Figure 133 



to the infantry. The form of the specimen indicates 

 that it was probably designed prior to 1839. In 

 consideration of its over-all design and the use of 

 the word "Militia," it was probably made as a 

 stock pattern and sold to several different organiza- 

 tions. A plume holder, which has been resoldered 

 to the reverse, appears to be of the same metal as 

 the plate proper. It is pierced at the sides for 

 attachment. 



of the 1812-1814 period'" and the cap front described 

 below (fig. 137). 



Although discarded by the more elite volunteer 

 corps, painted metal hat fronts in the "tombstone" 

 shape similar to that of the Morris Rangers continued 

 to be used, to some extent, by the common Militia. 

 Kasily attached to the ordinary civilian hat of the 

 period, they provided the common Militia a quick and 

 inexpensive transformation from civilian to military 

 dress at their infrequent musters perhaps as late as 

 1840. There are several contemporary sketches of 

 these musters and in one, dated 1829 (fig. 134), these 

 "tombstone" plates can be identified. 



A total of perhaps a dozen of these hat fronts are 

 known. Most are of Connecticut origin, although at 

 least two containing New York State devices are ex- 

 tant. The most elaborate of these devices bears, 

 oddly enough, elements of the Connecticut State seal, 

 the motto Qui Trans. Susl., and the crest of the Massa- 

 chusetts coat of arms — an arm grasping a broad- 

 sword (fig. 135). The elaborate detail of this plate 

 indicates that it was probably an officer's. The fact 

 that unit designations on other such known hat fronts 

 run as high as the "23d Regt." is definite proof that 

 these were devices of the common Militia as opposed 

 to the volunteer corps. 



PAINTED CAP FRONT, CONNECTICUT, C. I82I 



USNM 604764-M (S-K 909). Figure 136. 



This painted front, of leather rather than metal, 

 forms an integral part of the cap itself. Edged in 

 gold, it has the unit designation "light infantry: 

 2d coMP." in gold at the top; a shield in the center 

 contains elements of the Connecticut State seal, and 

 below it is the state motto "qui trans sust" ("He 

 who brous;ht us over here will sustains us"). 



1 Painted cap fronts were worn during the War of the 

 Revolution by several units of the Continental Army — 

 including the Light Infantry Company of the Cana- 

 dian Regiment, Haslet's Delaware Regiment, and the 

 Rhode Island Train of Artillery "" — and it is prob- 

 able that the practice continued among some \olun- 

 teer corps up to the VV'ar of 1812. Their use in the 

 uniformed Militia units generally declined after the 

 introduction of die-struck metal cap plates. Two 

 notable exceptions are a cap plate of the Morris 

 Rangers that is attached to a ci\ilian-t\ pe round hat 



CAP FRONT, C. 1830 



USNM 60243-M (S-K 1). Figure 137. 



A majority of these hat fronts are very similar in 

 design, size, and shape, and are painted over a black 

 background on thin precut sheets of tinned iron. This 

 specimen carries a gold eagle with the Federal shield 

 on its breast and a ribbon in its beak. The unit 



"" Illustrated in Lefffrts, pis. 4, 7, 21. 



'" In the collections of the Monistown National Historical 

 Park, The Morris Rangers was one of three uniformed 

 Militia units in Morris County, New Jersey, at the outbreak 

 of the War of 1812; it saw service at Paulus Hook in 1814 

 (Hopkins, pp. 271-272). 



69 



