Line officers, who fought in regimental line of battle, were instantly recognizable by their single-breasted coats. This example bears the regulation nine buttons down the front, four on the tails, and three smaller buttons on each cuff, all with the regulation “I” for infantry in the shield covering an eagle’s breast. The shoulder straps are regulation single-border straps with gilt bullion borders edged with jacqueron wire and two bullion bars at each end indicating the rank of captain, which places the owner as commander of an infantry company. The officer elected to have a roll-over black velvet collar instead of the sometimes uncomfortable standing collar. This has oxidized to a deep brown. The exterior of the coat rates excellent with just slight fading and wear and a few small stains from field use. The shoulder strap on the wearer’s left is missing just a small interior bit of the jacqueron wire at the front. The strap interiors show some signs of a medium blue at the edges and have a few stains, etc., from exposure, but still show good light blue color.

The lining is intact and complete with just a few wear spots at expected points: the edge of the collar and upper shoulders and back where it would rub on the wearer, along with scattered spots in the skirts where one’s legs would rub against it and the material would pick up dust and dirt from wear outdoors. The upper body has the expected period quilting and the sleeve linings are the expected plain white. There is a single interior breast pocket on the wearer’s left and skirt pockets accessible from the outside. Sign in ink on reverse of small strip of fabric on the inside of the collar – we have not been able to make it out.

This is nice example of the regulation Civil War coat worn by the fighting officers in the front ranks of battle.  [sr]

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