Presented here is an original and seldom seen Civil War pattern 1859 / 1863 McClellan officer's saddle in very good overall condition. The basic pattern 1859 McClellan saddle, in reality, incorporates a number of design elements taken from then existing saddles on the market such as the Campbell saddle, Hope saddle and the popular Grimsley saddle of the time. The McClellan saddle is built upon a tree that consists of a two-piece, beech wood cantle covered with wet rawhide. This saddle also is augmented with modifications from 1868 thru the 1870s period. The basic McClellan saddle, with cavalry equipments, was extremely strong and it saw adoption by the Federal government in 1859 for use with U.S. mounted troops. It remained the standard military saddle for many years, well up into the early 1900s.

This saddletree is covered in medium-brown colored rawhide that is strong and tight. Rawhide suffers from areas of stitching that have split open along portions of the under seams on the right and left sidebars. All stitching was hand done and wore a coat of rosin wax, a brown substance used in all military saddles and equipments. Wax insured a strong durable stitch and it protected the rawhide but it did darken the hide to a brown, creamy hue. Stitching on the pommel and the sidebars is located slightly inward to protect it from undue wear and the elements.

This officer's Civil War McClellan exhibits an 11½" seat that incorporates a post-war 1868 configuration of brass moldings, a.k.a. bindings, applied as trim to the cantle and the pommel. This alteration was an on-going effort to solve the old problem of the rawhide seat splitting and cracking. Inner face of the pommel has a plain-faced saddle shield tacked on with three small brads. Most McClellan officer saddles were modified from the basic trooper's saddle and then fitted with extra padding and trim. This specimen displays a decorative, two-piece, center-stitched, thick padded black leather covered seat that adorns the saddle well. Covered with ornate stitching. The handsome cover exhibits a decorative series of floral stitching bordered with a thin yellow / gold painted edging. Center seam suffers from a 10" long separation that can be repaired. Underside of cover is thin leather that retains remnants of the three original tie down straps stitched to the base.

Many of these saddles were made at Quartermaster Depots across the North, as well as by numerous private contractors. Unfortunately, no maker markings are visible on this equestrian artifact. Underside of saddle features the iron stirrup hanger loops attached to the frame that suspend the leather rigging of the quarterstraps to the early, unspaded "D-Ring". No girth, wooden stirrups or hoods present. The outside pommel face has a single, oval, brass coat strap guard plate with only one 1½" diameter iron saddle ring. Two iron sidebar rings, each 1 5/8" in diameter, are tacked to the pommel.

The seat cantle also is wrapped in black leather and boasts three oval, brass coatstrap guard plates, along with two-iron foot staples with carry rings are screwed to the cantle base. No leather coat straps are included. Remnants of the leather quarter straps remain. The large sweat leathers are in very good, strong condition and made of one piece, single thickness, grained black leather. Surface smooth with just very slight crazing. Overall, all the saddle leather is tight and supple.

This Civil War officer's Model 1859 McClellan saddle presents an outstanding opportunity for the equestrian enthusiast to acquire an original piece of Civil War military equipment in very good condition.