[CIVIL WAR]. Company C, 179th Pennsylvania 1858 forage cap, with identification to J.K. Hunsleker carved into visor.

Visor to crown 4 in. dark blue wool felt 1858 model forage cap beautifully carved on the underside of the tarred leather visor, chinstrap with 14 mm brass general service eagle buttons, embossed leather sweatband, brown cotton lining (mothing, light soil, wear to leather, sweatband partially separated near visor); height 13/16 in. brass die-struck company letter "C"; height 1/2 in. regimental numbers "179"; width 3 1/2 in. brass die-struck infantry insignia, mellow patina consistent on all brass, all affixed to the crown (small dent). Provenance: Jan Gordon Collection (Illustrated in Don Troiani's Civil War Soldiers).

Underside of visor extensively inscribed: "in. The. year / 1863. March / The. 6." and "J. K. Hunsicker / Com. C. 179 Regimend [sic] / Pa. M. Yn. Va. in. car. of. Capt. C. S. Jones." The last line can be inferred to read "Yorktown, VA, in care of Captain C. S. Jones." Jacob H. Hunsicker, a farm laborer from Heidelberg, PA, enlisted as a private on 5 November 1862, mustering in the same day into Company C of the 179th Pennsylvania. His comrade Charles S. Jones enlisted as a captain and was commissioned into Company C on the same day. They both mustered out after the regiment's 9 months of service on 27 July 1863 at Harrisburg, PA.

Recruited in the autumn of 1862 and mustering into service in early December at Philadelphia for nine months. They were stationed at Yorktown during the winter of 1862-63, moving toward Richmond in July 1863 engaging with Confederates in skirmishes.

This hat is published on page 212 of Troiani, Coates and McAfee, Don Troiani's Civil War Soldiers and on page 87 of Langellier & Loane, U.S. Army Headgear, 1812-1872.

The Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann