The Hardee hat, also known as the Model 1858 Dress Hat and sometimes nicknamed the "Jeff Davis", was the regulation dress hat for enlisted men in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The Hardee hat was also worn by Confederate soldiers.

Western units like the Iron Brigade preferred the Hardee hat as its wide brim provided protection from the sun and rain. These hats were personalized by the men, usually shaped into civilian styles like the center crease, which was the precursor of the cowboy hat .

Dec 2, 2015 · The Model 1858 uniform hat, nicknamed the “Hardee hat” or the “Jeff Davis hat,” also went by the moniker “Kossuth hat,” so named in honor of Louis Kossuth (1802-1894), a man once celebrated across antebellum U.S., but hardly remembered today.

The black wool hardee hat was most famously worn and easily identified as the hat worn by the Union Army's "Iron Brigade of the West", which became their trademark. They were popularly known by the nickname "The Black Hats".

Apr 7, 2014 · While many photographs, letters, and diaries from Iron Brigade soldiers survive in archives and museums today, only one of the iconic Black Hats that saw battle at Gettysburg remains, and it can be found in the collections of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

Apr 21, 2024 · The Hardee hat was a standard issue for Union Army men. However, many thought that it was too uncomfortable and instead reached for their forage cap or slouch hat. This Hardee hat is rife with military symbols which denoted the soldiers place in the army.

The Hardee hat was a standard issue for Union Army men. However, many thought that it was too uncomfortable and instead reached for their forage cap or slouch hat. This Hardee hat is rife with military symbols which denoted the soldiers place in the army.

It also was referred to as the Hardee hat, after William Joseph Hardee, an officer of the 2nd Cavalry. In 1858 the hat was approved for the entire army. The hat was made of black felt and had various insignia, which were embroidered for officers and brass for enlisted men.

The men who fought with the Iron Brigade were typically referred to as the Black Hats because of the black, 1858 model Hardee hats issued to Army regulars, rather than the blue kepis worn by most other Union Army units.

Jan 8, 2025 · The unit’s soldiers were easily recognizable because they donned rather ornate black, felt, tall-crowned Hardee hats throughout the war. Their reputation often preceded them in battle because they were among the more formidable troops in the Union army.