THE FRENCH INFLUENCED CONFEDERATE KEPI
By John McDonald
THE FRENCH INFLUENCED CONFEDERATE KEPI By John McDonald
O
nce in a while we all stumble on things in the least expected places. Several years ago at a small auction of artifacts and general items of the late Lloyd Lee in Pennsylvania, an article of Civil War historical value came on the block. A kepi, not any of the many common Union varieties that are seen numerous times at shows and auctions, but one that collectors only dream of owning, an authentic Confederate
Generals kepi. This was like finding the Crown Jewels and would be one of the hallmarks of any collection. The question was not whether it would be purchased, but who was the original owner and how did it find its way to a small Pennsylvania town. This article hopefully will answer some of those questions and lead to answers on others. But first a little head wear history. The kepi was formerly the most com-
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mon headgear in the French Army. Its name is from the word kappe or cappe meaning cap. Its predecessor originally appeared during the 1830’s in the initial stages of the occupation of Algeria as a series of various lightweight caneframed cloth undress caps called Casquette d’Afrique. These were intended as alternatives to the heavier, cloth covered leather French Army shako. As a light and comfortable headdress, it was
European French kepi of the American Civil War era. Courtesy Christies Auctions.
adopted by the metropolitan (French mainland) infantry regiments for service and daily wear, with the less practical shako being relegated to parade use. In 1852, a new soft cloth cap was introduced for campaign and off-duty. Called bonnet de police à visière, this was the first proper model of the kepi.
Photographs of French officers taken by Roger Fenton in the Crimea circa 1854. Library of Congress.
The visor was generally square in shape and oversized and was referred to as Bec De Canard (duck bill). This kepi had no chinstrap (jugulaire). Subsequent designs reduced the size of the cap and introduced chinstraps and buttons. The kepi became well known outside France during the Crimean War and was subsequently adopted in various forms by a number of other armies especially the United States. As the United States emerged from the war with Mexico the wheel hat and shako were still the prominent form of head gear in the army. The evolution to the use of the kepi in the many pre Civil War militia units would be our country’s normal mirroring of European
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Colonel John R. Lane’s kepi worn when he led the 26th North Carolina after Gettysburg. Courtesy North Carolina Museum of History.
A Confederate officer’s artillery kepi on display in an unkown museum in Germany. Courtesy StromBer.
Unknown Confederate Colonel’s kepi. Smithsonian Collection.
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military fashion and tactics and by 1861 the kepi was standard for New York infantry regiments. Also, a young George B. McClellan had been an observer in the Crimea for a short time and admired the headgear of the French Troops. His association with the hat forever designated it as the “McClellan kepi.” The kepi is not to be confused with the model 1858 forage cap, which evolved directly from the shako used by The missing lining and sweat band show a horse hair the regular army earlier in the 1850’s. and cotton interlining added for body. The interior Essentially, the forage cap, described by crown of the kepi reveals the ink inscription. J.W. 381 S. Main St. Greenville Pa/ 139th Penn some troops as “shapeless as a feedbag”, Hilderbran Vols/ 2nd Brig/2nd Div/ 6th Army Corps./ Loaned was a less-expensive and more comfort- by Mrs S. G. Baker 381 S. Main St. Greenville Pa. Research shows S.G. Baker was James’ daughter and able version of the earlier shako with lived at that address. Courtesy the author. the stiffening removed. The Confederate kepi was a direct uniform regulations for the Confederdescendant of the French style. The ate States issued in Richmond early in the war call for a cap “of the form known as the French kepi of dark blue for General Officers and Officers of the General Staff and Engineers.” These regulations were never strictly adhered to, but enough surviving examples have come down through the generations to bear out the basic design. How this kepi arrived at the auction company is typical of many Confederate artifacts found in the North. From flags to muskets, all matter of war souvenirs were brought home by returnThe small sized script I button has a TREBLE RICH.STAND’ back mark. The script gothic I ing Union soldiers as mementos of the signifies English manufacture and Southern use. great struggle. Inside this kepi written Courtesy the author. in ink are the name, address and regiww w w. w. cc o on n ff e ed de e rr aa tt e ep p ll aa n ne e tt .. cc o om m w
ment of the Union soldier that obviously obtained the kepi during the war. Maybe the soldiers name could provide a clue to which Confederate general owned the hat or better yet how and where it was obtained? The search of the soldiers data base at Fold3 revealed that the name J.W. Hilderbran inscribed in the crown of the kepi was James William Hilderbran(d) a 19 year old private with company A, 139th Pa Inf. The 139th was your typical hard fought regiment in the Army of the Potomac. Organized in August 1862 its first real military action was chasing Robert E. Lee’s army out of Pennsylvania. From there on it was in one battle after another all the way to Appomattox and the possibilities of where young James found or took the kepi are limitless. The next logical place for clues would be in James’s personal life after the war. The internet provided pretty detailed information on James’ life. He was a typical Union soldier, 5’6”, fair skinned with sandy hair. His trade was carpentry and farming. A surviving letter reveals an articulate young man who had a deep belief in religion and the Union cause. After the war he married and had four children. Pretty good information, but no clues on the kepi. His obituary proved more interesting. James William Hildebran, a lifelong resident of the vicinity of Greenville and a veteran of the Civil War died at his
The gold metallic braid swirls on the crown are called Austrian Knots. This type of flat woven braid made up of thin brass metal over a cotton or silk core was the most common used during the War. The braid or the machinery to make it was probably imported from Europe. Another type of braid called Soutache was also used in military decoration to a lesser extent. Courtesy the author.
home in South Main street on Thursday, September 18, after an illness of pneumonia. He was the son of Charles and Margaret Hildebran, born in Hickory township, March 16, 1844. He enlisted in the Union army at the beginning of the Civil war and was stationed in Company A, 139th regiment, PA., Volunteer Infantry. He fought for three days over the famous Gettysburg battlefield and later joined Co. K, 15th regiment, Penna. National Guard. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Laughlin. On September 10, 1918, Mr. and Mrs.
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Hildebran celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Hildebran was a member of the First Methodist church, of the G. A. R., the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Hildebran followed the trade of a millwright. Surviving are his widow, two sons, W. G. and L. A. Hildebran of Cleveland, two daughter, Mrs. S. G. Baker of Greenville and Mrs. A. E. Lee of Fredonia, and the following brothers and sisters, Josiah Hildebran of Sheakleyville; Mrs. Edwin Beaver of Leech’s Corners, Mrs. George Wagner of Greenville, and Mrs. Henry Houck also of Greenville. The funeral services will be conducted by Dr. Charles B. Wakefield of the First Presbyterian church from the family residence at two o’clock Sunday afternoon
with interment at the Shenango Valley cemetery. The members of the John Dickey Post, G. A. R. will attend the services in a body. Not entirely a smoking gun, but now the other inscriptions in the kepi become more relevant. S.G. Baker was James’ daughter living at the Main Street address. Quite possibly she loaned the kepi to the John Dickey G.A.R. Post for a display some time before James’ passing. The Lloyd Lee who’s personal affects were auctioned and where the kepi originated was James’ grandson. The search for the original Confederate owner is still a mystery, but with this additional information the quest could eventually lead to an answer, maybe. The author has collected antiques all his life and in his spare time attends auctions looking for more treasures. He would like any further input and information on this kepi be directed to this website in care of John McDonald.
SOURCES Civil War Soldiers Studies.com Ancestry.com Fold 3.com
James’ final resting place Shenango Valley Cemetery, Greenville, PA. Photo courtesy Shirley McMunn at findagrave.com
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