Civil War Hats

One of the most recognizable components of the Civil War soldier’s uniform to the modern observer is the hat; whether it’s the tall, brimmed hat associated with officers, the slouch cap of the private, or the exotic fez associated with the Zouave regiments, the hats worn by those who fought in the Civil War are among the items of clothing most closely associated with the war in the minds of many.

A hat was considered to be as essential to a man’s wardrobe during the Victorian era, which coincided with the Civil War. A man rarely left home without a hat, both for fashion and practical purposes; a hat made a striking fashion statement, while also protecting one from the elements. Hats were therefore a standard part of the military uniform for both Union and Confederate soldiers.

In the picture above of a detachment of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry, one sees a number of the styles of hats worn by Federal soldiers during the Civil War. One soldier, second from left on the back row, wears the brimmed, wool felt hat that was common for both officers and male civilians of the time. Another soldier, second from right on the back row, wears a softer, less-constructed version of this same hat that was more popular with farmers and other laborers of the day. The rest of the men wear variations on the hat that is most closely associated with the Civil War, the billed cap. Caps such as these were relatively new fashions during the Civil War era; more casual and less sophisticated than the brimmed hat that was a standard part of every adult male’s wardrobe, these caps were worn almost exclusively by low-ranking soldiers and regular enlisted men. Both Union and Confederate soldiers wore all of these millinery styles during the war, with brimmed hats being more popular with the officers.

The Zouave regiments that sprung up in both the Union and the Confederacy were known for their distinctive, colorful uniforms that took their style from the French Zouave military units for which the American counterparts were modeled after. While the individual Zouave regiments customized many aspects of their uniforms, most were alike in that they chose the tasseled fez, seen above in the portrait of two New York Zouave soldiers, for their uniform head gear. While the tasseled fez was certainly a head-turning fashion statement, like many other aspects of the Zouave uniform, it proved to be less than practical on the battlefield. The Zouaves soon found that their light, flowing uniforms were cold in the winter, and their snazzy fezes were useless for keeping the sun out of their eyes!

Most of the hats worn by both Union and Confederate soldiers and officers were made of wool felt, the standard material for millinery during the Victorian era. However, in the South, it was not uncommon to see leather or even straw hats, which were better suited to the warmer climate.