i^INFANTRY CAP, 1813-182^ 



f\ BLACK CYLINDRICAL CAP of felt OF bcaver was 

 prescribed in late 1811 for infantry platoon officers 

 and enlisted personnel: Syg to 7'/4 inches in height 

 with a \isor of 2/2 inches, with cords and tassels, and 

 a front plate "with the eagle, the number of the regi- 

 ment and designation of the service." ^" This cap ap- 

 parently was modeled on that adopted by the foot 

 troops of the British Army about 1800 and also worn 

 by units of the French Army. The British model was of 

 japanned leather rather than felt.'" No specimen of 

 the American model is known to exist. 



On 23 January 1813 the Secretan- of War approved 

 a new pattern infantn.- cap that had been submitted to 

 his office for examination." This was in response to a 

 recommendation made by the Commis.sar\' General of 

 Purchases, Callender Irvine, the pre\ious December. 

 Ir\ine, who had ne\er liked the wool felt caps, had 

 stated at that time : 



For the men of the Light .\rtilleiy. Infantry. Artillery 

 and Rifle Regiments, I propose to furnish Leather Gaps 

 in lieu of Felt Caps, the former being preferable as to 

 appearance, comfort, durability and on the score of 

 economy, the leather cap will cost $1. The Felt Cap 

 costs 37/2 Cts. the former will last three to four years 

 with decency, under any circumstances two years, the 

 latter but one year and will not look decent half 

 that time, the first wetting injures its good 

 appearance. . . .*- 



In Februan, 1813 Inine informed his deputx com- 

 missaries of the intention to furnish the .\miy with 

 leather caps "as soon as those on hand and contracted 

 for are issued." ^' During the same month he called in 

 hat manufacturers to examine the new pattern leather 

 infantry cap," and during March and April let con- 

 tracts for this piece of headgear at an a\crage cost of 



^i.yg." 



Unfortunately the appro\al of this cap contains no 

 detailed description, and the first uniform regulation 

 which mentions it, that of 1 May 1813, states only: 

 "Leather caps will be substituted for felt, and worsted 

 or cotton pompons for feathers." *" Postwar regulations 

 add further clarity as to the trimmings: "t^ap, for the 

 non-commissioned officers and pri\atcs of all corps, the 

 same as that worn by the infantry, with white pom- 

 pons, black cockades, and yellow cockade eagles; the 

 other ornaments of the cap to correspond with the 

 trimmings of the corps." *' The other ornaments in- 

 cluded a band and tassel as well as a cap plate. '^ .Sub- 

 sequent official correspondence adds further detail. The 

 cap was lined, had a front piece to rise 2Ys inches above 

 the crown, and was equipped with rings and buttons, 

 one on either side of the cap, to secure the bands and 

 tassels.^' In 1816 the dimensions in inches of a cap of 

 this type in actual use are finally gi\en: "height of 

 back-7/2< height of front alxive crawn~2, diameter 

 of top-7, diameter of bottom-73/4. Flaps on the back, 





A.v^ 



9v 



Figure 12.— Infantry Cap. 1813-182L Contemporary 

 drawing-. National Archives. 



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