[CIVIL WAR]. 53rd Pennsylvania forage cap with insignia and II Corps, 1st Division badge.

Visor to crown 4 7/8 in. dark blue wool felt 1858 pattern forage cap, tarred and bound leather visor with green underside, chinstrap with 14mm brass eagle "I" buttons, leather sweatband, black silk lining with quilted interior crown (mothing, soil, tears to sweatband and lining); approx. 2 5/8 x 2 1/8 in. red wool II Corps badge with gold bullion trim (mothing, soil, some tarnish); height 7/16 in. die-struck brass regimental numbers "53" and company letter "E."

The 53rd Pennsylvania was organized at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, PA during the summer of 1861, with Company E drawing mostly from Carbon and Union counties. The regiment saw extensive and heavy fighting in the Eastern Theater for the entirety of the war. They participated in the first battles in Virginia, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign (including Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor), the Siege of Petersburg, and the Appomattox Campaign. 


The Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann