[CIVIL WAR]. (Associated with Gilpin Collection). Federal forage cap attributed to Corporal Levi L. Gilpin, 51st Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Regulation issue 1858 enlisted man's forage cap, blue wool body with stitching around the base of the hat and the front and rear. Black leather visor with black band secured by patriotic eagle and shield brass buttons on each side. Interior with brown leather sweatband and glazed cotton liner. Inside of dome with paper contractor label "Size No. 5 / 7 1/4 / U.S. Army / L.J. & I. Phillips." Approx. 5 in. height. Blue wool with spotting and light soil, generally in good condition, with two small holes in center front possibly where a corps pin or other insignia was attached. Leather sweatband heavily worn and partially detached. Cotton liner heavily worn with portions of front liner missing and exposed disc top.

Levi L. Gilpin (1844-1931) enlisted on 9/20/1861 as a private and mustered into Co. E, 51st Ohio Volunteer Infantry for three years’ service. Gilpin reenlisted as a Veteran Volunteer on January 4, 1864, and was promoted to corporal before his transfer to Company F on 12/9/1864. The 51st Ohio participated in significant battles of the Western Theater including Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Lookout Mountain. By his own account, Gilpin suffered a gunshot wound at Kennesaw Mountain on June 23, 1864, an injury which rendered his right arm "permanently crippled." Following his discharge in January 1865, Gilpin moved to Indiana to live with his parents and remained in Indiana until his death. Like many soldiers he was justifiably proud of his service. However, unlike many soldiers who returned home and discarded their wartime possessions, Gilpin chose to preserve many of his Civil War accoutrements.

The Gilpin archive is well known in Civil War collecting circles having first been displayed in its original presentation in the early 1980s at the Ashland Civil War show. Over the past four decades the original Gilpin archive of personal effects was supplemented with other period arms, accoutrements and equipment that were correct and appropriate for the display, but were not part of the original Gilpin archive. The forage cap offered here cannot be definitively identified to Gilpin as Hindman is unaware of any conclusive list documenting the original Gilpin items. Still, as this cap is not an item known to have been added as an enhancement for the original Gilpin archive display, it is believed that the cap is likely original to the collection.