LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2006 Dec Signature Civil War Auction #642  / 

25462

CSA Captain Uniform of Captain B. B. Blue

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:18,750.00 USD Estimated At:75,000.00 - 85,000.00 USD
CSA Captain Uniform of Captain B. B. Blue
<B>Confederate Captain Uniform of Captain B. B. Blue, 18th "Marmaduke's" Arkansas Infantry with buttonhole to attach his empty sleeve (amputated right arm) to the front of his uniform.</B></I><BR><BR>The only Confederate Uniform from Arkansas to come on the market in half a century! A great one at that - as it was customized to accommodate Captain Blue's empty sleeve buttoned to the chest of his uniform after his right arm had been amputated from a battlefield wound during General Bragg's invasion of Kentucky in 1862.<BR><BR>This Confederate uniform was most likely made in Atlanta, as after his exchange as a prisoner of war, Captain Blue was assigned Assistant Provost Marshall of Atlanta. Later, he was assigned to command the military post at Marietta, Georgia by General Hood, commander of the Army of Tennessee. A trusted staff officer first serving on the staff of General John S. Marmaduke, Captain Blue originally enlisted in 1861 in Memphis, Tennessee with Marmaduke's 18th Arkansas, which later became the 3rd Confederate Infantry and signed on "For the War," an obligation which he certainly fulfilled, serving from 1861 until 1865. Captain Blue lost his right arm, was captured, and became a prisoner of war in Kentucky. He was later exchanged in Vicksburg, Mississippi and faithfully resumed his duties to the Confederacy in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia.<BR><BR>This Confederate captain's frock coat is made of cadet gray wool with standing collar, which was originally dyed blue for infantry and later returned to buff for Captain Blue's position as a staff officer. It has triple gold braids for his captain's insignia on the collar. The cuffs are of the pointed pattern with similar blue - buff color. Two strands of quatrefoil run up each of the sleeves, also indicating Blue's rank as captain and the sleeves are in the Confederate officer pattern. This double-breasted uniform has eagle staff buttons. A unique feature of this coat is that the right sleeve has been made slightly shorter than the left and the inside cuff has two button holes to fit through the large-size eagle staff buttons on the front of the uniform, which held up Captain Blue's empty right sleeve. There is an old museum tag inside the coat and the buttons missing off the front are in the coattail pocket. This is an original and untouched Confederate officer's uniform worn by an officer of the 18th Arkansas. <BR><BR>Provenance: Blue Family, prominent collector<BR>1913 museum tag when it was loaned to a museum.<BR><BR>Authentication: Les Jensen, 6-page report with detailed photographs<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Clothing & Costumes (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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