Dark wool felt hat with 2 3/8″ brim that has a large, embroidered bullion infantry horn emblem sewn to the front of the crown with embossed metal regimental number: “2.” The right side of the crown has a small felt five-pointed star emblem with embroidered wire border, and “12” in the center (the emblem was once red, but has since faded to pink). The crown has a fairly crushed appearance with large depression at the top, and several tears through the felt at the folds and creases along the edge. The thin leather comfort band inside is intact, and has a still legible “Superior / Raw Edge” label printed on the left side, and a small size surcharge that is difficult to read. The bullion hat cord has turned to a dull ochre-brown over time and a large black ostrich plume is sewn to the left side of the crown, along with a fragment of the original black silk hat band. The hat is similar to the GAR slouch hat, but is slightly thinner and with different proportions. It was probably converted from a dress hat sometime in the 1870s or 1880s. The star was the emblem of the XII Corps, with red denoting the 1st Division. The only regiment in the 1st Division that matches the regimental number on the hat was the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, and we can be fairly certain that the owner of this hat proudly served in that unit. This is a great piece of Civil War veteran’s memorabilia, and would make a great addition to any collection.
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