This pair of straps belonged to Major Henry J. Bowditch who served in the 1^st and 5^th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored).

Each strap has a thick single border of gold bullion thread. This border is outlined with both an inner and outer jaceron border of dead bullion. The rank field is done in yellow wool to denote the Cavalry branch. Each field has Majors oak leaves done in gold bullion thread.

The back of these straps are open and not covered. At one time each strap had four metal tipped string ties for a total of eight, only two remain now.

These straps do show heavy wear. On one strap the outer jaceron border has broken in two places but it is all present. The other strap has both jaceron borders broken with some bullion missing. Both rank fields have faded from age and use. One of the rank fields has three small moth nips. A small bit of repair work to the jaceron borders will enhance the straps greatly.

Henry Pickering Bowditch was a 21 year old residing in Jamaica Plain, MA. Shortly after graduating from Harvard College, he enlisted on 11/5/61 as a 2nd Lieutenant. On 2/5/62 he was commissioned into Co. G, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry.  Promoted to 1st Lt. on 6/28/62, and to Captain on 5/13/63. Listed as wounded on 11/27/63 at New Hope Church, VA. Discharged for disability on 2/15/64. On 5/5/64 he re-enlisted and was commissioned a Major in the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. He resigned on 6/3/65.

Bowditch, born into a wealthy family in Boston in 1840, had entered the Lawrence Scientific School to pursue studies in chemistry and natural history following his graduation from Harvard. However, once the call for soldiers went out following the outbreak of the Civil War, he put his academic pursuits on hold to serve his country. After resigning his commission in the 5th MA Cavalry in 1865 he returned to the Lawrence Scientific School.  He received his A.M. degree in 1866 and his M.D. from Harvard in 1868. Dr. Bowditch then travelled to Paris in pursuit of further scientific study, including histology and physiology.

With the financial backing of his father, a Boston merchant, he continued on to Leipzig for additional study in the field of physiology. While studying in Germany, he discovered the heart's "all or nothing' contractile property. In 1871 Bowditch was appointed an assistant professor of physiology at Harvard Medical School; he continued his studies on circulation, vasomotor control, neurophysiology and psychology. He also conducted a classic series of studies on the growth of children. He was very active in the Boston community – serving the Boston School Committee, the Boston Public Library, etc. He was the first nonclinical dean of the Harvard Medical School, and was one of the founders and first president of the American Physiological Society. In 1896, the year after the discovery of x-rays, he was one of the first in Boston to have an x-ray taken, which revealed the bullet fragments from his now more than 30 year old wound received during the Civil War.  Bowditch died on March 13, 1911 and is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA.  [ad] [ph:L]

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