"AWI American Headwear" Topic

Hi All, Sorry if this has been asked before, but does anyone know of any American regiments that wore a cap with no peak, just a false front (if you get me?!). The only ones I can find anything about are the 11th Pennsylvania Reg. Is this right? I'm asking because I have a Trident Design 40mm American militia(?) sculpt that I'm desperate to paint up and it has this type of cap but can't find it on their web site for anything other than a British light infantry officer. Thanks in advance

Doozer,

Is he in hunting shirt?

I doubt militia would be wearing a light cap like that.

Not sure if I understand you, but is it like the one shown in the 2nd Continental (aka Congress's Own)…?

link

Chalfant

Is it the cap that the Loyalists, Butlers Rangers are wearing? If he's in uniform, he could be the Canadian Regt. They would be wearing similar caps as Butlers Rangers. I have all the hat types at my photographer now and will be putting them up on our Web site as soon as he's finished.

That supposed hat for Butlers has not been discredited. It really never made any sense if you think about it. :-)

I suspect it is some sort of light infantry figure, not that figure sculptures always get these things right anyway.

I really don't think you can get hung up on a hat that was "official" for an American regiment in the AWI. More likely, he wore a floppy hat anyway.

It is the lingering "Mollo Effect", where he would include a soldier wearing a light infantry hat and people jumped to the conclusion that the whole regiment wore the same cap.

For example, the 2nd Canadian Regt wearing the "Congress's Own" cap is from the light company. The rest of the regiment wore felt hats.

This might be a good thread to establish which regiments had light infantry caps for everyone.

You know I still think the Mollo book is a jewel, if you understand what you are looking at.

Doozer, and chance of linking a picture of the figure so we can help you identify it? I still think it is just a light infantryman, probably not headwear worn by an entire regiment.

Not to mention how many COPY Mollo, and are credited with being another source.

Which is how mistakes are passed down from book, to book, to book….

So what if I want to have my whole regiment in light inf. caps. Their MINE, MINE, MINE!!!

"As the Colonel shall decide…"

Thanks for all the amazing responses.

Yes Chalfant, just like the middle picture (Thomas Hartleys Continental Reg) in the link you posted, but the packaging definitely states American militia. But I think that I shall probably get more inspiration from the your link. I will try to upload a photo tomorrow (no chance now, the wife expects me to take her out for a meal!)

Definitely a Light Infantry cap, not a militia cap, if going by that photo. Trying to figure out the history of American Lights makes my head hurt. :-(

I would agree, definitely a light infantry cap! It isn't as tall as the 2nd Continental's 'upright peak', much more like TH's reg.
Funnily enough it was a Mollo 'print' that I first found it on, very confusing!

Well, hope it helps, though I have no better answer on militia using light infantry caps.

Chalfant

Militia wore their own clothing, as again, by definition, they were militia Civilian soldiers called to service), not regulars. So they would have worn their own hats. Look at the movie The Patriot to see how the horsemen are dressed. Don't usually recommend that movie for much, but… :-)

Try these guys :) 2ndsc.org

I believe that Kings Mt makes all of theose heads in 28 mm.