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PATTERN 1872 ENLISTED MAN’S FORAGE CAP – 5TH
US CAVALRY REGIMENT – VERY NICE SPECIMEN: A
style of head wear adopted by the US Army from the
French Army in the 1850’s which continued in use into
the 1890’s, this Pattern 1872 Enlisted Man’s Forage Cap,
or Kepi as it was sometimes called, has survived in very
nice condition. The pattern that replaced the Civil War
forage caps and kepis, this 1872 Forage Cap was a
standard component of the soldier’s uniform, worn on a
daily basis unless the soldier was on duty in the
field.
Highlighting the front of this cap is the insignia
identifying the soldier who wore this cap as serving in
the 5TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
The 5TH US Cavalry Regiment began its history
as the 2ND US Cavalry Regiment which was
created in 1855. In August of 1861 the army reorganized
its mounted units as follows: The 1ST and 2ND
Dragoons became 1ST and 2ND
Cavalry, the Regiment of Mounted Rifles became the 3RD
Cavalry, and the 1ST and 2ND
Cavalry Regiments became the 4TH and 5TH
Cavalry Regiments, respectively. Following the Civil
War, in 1868 the 5TH was assigned to the
Department of the Platte, serving in Kansas, Nebraska,
and onto the Great Plains, patrolling along the
immigrant trails against the Sioux and Cheyenne, and
into Colorado against the Utes. In 1871-1874 they were
stationed in the Arizona Territory seeing action against
the Apaches. In 1876 the 5TH returned north
to participate in the punitive campaigns against the
Sioux and Cheyenne following the Little Big Horn, and
they were present at the Battle of Slim Buttes where the
column captured Crazy Horse. The 5TH US
Cavalry Regiment was certainly in the thick of it,
writing a very active unit history on the frontier.
This forage cap shows the evidence of use as one would
expect of headgear from the Indian Wars era – especially
one which was issued and worn – but this specimen still
presents in very good condition.
The leather brim has a shiny black surface with no
cracking on either the upper or lower sides, having only
some small marks from handling or storage. The body and
crown of the hat are full form, made of the standard
dark blue wool. The wool is clean with no fading or
loss of color, all the seams are intact, and is in very
good overall condition with some minor mothing as shown
in the photographs below, however the mothing is very
light in the context of most surviving examples, and the
wool crown presents very well.
The chin strap is not only present, but it is full
length and in full form with no breaks or other damage,
and retains a bright shiny surface. These straps
normally did not survive, are often missing from these
caps, and when they are present, they are often found
broken. The matching General Service side buttons are
both present – correct for this cap and of the type used
in the regular army.
The interior of the crown features the polished cotton
lining and leather sweat band, both fully intact. The
lining is fully in place with no wear or damage, and it
bears a legible maker’s seal imprint for Ridabock &
Company, a well known uniform company which provided
uniforms and caps to the army under contract. The
leather sweat band is full length, without any breaks
and has survived in very good condition, to include
retaining the small square size label. There is a hand
written name tape sewn in the crown of the liner,
identifying the name of the soldier who wore this cap.
Specimens of this pattern of
headwear are not given to surviving well, having
succumbed easily to abuse and poor storage, and they
simply do not appear on the market all that often in
decent condition. This Enlisted Man’s Pattern 1872
Forage Cap is quite attractive, with the added value of
having the original insignia for the 5TH US
Cavalry Regiment, and it will display very well in your
Indian War collection.
(0129) $850
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