This dark blue wool staff Major’s frock coat in very nice condition is from one of the more famous museums in Gettysburg. The Lee’s Headquarters Museum, which closed its doors at the end of 2014 making this frock coat available for sale.

The exterior of the coat is mostly clean with only minor surface dirt and is free of any moth holes. The wool is a finely woven heavy broadcloth that has retained its original color. A close inspection revealed two small seam separations. One in the back of the collar and one in the left shoulder but these are minor.

The front has two vertical rows of seven buttons each with machine sewn buttonholes. The buttons are all three-piece Staff-Officer buttons and all appear to be original to the coat. Each non-functioning cuff has three cuff buttons of similar style and construction as those on the front. There are also two more coat sized buttons at the rear waist and two on each tail.

The left breast has a slit pocket and there are pockets in the tails as well.

Each shoulder has shoulder straps with the rank of Major done on a black field indicating a Staff-Officer which would be correct for the buttons. The straps are a matching pair with a double border of heavy gold bullion thread with an inner and outer jaceron border of dead bullion. The strap on the left shoulder has an outer jaceron border that has come loose from the strap along the front edge and part of one side. The black felt rank field on both straps is very good and the Major’s oak leaves are done with gold thread and bright bullion and are also in good condition.

The interior is in good condition but has a few minor issues.

The chest is nicely quilted on both sides and the back of the neck. There is a horizontal slit pocket on each side of the breast. The white muslin sleeve lining is still tightly sewn to the interior.

The skirt lining shows a number of small stress separations scattered throughout. Three of these stress areas have developed into small holes. There is also an open seam just above the right arm that runs for about 4.00 inches and there is a small period repair along the left edge of the lower skirt.

Written in period ink on the left sleeve lining is the number 2914. We do not know the reason for this marking. In the collar is a more modern ink marking that reads 755. This corresponds to an entry in a 1940’s inventory logbook from the Lee’s Headquarters Museum. The entry from the log reads “OLD MILITARY TYPE COAT… REMOVED TO THE BASEMENT.”

With the item is a modern museum sign that reads “UNION MAJORS STAFF OFFICERS FROCK COAT: NOTE THE BLACK BACKGROUND ON THE SHOULDER STRAPS. BLACK IS THE COLOR THAT INDICATES STAFF.”

This Major’s frock coat is a wonderful item in its own right but this is also a rare opportunity to own a piece from one of the best known and most beloved Civil War Museums in Gettysburg.

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