Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1919 — HEADGEAR OF ALL FASHIONS [ARTICLE]

HEADGEAR OF ALL FASHIONS

In the Revolutionary War the Hats Worn by the Soldiers Were of Many Designs.* In our past wars there were no such things as flying shrapnel, or airplanes that dropped darts of steel on the soldiers below, so American soldiers wore ordinary army hats. But modern warfare has made it necessary that soldiers wear helmets of steel. In the Revolutionary War our soldiers’ hats were of many designs. One of the most common was the “cocked” hat, made of black or brown felt and turned up on the sides to form three corners. The Virginia riflemen wore brown felt hats with one side turned up, and the Maryland riflemen brown j fur-trimpied hats. The hat generally worn by the New York rangers or riflemen was of black felt, cap shaped, turned up in front, with a plume. Sometimes words were marked on the front, such as “Liberty,” “Death,” etc. Soldiers in the cavalrj’ or “light horse” of Philadelphia wore sportsmen’s caps, ornamented with bucks’ tails. _ * Hats worn by the First Governors’ foot guards of Cpnnecticut were closely modeled after those ofc the British Grenadiers. They were of black fur, cap shaped, wlfh a piece of yellow felt in front. On the side they were decorated with a red plume. Privates in the Pennsylvania companies wore braid-bound hats. The dragoons wore cap-shaped helmets.