Historical Hats & Reenacting History

[Mighty44]

On my maternal side I have a GGGrandfather who served on the Ironclad gunship, USS Benton. In researching the Benton & its battle record during the Civil War I found this unidentified pic of a sailor who served on the Benton. The USS Benton had a crew of 200 men living onboard. US Naval uniforms of the day displayed the name of their ship across the front of their cap. If you look closely you can see the name Benton (in reverse image) across his cap.

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The USS Benton patrolled both the Mississippi River & the Yazoo River of Louisiana & Mississippi. It was involved in 31 battles during its commission including the Battle of Vicksburg where it was considered the flagship of the battle.

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Fascinating stuff.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

An amazing history!

Fascinating stuff.

The USS Benton was commissioned early when the war first began. The Naval unit that would serve on her was first a heavy artillery unit stationed at Cairo, IL to protect the confluence of the Ohio & Mississippi Rivers there. The artillery unit was a natural to serve on an ironclad gunboat once the Benton was ready. In 1862 Fort Defiance was then built to protect Cairo.

 

[moehawk]

Cool in the summer, & keeps biting flies at bay.

Flies, yes. Wyrms, not so much...

 

[M Hatman]

On my maternal side I have a GGGrandfather who served on the Ironclad gunship, USS Benton. In researching the Benton & its battle record during the Civil War I found this unidentified pic of a sailor who served on the Benton. The USS Benton had a crew of 200 men living onboard. US Naval uniforms of the day displayed the name of their ship across the front of their cap. If you look closely you can see the name Benton (in reverse image) across his cap.

View attachment 620016

The USS Benton patrolled both the Mississippi River & the Yazoo River of Louisiana & Mississippi. It was involved in 31 battles during its commission including the Battle of Vicksburg where it was considered the flagship of the battle.

View attachment 620014
View attachment 620013
View attachment 620015

I have to dig around now. I think I have at least one document from the Benton.
Nice history Jack!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I have to dig around now. I think I have at least one document from the Benton.
Nice history Jack!

Thanks Mark. I’d like to see what you have. At the time the war broke out, that line of my ancestry was living at Barry township, Pike county. He went to Cairo to enlist.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Today June 25th, marks the 148th anniversary of The Battle of the Little Big Horn. Amid some controversy Custer’s scout, Curly, a member of the Crow tribe survived until his passing in 1923. This was Curly’s hat he wore late in his life.

The surviving victors of the battle posed in 1948.



On a side note, what remains of Custer’s flag carried in battle was sold at auction just a few yrs ago for $2.2M. The buyer remains anonymous (thought to be William Koch).

 

[BobHufford]

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Today marks the 160th anniversary of the death of William T. Anderson at the Battle of Albany (modern day Orrick, MO) when Anderson & 80 of his men were engaged in battle by 350 men of the 33rd Infantry of the State Militia. The 33rd Infantry led by Lt. Col. Samuel P. Cox had been specifically formed & trained to track down & kill “Bloody Bill.”

After Anderson’s remains were taken into town & photographed, Cox allowed his men of the 33rd to decapitate the remains, cut off a finger to get a ring, & divide up Anderson’s possessions as common souvenirs. The official photographer of the 33rd Infantry kept Anderson’s hat but the hats whereabouts (& that of his skull) are unknown today.