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CIVIL WAR UNION MOUNTED JACKET

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,500.00 USD
CIVIL WAR UNION MOUNTED JACKET
CIVIL WAR UNION MOUNTED JACKET. Single-breasted dark blue wool shell jacket with 12 enlisted eagle buttons on front. Two buttons on each cuff. Two buttons are replaced and are of the Indian War pattern. This coat was at one time lined with tape. This taping has been removed, as have pillows on back of coat. Ghosts of trim are still visible on collar. Lining is white cotton and left sleeve, in old ink, is contractors mark "R&W - NOV. 64." Les Jensen in his accompanying letter of authenticity observes, "This jacket has all the proper characteristics for a Federal mounted jacket of the Civil War period. "R&W" almost certainly stand for Rockhill & Wilson, of Philadelphia, who received two contracts, one in February, 1864 and the other in November, 1864 for a total of 33,000 cavalry jackets. Given that they received no contracts for artillery or any other kind of jacket, this specimen was undoubtedly made as a cavalry jacket. When the trim was removed is anyone's guess. Some jackets were stripped during the war or later, during the Indian Wars period. Conclusion: This is an orig Federal mounted jacket, originally cavalry, made by the firm of Rockhill & Wilson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under a contract dated November, 1864. At some point, the yellow trim was stripped off the jacket. CONDITION: Overall, coat saw little use. A couple buttons are loose. Fraying at edges and buttonholes. Lining is sound and tight. Scattered mothing. 4-56256 JS252 (1,500-2,500)