Massachusetts Officer’s Hat Insignia

20-02-19   I have had this little gem for fifteen years or more.  I got it way back when, from our late Boston friend Arthur Marchand   (Go Red Sox!).    Art got 90% of his stuff from Massachusetts and nearby New England estates.  This is most likely 45th Mass as the neighboring states did not produce that many regiments, and the 45th was organized in Arthur’s back yard.   It is a classic Civil War soft back embroidered infantry officer’s insignia.  A couple inches across give or take.  Velvet body, raw back, gold bullion thread, stamped numerals affixed with soldered wires.

The 45th Regt. was one of the new militia regiments raised in response to the call of Aug. 4, 1862, for nine months troops.   Organized at Camp Meigs, Readville, in the early fall of 1862, the first eight companies of the 45th were mustered in on the 26th day of September, and the other two, “I” and “K”, on the 7th of October.    On Nov. 5, the regiment embarked on the steamer MISSISSIPPI for Beaufort, N. C., arriving at its destination on the 15th. Transported by rail to Newbern, it was here assigned to Amory’s Brigade of Foster’s Division. The regimental camp was established on the banks of the Trent River near Fort Gaston. Here the 45th remained, following the regular routine of camp life, until Dec. 12, when it set out with Gen. Foster’s expedition to Goldsboro. Only eight companies took part in this expedition, Co. “C” having been sent on special duty to  Morehead City, and Co. “G” to Fort Macon.    At Kinston, Dec. 14, the regiment had its first taste of real war, losing 15 men killed and 43 wounded. At Whitehall, Dec. 16, it was again engaged, losing 4 killed and 16 wounded.  At Goldsboro on the 17th the 45th was not in action, and on the following day it began its return march to Newbern, arriving at its former camp Dec. 21.

On January 17, 1863, the 45th started on a reconnaissance to Trenton, returning on the 22d. From Jan. 26 to April 25 it served as provost guard in the city of Newbern. During this period, on March 14, occurred the Confederate attack on Newbern, of which the 45th was an interested spectator but was not called into action.  On April 27 it started with Amory’s Brigade on an expedition to Core Creek on the railroad toward Goldsboro. On  the following day it was sharply engaged, taking a Confederate work which crossed the railroad near its intersection with the Dover Road, and losing one man killed and four wounded.

This expedition being ended, the regiment returned to its last camp, near Fort Spinola, just below Newbern, on the Trent. Here it remained until June 24, when it proceeded to Morehead City, a suburb of Beaufort, N. C., and there took transports for Boston.  Arriving at its destination June 30, the regiment was formally welcomed, then proceeded to its old camp at Readville where it remained until its muster out of the service July 8.  $425.00

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11th Indiana Cap … 11th Indiana kepi along with its original separate red wool body cover. This is the 1861 era kepi of the regiment grey wool with red piping. Note the wonderful plaid lining. Another example of this same cap is in the Lew Wallace Study (museum) in Crawfordsville Indiana.