Late Civil War to Early Indian War Slouch Hat

Late Civil War to Early Indian War Slouch Hat – This slouch hat exhibits both late Civil War to early Indian War characteristics; it is constructed of a high quality, beaver or rabbit felt and retains a soft, mellow feel. Affixed to the front of the hat is a Civil War period, bullion embroidered, cavalry crossed sabers insignia – although this insignia is original, it may have been attached well after the original period of use. The hat’s brim is bound with coarse, silk, grosgrain ribbon; the crown of the hat is surrounded by another band of silk, grosgrain ribbon, exhibiting a decorative, small bow. The officer’s hat cord appears to be of early Indian War vintage with small acorn tassels. The interior sweat band is a reddish-brown leather, that was handsewn to the hat. The hat remains in overall excellent condition. As mentioned, this slouch hat appears to conform to late Civil War characteristics, although this type of hat was utilized in the U.S. Army into the mid-1870s; the supposition is that the hat, in all likelihood, dates to the period from 1865 to 1872.

U.S. Army officers wore slouch hats during the Indian Wars (roughly 1860s-1890s), evolving from Civil War styles, especially the versatile, broad-brimmed Campaign Hat (M1872/M1876), often made of felt, sometimes with a pinched crown and a “Montana peak,” replacing earlier kepis for field use, with variations in trim (gold braid, insignia like crossed sabers/crossed arrows) showing rank and branch, though officers often bought private-purchase versions

Key Characteristics & Details:

• Campaign Hat: The primary form of the slouch hat for field duty, featuring a tall, pinched crown with four dents (Montana Peak) and a wide brim.
• Material: Usually wool or fur felt, initially black but shifting to grayish-brown (like “cork” or “khaki” shades) by the mid-1870s.
• Officer vs. Enlisted: Officers had regulation hats but often purchased finer, private-purchase versions (like those from Bent & Bush) with different trimmings.
• Insignia: Officers’ hats featured gold bullion loops, eagle insignia, and branch-specific emblems (crossed sabers for cavalry, etc.).
• Evolution: The M1872 was replaced by the M1876 Campaign Hat, both iconic for the era, with officers sometimes seen in lighter colors or even kepis, showing diversity in field dress.
• Examples: The Second U.S. Cavalry hat from around 1880, with crossed swords insignia, exemplifies an officer’s slouch hat from this period.