US ARMY HAT CORDS - 1855 THROUGH WORLD WAR ONE:  Hat cords were introduced with the Model 1855 Hardee Hat, continuing in service through the Civil War, through the Indian Wars, and into the 20^TH Century.  In some isolated cases, they are still in use today in certain units.  These are original period sets of US Army hat cords and the period of their use is identified each description.   

No. 1:   MODEL 1855 CAVALRY HAT CORD:  One of the more difficult Model 1855 era hat cords to find in the modern collecting market, these original Cavalry cords remained in service from the Civil War years through the balance of the 19^TH Century.  As the Cavalry numbered fewer soldiers than the Artillery and the Infantry, there were far fewer of these yellow Cavalry Hat Cords manufactured, and those which were issued were normally used to destruction.  This hat cord saw little use and it has survived in excellent condition with no wear points or fraying.  This hat cord is full length, and is complete with both tassels and the braided slide. The color is very vivid, being a definite period yellow.  Overall an excellent specimen.  (0229)  $250

No. 2:   PATTERN 1884 QUARTERMASTER DEPARTMENT HAT CORD – RARE EXAMPLE:  Of the pattern introduced with the Model 1855 Hardee Hat, these Hat Cords continued into the first decade of the 20^TH Century.  This Hat Cord dates from September of 1884, when as ordered by the Quartermaster Department Specification No. 118, the color buff was adopted as the branch of service color for the Quartermaster Department.  Prior to that date, the Quartermaster Department did not have an assigned color for their hat cords, dress coat facings, etc.   

Each regiment had a quartermaster sergeant, and each company in the regiment had a quartermaster sergeant who answered to the regimental quartermaster sergeant.  Additional soldiers from the regiment or the company were assigned to carry out the work of maintaining and issuing the equipment and supplies managed by the sergeants, however those soldiers continued to retain their designation primarily as soldiers within the branch of service of the company or regiment – artillery, cavalry, and infantry.  Because of this arrangement, I suspect the issue of these buff hat cords was limited to those quartermaster sergeants, and to those other soldiers assigned to the Quartermaster Depots, making the distribution of the Quartermaster cords during those years relatively limited. 

This hat cord is in unissued, like new condition, with the tassels still tied in bundles.  The cord is full length and shows no evidence of use or wear.   

In the photo below is shown a comparison of the Quartermaster cords alongside a set of Cavalry cords to illustrate that while the colors are very close, there is a distinct  difference in the two hues.   

Due to the limited number of soldiers who served in the staff departments during the Indian War period, surviving specimens of the hat cords issued in the colors of those departments are quite rare today.  This buff colored cord will be a nice addition to an Indian War uniform collection or a Quartermaster Department display.  (0421) $175 

Ordering Instructions

Identified Items  

Firearms

Edged Weapons

Saddles and Horse Equipment

Accoutrements

Collectors Ammunition

Uniforms, Insignia, Hats

Canteens and Mess Gear

Gun tools, Bullet molds and Parts

Field Equipment and Artillery

Original Ordnance Manuals, and Photos 

US Army Medical

Reference Books and Reprints