Re: [Uniforms] Colonial military hats

Posted By: Phil Weaver (inet.cenhud.com)
Date: Tuesday, 10 January 2006 1125 hrs. EDT

In Response To: [Uniforms] Colonial military hats (Thomas)

As far as a I can tell, during the revolution, Washington wore a military cocked hat in the field. In fact, I doubt any general officer would have worn anything else.

Basically this design is three cornered, where the front point is almost verticle and the side corners lay flat. Between these corners of the brim are what are called leaves. The rear leaf (aka fantail) is broad acoss the back and is usually higher than the front point. Though other styles have the rear leaf lower than the front point. Still other styles have the front and back high, wiht the side points only coming out a few inches so they look almost chopped off...

It can get complicated...

The militiary cocked hat of the Revolution when worn by Field and general officers is almost always worn straight up with the front point over the nose. Company grade officers were likely to wear it with the front point over one eye or the other, like the men under their command. Supossedly this was to move the hat away for the musket or pole arm they may be carrying...

Phil Weaver
West Point Chapter

Messages In This Thread

• [Uniforms] Colonial military hats -- Thomas (c-24-20-206-53.hsd1.or.comcast.net) -- Tuesday, 15 November 2005 1927 hrs. EDT
  • Re: [Uniforms] Colonial military hats -- Phil Weaver (inet.cenhud.com) -- Tuesday, 10 January 2006 1125 hrs. EDT