Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a totally authentic American Civil War Confederate States Infantry Kepi. Similar examples can be found at museums across the world including the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond Virginia and the American Civil War Museum which has a similar example which can be seen at this link.

This wonderful kepi is constructed from gray and blue Kersey wool. During the mid-war period the largest mill in Virginia was the Crenshaw Woollen Mill in Richmond, which made "all wool goods". Another mill was the Danville Manufacturing Co. in Danville, Virginia. This firm also supplied "thousands of yards of Kersey" throughout the war. By 1863 the caps produced by the Richmond Depot had colored bands and crowns. Three existing caps at the museum of the Confederacy can be used as references. This exceptional kepi features a dark blue band and crown with cadet grey sides.

The chinstrap is unfortunately no longer present but still retains the two side buttons. The buttons are “non regulation” flower buttons and are unmarked on the backs. Though they are still present, they are both barely attached. Flower buttons were non-military buttons used by both sides - some by the North, earlier in the war, before the war machine was at full tilt, and by the South throughout, as they simply didn't have the resources to outfit their troops appropriately. Southern women would often donate their buttons to rebel soldiers for uniforms.

Due to the scarcity of leather by 1863, the flat visor is made from layers of thin card, which were glued together and covered in black painted cloth. The visor is bound around the edges with a thin piece of leather with stitching through the center. It does not appear to have been resewn onto the kepi itself.

The lining is block cotton that has faded to more of a brown color. The pastboard type crown reinforcement is still present. The lining does have tearing present and stitching loss but is still one of the better examples we have seen. The sweatband is made from black painted cotton/canvas is 1.5 inches wide. There is tearing present in the sweatband and partial detach but is otherwise complete.

Authentic Civil War Confederate kepis are exceptionally rare with most known examples currently residing in museums. This piece would be the focal point of any Civil War collection.