Fine Civil War Union Officer’s Beehive Style Slouch Hat with 6th Corps Badge Affixed

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Fine Civil War Union Officer’s Beehive Style Slouch Hat with 6^th Corps Badge Affixed – This rarely encountered beehive style, Union officer’s slouch hat remains in superior condition. Constructed of a fine, black, beaver or rabbit felt, the consistency of the felt, as desired in original, war period, slouch hats, is very supple

and “mellow”. The brim is bound with a coarse, black, grosgrain ribbon; the sweatband, constructed of a wide, reddish brown, thin leather, remains in good condition and completely intact. On the inside of one small area of the sweatband is stenciled the number “2”, possibly a hat sizing stamp. The exterior crown is surrounded, at the brim, with a finer grade of black, grosgrain ribbon, joined, on one side of the crown, in a bow – this is typical of war period hats. Also surrounding the crown, at its base, is an original officer’s hat cord. Hand sewn to the opposite side of the crown, is a large, 6^th Corps, hat badge; the blue felt or 3^rd Division designation field, is surrounded by a single strand of wound, bullion, twisted, decorative wire. The blue field’s color remains vivid; there are a couple of very minor moth nips in the woolen field. Original Civil War officer’s slouch hats have never been a common entity, but the beehive style hat has always been markedly more rare.