Description

Period wool coat with silk lining for a 1st Lieutenant of the Infantry. Buttons were made by T.W. & W Paris. Two piece brass buttons have infrantry bugle with no. 4. According to Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons with Supplement by Alphaeus Albert; page 345, this is one of the back marks found on Confederate Uniforms. Research also shows that T.W. & W. stopped using this backmark in 1865 when they merged with another company. Apparently, while in service, the two buttons on the back of the coat, adjoining the bolsters, came off and were replaced by similar buttons of a later date. This is noted by the word France on the backmark, also the quality of the replaced button is not as high as original. Frock coat also has wire bolsters built in for the belt, this is also indictive of war time manufacture. The collar of the frock coat is buff colored and indicates a 1st Lt. of the Staff. Cuffs are heavy wool felt with some moth damage. The quatrefoil is of very fine wire bullion. They appears to have been added, possibly during the period and are for the Infantry. It seems clear that when the cuff replacement was done, the collar replacement was deemed too complicated. It is difficult to imagine this alteration being done, or thought necessary to be done, after the War. Original silk collar has the original Lieutenant's bars. Coat has been in a fire and is heavily damaged to right shoulder and sleeve. Also shows signs of scattered soot damage. Apparently coat was in a folded position during the fire. Fire damage has been crudely repaired. 40" from collar to hem. Sleeves: 24 1/4" long X 16" diam. Cuff: 4" deep Collar: 2 1/8" tall. Although the coat shows most of the aspects of a war time coat, it's possible this is a very early UCV coat.

Condition

Poor/Fair