RARE CIVIL WAR SURGEON’S KEPI FOR A MAJOR OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES MEDICAL CORPS.
inv # 02-13995

All Confederate kepis are scarce and desirable but a kepi for a Confederate surgeon is truly a rarity and seldom seen on the collector’s market. This example has been examined by the best minds specializing in textiles of the Civil War era and before. It has been determined that this is truly a Medical Corps black kepi and is constructed of materials consistent with the Civil War period.

The body of the cap is made of black wool broadcloth in a tabby weave and the band is of the same material. The front of the cap rises 2 1/2″ and the back seam extends for 6 1/2″ to the crown. The crown is 4 3/4″ in diameter. The kepi band is 1 1/2″ high in both the front and the back. The kepi features 1/8″ wide flat metallic silver braided trim. There are 2 ribbons of braid forming a quatrefoil at the crown with a single ribbon of braid surrounding the quatrefoil. The kepi band is surrounded by 4 ribbons of metallic braid and the front, back and sides have 3 ribbons of metallic braid extending to the crown. It is felt that the combination of braids indicates the rank of major.

The kepi is lined with silesia that is dark brown in color. The lining gathers at the top as is typical for the period. The stiffener in the crown is blue paste board covered with black leather and the sides are stiffened solely with leather. The leather sweatband is somewhat brownish in color but was likely originally black. The black patent leather visor has a darkened green bottom and is edged with black oil cloth. The visor itself is interesting in that it is constructed of heavily painted open weave burlap. The chinstrap is flat silver braid 3/8″ in width. There is no buckle or slide on the chinstrap but a loop is positioned on the right side. Two 8mm plain brass ball buttons terminate the chinstrap.