Presented in excellent condition is this original, high quality, Civil War uniform grouping of a Boston, Massachusetts cavalry officer, Captain Charles Pickering Bowditch of the 5^th Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment.  Purchased directly from the officer’s family, this cloth artifact group is being made available to the collecting community. Bowditch’s handsome ensemble includes: (1) a fine, identified, wartime, non-regulation, dark blue, twelve-button cavalry jacket with both original shoulder straps; (2) his wartime, dark blue, nine-button cloth vest with three, small slash pockets; and (3) a very fine, post-war pair of dark blue wool uniform trousers. All the items are in remarkable condition.

Charles Pickering Bowditch was a 20-year-old Boston, Massachusetts gentleman when he was commissioned a 2lt on May 23, 1863 and appointed to Company A of the 55^th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry (Colored) at the camp at Readville, Mass. Bowditch went through a series of promotions soon after…to 1^st Lieutenant on Jun 20, and to Captain on July 7, 1863. The regiment moved to Folly Island, SC and soon after, Bowditch applied for a leave of absence for ill-health reasons which were granted. He continued to convalesce at West Roxbury, Mass with extended leaves of absence until he was discharged from the infantry and accepted an appointment with the 5^th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored) on February 6, 1864 as a captain of cavalry. He was with his cavalry company in the field and detailed on general court-martial duty when he resigned on 8/23/1864. C. P. Bowditch is perhaps best known in his civilian life for his pioneering work as an archaeologist, specializing in Mayan hieroglyphic writing.

Captain Bowditch’s custom-made, company-grade officer’s uniform shell jacket is excellent plus, and exhibits his identification on the reverser interior cloth collar hook. Soldier’s ID reads “C. P. Bowditch  1863” written clear and strong with black ink. His officer’s shell jacket, a.k.a. a roundabout or a uniform jacket, comes complete with his pair of original, high-grade gold and bullion, embroidered shoulder straps. Both straps feature bright, clean fields of straw or yellow-colored felt bearing the bullion rank devices of a Federal Captain of Cavalry. Both straps are tightly sewn to the jacket shoulder areas. Custom-made of rich, dark indigo-blue wool broadcloth, the well-constructed jacket exhibits a five-panel body, consisting of two front panels, two side panels with one back panel plus both arm panels. Has no moth nips, tears, rips, thinning or sewing repairs. Uniform jacket has a two-piece, 1¾” high standing collar of the same dark blue broadcloth material with japanned eyehooks. Collar does exhibit a single seam separation, ¾” long, on the vertical seam at center rear of the stand-up collar. Some very light, minor scuffing along portions of the top collar front edge near the japanned hook and clasp from use.

Sleeves are of typical two-piece construction and measure 9” wide across the elbow and 5” at the cuffs. Two, narrow trefoils of black non-regulation braiding adorn each sleeve cuff. Both sleeve interiors are lined with a light cream-colored linen / cloth material in excellent condition. Each coat cuff is not functional, but displays three, bright, 2-pc, cuff size, cavalry eagle-‘C’ brass buttons on the outer seams. Also, the single-breasted uniform jacket features twelve bright, brass buttons arranged in a single row down the front of the coat. Ten buttons are the gilt, 2-pc, cuff size, cavalry eagle-‘C’ and are backmarked with “D. EVANS & CO. /  SUPERFINE.” One button is a local, 2-pc, cuff-size, officer’s staff button, and the other a brass, 2-pc, cuff-size, of simple geometric design. All buttons in excellent condition with tight stitching. Jacket’s front interior body panels are lightly padded and lined with fine, dark green polished cotton cloth. Interior body has two, large, slash breast pockets, one on each side of the front panel. Remainder of the jacket is lined with the same green polished material.

Bowditch’s uniform vest is cut from the same high quality, dark blue wool cloth and has the dark green, polished cotton-twill backing. Cloth backing has the cloth bands sewn to the body and still retains its two-pronged, japanned adjuster hook that is maker-marked “SOLIDE  1862” on the hook. Vest backing also shows a few small insect holes visible.  Front face of the wool vest is in very good condition with nine strong and unfrayed button holes along with its nine original gilt brass, cuff-side, cavalry eagle-‘C’ buttons, all backmarked. All stitching tight. Wool body is free of nips, tears or holes, but the vest collar does exhibit a small nip at the left corner edge.

Bowditch’s minty uniform trousers are not Civil War vintage, but of the post-war 1880s era. These fine, original regulation dark blue indigo wool trousers exhibit a very thin, bright yellow welt of felt down the side exterior of each leg. Trousers feature beige colored linen panels, bands and pockets with 12, four-hole plastic buttons made by the Macullar, Company. Exterior cloth waist bands on the back side have the single, japanned metal adjuster. Trousers’ front side watch pocket has the soldier’s very light identification written on the interior. Two large slash side pockets at the front. Likely worn to festive or ceremonial occasions only. Trousers are in simply fantastic mint condition. Bowditch’s NARA military and records are included.

This fantastic uniform grouping also has several copies of Bowditch’s wartime letters printed by the Mass. Historical Society. A fantastic, Civil War cavalry officer’s uniform from Massachusetts.

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