"Black hats in the Army of the Potomac 1862" Topic

Does anyone have an idea how common the broad brim black felt hats where in the AoP in 1862/3? I have a few figure with the floppy hats (not the Hardees) and I have see a few images of guy wearing them. Could they be mixed into units of kepi infantry?

Absolutely. There's a good period photograph of Union troops lounging among the ruins of Manassas Junction during the 2nd Bull Run campaing showing a soldier in a hat along with others in caps. They weren't uncommon, although hat-wearers would definately be in the minority. Most pictures of troops in camp, however, show the men in forage caps, so I suspect that hats were picket up on campaign to replace lost or damaged caps, and then replaced with caps by the quartermaster when stricter regulations were in force. As the war progressed more and more hats appear in photographs and drawings.

Picked up by pickets no doubt.

You have to remember AoP troops were always within a day or 2 of Union territory. It wasn't too hard to buy yourself a hat if you could scrounge the money. You couldn't wear it to parade, but unless you had a hard sarge, you could wear it around camp or on the march. Also popular were stocking caps for cold nights.

Now, the broad brim black felt hats were technically a regulation dress hats (minus the brass and feather). So, those hats came thru the quartermaster. Some units, particularly western ones, got them, others(most) not. Personally (as a reenactor), I find the felt hat less than comfortable, but it keeps the sun off you. The forage cap is generally more comfortable (much like the modern baseball cap that descended from it), but doesn't help with the sun much at all.