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IRON BRIGADE CAPTAIN DILLON'S FROCK COAT WHO AT GETTYSBURG "BEHAVED HANDSOMELY IN FRONT OF MCPHERSON'S WOODS"

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The Iron Brigade was one of the most celebrated military organizations of the American Civil War. Composed originally of the 2^nd, 6^th and 7^th Wisconsin and 19^th Indiana Volunteer Infantry regiments, it was reinforced after Antietam in October 1862 by the 24^th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Battery B of the 4^th U.S. Artillery was also attached to the brigade. It was a unique organization from the very first days because all the regiments were from states on the nation’s frontier and it was the only all-Western infantry brigade in the Eastern armies.

The record of the Iron Brigade from 2nd Manassas to Chancellorsville was glorious. But it was at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, the Iron Brigade won a special place in American military history and played a key role in the Union victory. Thrown into the fighting northwest of town to stall a Confederate advance, the brigade helped push back the Confederates in the morning but were overwhelmed later in the day and forced to retreat through the town to the rally point on Cemetery Hill. It was the brigade’s staunch defense, however, that helped to allow the Federal army to consolidate on the high ground south of Gettysburg. It was that defensive position that was the key to the Union victory. It came at terrible cost to the Western men. Of the 1,883 men engaged in Pennsylvania, 1,153 were killed, wounded or missing. Nine of the brigade’s fourteen field officers were killed or wounded.

THE SOLDIER: On July 26, 1862, Richard S. Dillon, of Detroit, Michigan, enlisted in the 24th Michigan Infantry Company A at the age of 32 as a 1st Lieutenant. He was mustered into service on August 13, 1862. He was promoted to Captain on June 1, 1863.  Assistant Inspector General on January 6, 1864, and Major by Brevet on April 9, 1865. Dillon was listed as being wounded severely on July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg (https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/official-report-of-colonel-henry-morrow.htm). He was promoted to Captain on June 1, Assistant Inspector General on January 6, 1864, and Major by Brevet on April 9, 1865. Richard S. Dillon was discharged on June 30 at Detroit, Michigan. He died on May 3, 1886. Please follow this link:  CPT Richard Shaw Dillon (1830-1886) - Find a Grave Memorial.

THE FROCK COAT: This Civil War U.S. infantry officer's frock coat is a private purchase with a nine-button front, three-button cuffs, and four buttons on the rear back waist. The inspiration for this jacket was a pattern adopted in 1858. The dark navy-blue frock has a single row of 9 (1 missing) gilt eagle "I" officer quality buttons by Scovill. The material used to tailor this frock is a wool broadcloth. The sleeves bulge to 8 inches at the elbow and are 6 inches at the non-functional 3 button cuff (1 gilt button remains on each sleeve). The un-piped stand-up collar is 1 inch high. It was lined in black velvet; this is rather worn. The coat has a bottom that is raw cut or unbasted. There are 2 rear pockets lined in a brown colored polished cotton. The pocket flaps are decorated with 4 gilt eagle ""I officer's buttons. The exterior of the frock is excellent with few moth nips. The interior of the frock is fully lined with a quilted green/brown polished cotton. There is 1 interior breast pocket on the left side lined with polished brown cotton. The sleeves are fully lined in off-white polished cotton having a design of blue and orange lines. The condition of the lining is excellent but showing wear and it is fully intact and stable. Sewn to the shoulders are two well-worn infantry captain's epaulettes. These are embroidered in metallic gold bullion with 1 dominant exterior border and 2 pips or bars at each end all on a dark blue velvet backing. They measure 1 1/2 inches by 4 inches. The "whole" shows honest field wear. Features on this frock make it mid-war and is very possibly Dillion's Gettysburg uniform coat. It certainly was used in the field based on wear patterns and overall condition. Dillon was wounded in the lower right leg at Gettysburg so the frock would not show obvious evidence of such a wound. The uniform has the look of a combat veteran. Please see the attached picture of Captain Dillon the Iron Brigade officer wearing this exact uniform. This was on display for years in Mr. Ray Richey's Texas Civil War Museum. [pe][ph:L]

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