Item: ONJR21087
Original U.S. Civil War Relic Union M-1858 Forage Cap Crown with 23rd Corps 1st Division Consolidated Corps Badge
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Original Item: One of a Kind: Here we have a unique and exciting artifact from the American Civil War! This is the circular rigid crown portion of a Federal issue Union Model 1858 Forage Cap. Most likely removed by the veteran or his descendants at some point during its life, perhaps due to the rest of the cap being damaged or destroyed. On the front of the cap is a handmade late Civil War “consolidated” Corp Badge for the 23rd Corps, 1st Division, with a small false-embroidered brass Company Letter “E” pinned in the center.
This relic is unique in that it allows one to see how these caps were made. While the front is interesting enough with the Corps Badge, the reverse of the cap reveals the brown polished cotton lining covering the pastboard stiffener of the crown, which appears to be covered in period newspaper. Hand-stitching is apparent in the construction of the cap, as well as the means as to how the Corps Badge was secured.
Following 1863 the Army found the need to reorganize and consolidate its forces. This involved many regiments with depleted numbers being merged into other regiments, and also Army Corps in the same fashion.Few examples exist of Badges for these "Consolidated Corps," but from those that have survived we can see that like with all corps badges, the Army permitted an artistic element to them, so long as they still represented what regulations demanded.
XXIII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Western Theater as part of the Army of the Ohio.
The corps was organized in April 1863 by order of the departmental commander, Ambrose E. Burnside. Along with Burnside's old IX Corps, which had been sent west with him after Fredericksburg, it was to maintain a primarily defensive position in Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky. It originally consisted of two divisions under the overall command of General George L. Hartsuff.
The corps played a major role during the Knoxville Campaign, its first major action, distinguishing itself at the battles of Campbell's Station and Knoxville, and also took part in some minor actions in early 1864. During this time it was commanded by Maj. Gen. Mahlon D. Manson.
The Army of the Ohio joined William T. Sherman for the Atlanta Campaign that spring. IX Corps was detached and sent back to rejoin the Army of the Potomac, so the "army" consisted entirely of XXIII Corps, now commanded by John M. Schofield. It served ably if unspectacularly throughout the campaign.
In the fall of 1864, it was sent north to counter John B. Hood's Franklin-Nashville Campaign, and it saw heavy action at the Battle of Franklin, though it was held in reserve at Nashville.
After this campaign, the corps was sent east to serve in the Department of the South; it took part in the capture of Fort Fisher and the seizure of Wilmington, North Carolina (the last open port of the South). During this time it was commanded by Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox. The corps ultimately joined Sherman's army in the Carolinas Campaign, and was disbanded in August 1865.
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