A high quality, private purchase New York State Militia officer's chasseur pattern kepi, measuring 1 3/4″ high at the front of the crown and 4″ at the top, dating from the Indian Wars period. The kepi has a black felt crown with five lines of mohair piping along and down the sides. The top disk has further mohair piping in an elegant quatrefoil pattern with a wreathed “NY” hat device fashioned from embroidered bullion wire at the front. The flat, tarred leather peak has extensive crazing along the surface, but only has a small amount of flaking along the edge on the right side. The fragile gold cloth hat strap is present and still anchored by the original US general service gilt eagle buttons. The interior of the cap has a slightly torn thin leather comfort band, dark brown polished cotton interior, and tarred coating on the interior of the crown disk. The original cap lining, probably silk, is no longer present. This is a very nice example of a private purchase kepi, much finer than issued examples.
