3144 GENERAL JAMES A. GARFIELD’S CAMPAIGN HAT.

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 4,000.00 USD
Estimated at 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
An exceptionally high-grade campaign hat made from fine rabbit fur and forensically verified as such by Grace Cooper and Don Kloster of the Smithsonian. The hat and its construction date to the Civil War, as do the hat cord and badge on the side of the hat. The hat has a dyed black color with black edging. The interior features a brown sweatband with silver embossed words that read “Gen. James A. Garfield”. The hat cord is of standard high-grade officer’s form, and the badge on the side is quite unique. The badge features a brass shield surrounding the letters “SC” with a gold bullion twisted border. All of this is on a blue field in the shape of a circle that has some type of stiffener. The meaning of this badge has yet to be determined. At the dawn of the Civil War, James A. Garfield was serving in the Ohio Senate. He was active in procuring funding for and filling out several regiments of Ohio volunteers until becoming Colonel of the 42nd Ohio Infantry. He served under Buell in Kentucky and was a principle in the Battle of Middle Creek. He was promoted to Brigadier General and was given command of the 20th Brigade of the Army of Ohio. He was instrumental in beating back a Confederate attack on Grant’s forces at the Battle of Shiloh and preventing a rout. After the Battle of Chickamauga, Garfield was recalled to Washington and promoted to Major General. In 1863, General Garfield’s military career was cut short by his election to the U.S. House of Representatives for the state of Ohio. He served in this capacity until 1880 when he accepted the nomination for President of the United States. After a scant 7 months as President, he was assassinated and succeeded by Chester A. Arthur. Given the fact that the sweatband is embossed “General James A. Garfield”, it is quite logical to assume this hat was worn by Garfield in the field and not during his long governmental career. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a notarized letter attesting to the fact that the hat was purchased out of a home in Hamburg, PA in 1959, along with a brief history of the hat. Information pertaining to the life of, and photographs of, James A. Garfield. A large pamphlet titled “ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD IN WASHINGTON, JULY 2, 1881.” CONDITION: the hat definitely shows the rigours of field use with four distinct small separations at the crown of the hat. The hat in general is quite solid and well-preserved. The hat cord has a couple of loose threads, and the side badge shows light wear. The sweatband, though worn, remains quite strong, and the silver embossing is 90% intact and is still quite legible. (02-22678/BF). $8,000-12,000.