LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 June Civil War Grand Format Auction #663  / 

72132

Stonewall Jackson's Courier, The Shell Jacket of

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:20,000.00 USD Estimated At:80,000.00 - 100,000.00 USD
Stonewall Jackson's Courier, The Shell Jacket of
<B>Stonewall Jackson's Courier, The Shell Jacket of Private Benjamin S. Pendleton - Worn at the Surrender at Appomattox</B></I> This is an extremely rare artillery shell jacket made by Tait of Ireland that made its way to the Confederacy through the Union blockade. It was worn by Private Benjamin S. Pendleton who had the distinction not only of serving as a courier for Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, but also wore this uniform at the surrender of the Confederate forces with General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.<BR><BR>Private Pendleton wore this artillery shell jacket during the last year of the war, at the close of which he would be listed in the Appomattox parole book as one of only 35 surviving members of the famous 'Stonewall Brigade'.<BR><BR>Constructed of wool cloth by the Peter Tait and Company of Limerick, Ireland, this is the only Tait uniform known to have run the blockade that is still in existence. In fact, it is the only foreign-made Confederate shell jacket known to be in private hands. Heavily worn by Private Pendleton, the shortages of buttons at the close of the war are exhibited in this uniform which has a combination of five 'CS' staff buttons, one Old English script 'I' button and two eagle buttons. They are held in place by square-cut nails that run through the shank of the button inside the fabric of the coat. Inside the jacket there is a small card written and signed by Pendleton that reads as follows:<BR><BR><I>This jacket worn by B. S. Pendleton, Co. B, 2nd Virginia Infantry, Stonewall Brigade, Army Northern Virginia, worn at the surrender of General Lee April 9, 1865 -<BR><BR>B. S. Pendleton</B></I><BR><BR>The facts of the make, ownership and use of this jacket make it an extreme rarity, not to mention the fact that it made it through the Union blockade to the Confederacy. The jacket is in overall good condition with some moth holes to the right sleeve, a small hole at the left bottom and at the left top. The red artillery collar and the buttons serve to make this an excellent presentation piece with an even greater historical value attached. The shell jacket has been authenticated by the historian and expert Les Jensen and comes with an archive of Pendleton family provenance and research.<BR><BR><B>Exhibited:</B></I> The Bill Turner Collection<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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