Original Items: Only Ones Available. This is an attractive example of the scarce Model 1912 “Montana Peak” High Crowned Campaign Hat with a Cavalry cord and an insignia of the 5th Cavalry regiment affixed to the front. In 1916, the 5th Cavalry was dispatched to the Mexican border to serve as part of the Pancho Villa Expedition commanded by General John "Black Jack" Pershing. The Regiment crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico and was successful in stopping the border raids conducted by bandits of Pancho Villa who had expanded their criminal operations into the United States, and had brought death to American citizens.

The hat is in excellent condition considering it is well over 100 years old! The fine fur felt is in very good condition, with no extensive mothing or damage. The original crown band ribbon is intact, but the original chinstrap is gone, replaced with a long shoe-string. The original sweatband is intact but extremely delicate, and will rip apart if handle incorrectly. There is a set of initials, W.H.A., written on the interior crown, making this a great research project. 

The Hat cord is sun faded and stained from dust, which is exactly how these would have looked after being worn on the border for even a short length of time. This is a fantastic opportunity to pick up a scarce M1912 campaign hat with an original unit insignia with a great history. Don’t miss it! Comes ready for further research and display.

The 5th Cavalry Regiment remained with the Punitive Expedition in Mexico, until 5 February 1917. When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, the 5th Cavalry was selected to remain stateside and defend against incursions along the Mexican border. After several relocations, in October, the Regiment moved into Fort Bliss, relieving the 8th Cavalry Regiment. Following the Mexican Punitive Expedition, the 5th Cavalry Regiment was spread throughout Texas helping safeguard wagon trains, patrolling the Mexican border and training.

5th Cavalry troopers were getting into frequent, small scaled combats with raiders, smugglers and Mexican Revolutionaries along the Rio Grande River. In one skirmish in June 1919, four units, the 5th and 7th Cavalry Regiments, the 8th Engineers (Mounted) and 82nd Field Artillery Battalion (Horse) saw action against Pancho Villa's Villistas. On 15 June, Mexican snipers fired across the Rio Grande and killed a trooper of the 82nd Field Artillery who was standing picket duty. In hot pursuit, the troopers and the horse artillery engaged a column of Villistas near Ciudad Juárez. Following a successful engagement, the cavalry expedition returned to the United States side of the border.