May 3, 1863

Chancellorsville, Virginia

Union General Winfield Scott Hancock was spotted early this morning, donning his trademark clean, starched white shirt.

Everyone who saw him agreed, this was a general ready for battle.

His ragtag troops were duly impressed at the sight of their tall, finely turned-out corps commander, inspiring some of them to brush the dust off their tattered, blood-soaked uniforms.

But seriously…

May 13, 2024

At the battle of Chancellorsville, Winfield Scott Hancock and J.E.B. Stuart vied for the best dressed officer.

Hancock was impeccably neat, his starched shirts prepared by his English valet.

Stuart’s fashion statement was more appropriate for a southern cavalry officer: he wore a blue coat with a red artillery sash. He had put away his usual yellow cavalry sash, possibly because today he was the acting corps commander, replacing the fallen Stonewall Jackson.

He topped off his outfit with two ostrich feathers in his hat.

Stuart must have made quite an impression, leading the charge up the slope at Hazel Grove at dawn, capturing men and artillery pieces, seizing the high ground and setting up a Confederate victory.

Chancellorsville would be remembered as Lee’s greatest triumph, and, with the loss of Jackson, his costliest.

And no one would forget those ostrich feathers, flying to battle on that morning in May.

Source

Receding Tide, Edwin C. Bearss