Hardee hat

The issue of this new headdress to these units as a substitute for the shakos and forage caps worn by the remainder of the army was initially a provisional one inspired by then Major William J. Hardee of the 2nd Cavalry (see below).

[citation needed] The unadorned, plain and often field-modified Hardee hat was, however, worn by Union troops, especially in the Western theater.

The hat was named after William J. Hardee, a career officer in the U.S. Army from 1838 until resigning his commission on January 31, 1861.

In 1855, he published Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics for the Exercise and Manoeuvres of Troops When Acting as Light Infantry or Riflemen,[4] popularly known as Hardee's Tactics, which became the best-known drill manual of both sides of the Civil War.

He joined the Confederate States Army in March 1861 and eventually became a lieutenant general and corps commander.