Cap, Forage
The Army Museum
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| Nom de l'objet : | Cap, Forage |
| Catégorie de l'objet : | Headwear |
| Matériaux : | Leather |
| Numéro d'accession : | HRF/80/238/N0 |
| Autres données géographiques : | [44.6819866,-63.744311] |
| Culture : | Canadian |
| Date de début de production : | 1865-01-01 |
| Date de fin de production : | 1865-12-31 |
| Description : | Black doeskin Nova Scotia Militia 15th Regiment Officer's Forge Cap; Black corded button and black embroidered ornament on top of crown; Line of black piping around the top; Band of black oak leaf lace encircles hat; Front peak of black patent leather; Gold bullion badge "15" on front; Interior: peak lined with green leather; Cream leather headband |
| Commentaires : | Harry Piers Label: "Acc. No. 5110/Officer's Forage Cap (or undress/Cap) of 15th Regiment of Nova Scotia Militia, about/ 1865./ As worn by Capt. & Adjt. E./Montgomery H. Vieth, 15 Regt. N.S./ Militia./ Presented by E.M.H. Vieth, Halifax./ Figured in Edward's Militia of NS/ Coll. NS Hist. Soc., vol. 17, fig. 7/The other regiments of NS Militia/ wore the same cap, but instead of the number point, a silver-/ cord laurel wreath enclosing/ the monogramme "N.S.M." in script/ letters, surmounted by a crown." This style of hat is known as a forage cap. It was part of a soldiers military undress uniform; something worn while performing daily duties as opposed to the more formal shako headdress. This particular cap belonged to Capt. & Adjt. E. Montogomery Vieth. Capt. Vieth was a member of the 15th Regiment of the Nova Scotia Militia. All members of the NSM wore a similar cap except the number was replaced with a silver cord wreath enclosing an embroidered N.S.M. below a crown. The Nova Scotia Militia was active prior to Canadas confederation. The earliest militia was raised in 1720 by Colonel Richard Philips who appointed militia captains in the fishing settlements of Canso. As the Governor of Nova Scotia, Philips was entitled to raise an army at any time, but the small garrison at Annapolis Royal and relatively peaceful co-existence of the French, English, and First Nations ensured the militia was not activated. With the founding of Halifax in 1749, discharged sailors and soldiers formed the militia as rumours spread of attack preparations by the French and First Nations. This early militia was modelled after those in New England which required that all Planters, inhabitants, and their servants between the ages of sixteen and sixty muster when called. The first regular militia was approved in October, 1758 by the first elected provincial assembly. All settlements in the province were required to muster when called for militia duty. With the advent of the American Revolution, the population of Nova Scotia swelled as Loyalists fled. These new settlers relied on the presence of the British military and navy for protection; they wished to avoid fighting their kin. When the Americans invaded the British colony, a Militia Act was passed that called for one-fifth of the militia would be called upon through ballot draw when insufficient volunteers could be found. The men would be required to guard the naval yard and stores since the regular garrison had been sent south. Accompanying the Militia Act was a Revenue Act that levied taxes to pay and equip the militia as well as the enactment of martial law. Rumours that the militia would be sent to fight in New England sparked a protest accompanied by petitions and refusals to fight. Governor Legge proclaimed that the militia need not muster unless Nova Scotia was invaded and that the Revenue Act would not be applied. With the influx of United Empire Loyalists following the end of the Revolutionary War, the enrolment in local militias increased but there was an accompanying expectation that they would not be called into action as there was little indication of external danger. The signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 also equipped Nova Scotia with a regular garrison. However, with the declaration of war by the French in 1793, the garrison was reduced as units were sent to the West Indies. The Royal Navy remained to protect the colony but the settlers still expressed anxiety over the prospect of raids. The Lieutenant-Governor attempted to raise 600 men to be paid the wages of the regular regiment. The officers were to be recruited from the general population. Only 330 men were raised, however. The Duke of Kent attempted again the following summer to raise the militia amongst rumours of a French attack. Those who volunteered helped renovate the harbour defenses in Halifax. Again in 1795, the militia was mustered to continue working on the defenses. That same year, a new Militia Act was passed requiring members to assemble four times annually to drill in their companies and twice yearly in their regiments. Further, members could be sent anywhere in the province or on boat to fend off attackers. Quotas would be filled by ballots drawn by commanding officers; wealthy citizens would be able to buy substitutes to complete their service. Quakers would not be required to perform military service, but they were required to work on the roads for an equivalent term. In 1796, the Militia Act was again amended reducing the days required to muster annually to four. The militia was mustered during the Napoleonic War, but did not see any action. They were again raised following the Chesapeake affair; they were required to work on the fortifications in Halifax. During the subsequent War of 1812, the militiamen were called upon to escort prisoners to Halifax but otherwise were encouraged to continue farming, fishing, and lumbering all of which were considered essential services. That autumn unembodied militiamen aided in repairing Fort Cumberland. Two years later, a militia cavalry service was established to provide courier service around the province; the members furnished their own horses and equipment with the exception of pistols, holsters, swords, and belts. As British military units demobilized in Canada after the war, the soldiers were allowed free passage anywhere in the country and an accompanying plot of land. Many of those who settled in Nova Scotia joined the militia. By 1821, the Militia Act had gone another revision: all men between eighteen and forty were required to attend four drills annually. In addition, the men could even be sent to help New Brunswick. Each county had its own infantry regiment with two in the city of Halifax. Additional cavalry or artillery regiments could be organized as well. Five years later, the number of required muster days was reduced to two. By 1861, there were nineteen militia batteries organized in Halifax and one each in Pictou, Chester, Lunenburg, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Digby, Annapolis, and Grandville. By 1867, however, that number of units outside of Halifax had dropped; there were militias in Windsor, Tatamagouche, Shubenacadie, Shelburne, and Somerset. [Source: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/rep-rap/doc/cfhq/cfhq007.pdf] |
| Hauteur : | 8 cm |
| Longueur : | 24 cm |
| Largeur : | 16 cm |
| Profondeur : | 6 cm |
| Établissement : |
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| Ville de l'établissement : | Halifax |
| Province de l'établissement : | Nova Scotia |
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