlisted Man; Dress
- Physical Description
- wool (overall material)
- dark blue (overall color)
- brass (buttons material)
- light blue (trim color)
- Measurements
- overall: 37 in x 16 1/2 in; 93.98 cm x 41.91 cm
- See more items in
- Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
- Military
- ThinkFinity
- Exhibition
- Price of Freedom
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of American History
- related event
- Civil War
- Civil War and Reconstruction
- Record ID
- nmah_446333
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-f9c1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
