[CIVIL WAR]. 1858 forage cap, Battery E Artillery, with possible identification. 

Visor to crown 5 1/4 in. 1858 pattern dark blue wool forage cap with tarred leather visor and chinstrap with 14 mm brass general service eagle buttons, original leather sweatband and brown cotton lining (significant mothing and moth tracking, split to front seam, visor reattached, majority of sweatband present but tattered, partially restored lining); 3 1/4 x 1 3/4 in. 1858 pattern die-struck brass artillery hat insignia (all brass exhibit a nice, consistent dark patina); height 1 in. die-struck brass company letter "E." Provenance: The Horse Soldier, Gettysburg PA (listing paperwork). 

Possible identification attributed to Gustavus Reeling from York County, PA, based on letter and documentation, photocopies of which are included. Reeling enlisted as a private and was mustered into Battery E of the 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery on 20 June 1861. He was promoted to 2nd lieutenant on 31 August 1864 before resigning at the close of the war on 5 June 1865 to attend to "very important business at home." (Autograph letter signed, ("Gustavus Reeling") to Col. Ea. W. Smith, Fulton Hill, Richmond, VA, 1 June 1865; a photocopy of this letter is included, along with photocopies of muster rolls and other documents are included.) 

Organized at Philadelphia on 5 August 1861, Battery E was dispatched to the Defenses of Washington, D.C. until March 1862. They were involved in the Siege of Yorktown and saw action in the Battle of Williamsburg, the Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, and Malvern Hill. They spent the majority of the war in Virginia, involved in the siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond from July 1864 until April 1865.


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