Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic example of the classic Civil War Confederate Enlistedman’s Kepi. Recently obtained from an old collection, this cap is a stellar example of the issue headgear of the Confederate Soldier. Confederate issue enlisted headgear seldom comes on the market. We are pleased to offer this example, which is the second of this type IMA has had the privilege of offering!

This is a great example of an Early War Confederate Enlisted Man's Kepi, being made to approximate the Union’s McDowell pattern. The McDowell forage cap, described by some troops as "shapeless as a feedbag", was a less-expensive and more comfortable version of the earlier shako with the stiffening removed. This cap dates from the early-mid of the Civil War, and likely was produced through the Richmond Clothing Bureau, which outsourced much of its labor to local seamstresses and tailors. The kepi is made of an oxidized gray colored wool with a beige linen lining. The cap body is made of two pieces which are seamed at the front and rear as is the band. The visor is a single thickness of black painted (laquered) fabric, binded with a leather edging. The cap still retains a fragile oilcloth chinstrap secured by two Federal Eagle buttons, making this an interesting addition. The buttons do appear to be original to the cap and may have been sourced as a replacement from of Union cap.

The cap is classic early war shape, and was likely was once gray in color. However, most Confederate gray dyes turned brown fairly quickly in the field, and the cap probably saw service in the present color. The kepi is in excellent and sound condition showing evidence of heavy use with scattered holes in the body that apparently are the result of that heavy use rather than mothing. A great early war Confederate enlisted kepi of unquestioned authenticity.

Ready for display!