Known by collectors as an “artillery shell jacket,” this red-trimmed jacket was introduced in 1855 for enlisted men in the light artillery, which might include both members of the horse artillery and members of the field artillery who might walk next to their guns and caissons on the march, but might ride them into battle. Constructed of deep blue wool with red piping on collar, lapel, cuffs, and down the back from armpit to waist, and around the bottom edge, the jacket is fitted with twelve small general service eagle buttons down the front, two on each cuff, and two on each side of the tall standing collar, which is piped to present two false buttonholes. The exterior rear waist also has two piped bolsters that were intended to support the weight of a saber belt around the waist. The jacket is lined with a brownish loose-weave fabric and white sleeve lining, and has one interior pocket on the left chest.

The piping is complete and has good color. There are no tears, holes or moth tracking. The interior of the sleeves at the armpits show the Civil War inspector’s stamp of F.H. Shafer, who inspected clothing at the Cincinnati Depot in Ohio. Other markings in the sleeve have been blacked out, but were certainly later costume company markings applied when this jacket was sold as surplus by the government and purchased for theatrical rental as so many other original uniforms were in the late 19^th century. Some even show up in early motion pictures with Civil War subjects. A few of the buttons were re-stitched and a few are slightly loose and should be resewn, but other than that the jacket survived its travels well and would make a centerpiece for a Civil War collection. This is a nice original example of the jacket worn by the men standing to their guns amidst enemy fire on countless battlefields.  [sr]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!