Original Item. Only One Available. Kentucky was a southern border state of key importance in the American Civil War. It officially declared its neutrality at the beginning of the war, but after a failed attempt by Confederate General Leonidas Polk to take the state of Kentucky for the Confederacy, the legislature petitioned the Union Army for assistance. Though the Confederacy controlled more than half of Kentucky early in the war, after early 1862 Kentucky came largely under U.S. control. In the historiography of the Civil War, Kentucky is treated primarily as a southern border state, with special attention to the social divisions during the secession crisis, invasions and raids, internal violence, sporadic guerrilla warfare, federal-state relations, the ending of slavery, and the return of Confederate veterans.

This is an extremely scarce Civil War Officer’s private purchase kepi for a Kentucky state officer. The kepi is in great shape with blue cloth with a great gold band around it. The original chinstrap is still intact, held in place by two Kentucky State buttons, which depict two men shaking hands with the motto UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. The top of the kepi has the officer’s quatrefoil decorated on the top which is in gorgeous shape. The crown is stiffened with a pasteboard. The flat visor is original to the hat, and composed of painted leather, and appears to have been resewn at one point. A very nice piece.

The interior is in great shape with the oilcloth style sweatband still fully intact with the lining still looking great. One of the nicer Civil War kepis we have offered, with the added bonus of being for the State of Kentucky. This fantastic example comes more than ready for further research and display!

Kentucky was the site of several fierce battles, including Mill Springs and Perryville. It was the arena to such military leaders as Ulysses S. Grant on the Union side, who first encountered serious Confederate gunfire coming from Columbus, Kentucky, and Confederate cavalry leader Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest proved to be a scourge to the Union Army in western Kentucky, even making an attack on Paducah. Kentuckian John Hunt Morgan further challenged Union control, as he conducted numerous cavalry raids through the state.