Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very attractive purple-felt example of a Civil War veteran’s G.A.R. kepi with bullion insignia for the 31st Cavalry Regiment on the front, with Cavalry collar insignia affixed to the crown. Elements of the 31st Cavalry saw both Union and Confederate service during the American Civil War, making this a very interesting GAR cap. The cap has shrunk a bit and has an approximate size of 6¾.

The 31st Cavalry saw combat with Confederate forces at Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Atlanta as part of the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment (Confederate States Army). They saw Union service at Murfreesboro and Altanta as part of the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment (U.S. Volunteers).

The flat visor is original to the hat, and composed of black patent leather. It is edged with leather that is stitched in place. There are two brass Federal eagle buttons. On top of the cap is a brass Cavalry crossed swords insignia pin. The sweatband is absent but the interior of the cap still retains its lining. Overall the cap is in great shape minus some scattered mothing across the crown as shown.

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. It was founded in 1866 in Springfield, Illinois, and grew to include hundreds of "posts" (local community units) across the nation (predominantly in the North, but also a few in the South and West). It was dissolved in 1956 at the death of its last member, Albert Woolson (1850–1956) of Duluth, Minnesota.

Linking men through their experience of the war, the G.A.R. became among the first organized advocacy groups in American politics, supporting voting rights for black veterans, promoting patriotic education, helping to make Memorial Day a national holiday, lobbying the United States Congress to establish regular veterans' pensions, and supporting Republican political candidates. Its peak membership, at 410,000, was in 1890, a high point of various Civil War commemorative and monument dedication ceremonies. It was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), composed of male descendants of Union Army and Union Navy veterans.

This is a very attractive GAR cap with markings to a specific regiment, which is not commonly seen. Ready for further research and display.