Frederick Sears d’Hauteville was born in Boston to a wealthy American mother and aristocratic Swiss father.  He graduated from Harvard in the Class of 1862, but, a year earlier, in May 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Fourth Battalion of the Massachusetts State Infantry. He served in Boston on garrison duty until November 1861, when he was appointed aide-de-camp with a rank of captain on the staff of Gen. Nathaniel Banks. He immediately joined Banks at Darnestown, Maryland, but did not see his first action until March 25, 1862 at the Battle of Winchester, Virginia. He was nearly shot at the Battle of Cedar mountain, VA on August 9, 1862 when a bullet lodged in his saddle blanket. Appointed Assistant Adjutant General he was serving on the staff of Gen. Samuel Crawford when the latter was badly wounded at the bloody Battle of Antietam. In November, 1862 when Banks was given command of the Department of the Gulf d’Hauteville followed Banks to New Orleans, remaining on the general’s staff until he resigned from the army in April 1863. Two months later he married the daughter of politician Hamilton Fish, but she died within a year. After that he maintained a residence in Newport, Rhode Island, but spent most of his time in Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

1.  d’Hauteville’s shell jacket constructed of fine wool featuring a nine-button front, each Staff button marked “Horstmann Brothers & Co. Phil.” One button detached but pinned into place. Two japanned hooks and eyelets between the second and third lower buttons. Split cuff with three smaller cuff-sized buttons, likewise marked Horstmann. Padded in the chest area. Wide upper sleeves tapering to a narrower cuff. The jacket and sleeve are both lined. Two slit pockets on the interior. One-inch standup velvet-lined collar with a japanned hook and eyelet. Two double-bordered, velvet backed Captain’s shoulder straps measuring 1 ¾ x 4 ½ inches are sewn at the ends directly to the jacket. Two woven knots and a single loop are mounted at the lower edge of the back of the jacket. D’Hauteville’s handwritten ownership marking in ink, on the reverse side of the clothing hanging loop on the neck.

2.  English-made officer’s white vest with a fine wool front and belted cotton back. Five button front, all buttons marked “D. Evans & Co. Extra” and held fast by brass rings. Wide flat collar, 2 ½” at its widest. Two open waist pockets. Maker marked “Henry Poole & Compy. 32 Saville Row and 4. Old Burlington Street.”

3.  Brown leather sword belt with leather hangers and brass fittings. Supple brown leather, 33 inches long overall; the hangers 19 and 8 inches overall secured to the belt with sliding leather loops. Unusual 1851 pattern officer’s waist belt which appears to have the silver wreath applied from the reverse of the buckle and the stars about the eagle’s head are individually applied.

4.  Silk officer’s sash measuring approximately 93 inches overall, including the 7 ½ inch tassels on either end.

5.  Pair of CDVs with d’Hauteville posed standing in his frock coat and carrying his sword. Similar images, although in one d’Hauteville is wearing full-length trousers with imprint by Whipple, Boston. The other, with knee-high boots, bears no photographer’s imprint.  [ph:L]

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

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

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!