3rd Vermont Light Artillery Civil War Era Officer's Kepi

American Civil War

Kepi is nominally 5.5" tall at rear peak with 5" diameter disc in crown. Brim slightly less than 2" in length. Made of indigo dyed blue wool broadcloth with brown polished cotton lining with enameled leather chip strap and bound enameled brim. Enameled leather sweat band whip stitched in place in the interior. Chin strap with sheet brass buckle and leather sliding keeper and secured with Vermont cuff-sized buttons. Kepi decorated with a sewn red velvet cross corps badge on top of crown, measuring nominally 2" by 2", representing the 1st Division of the 6th Corps. Sewing of Corps badge passes through the stiffening disc and the brown cotton lining. Face of kepi with officer's style false embroidered gilt crossed artillery cannons and false embroidered number 3. Cannons measure nominally 2.5" by 1.5" and the "3" is nominally .5" tall. Taken in context with the buttons, the decorations suggest the cap was owned and worn by an office in the 3rd Vermont Light Artillery.

The 3rd Vermont Artillery was organized at the beginning of 1864 and was initially assigned to the 4th Division of the 9th Corps in the Army of the Potomac where they participated in the Rapidan Campaign and Siege of Petersburg. The regiment served at the Battle of the Crater and the Weldon Railroad during that campaign. In January of 1865 the regiment was reassigned to the 6th Corps, as the kepi is currently decorated, and saw service at Fort Fisher and was present at the Fall of Petersburg. They participated in the Grand Review on May 23, 1865 and mustered out of service on June 15, 1865.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.