online catalog

• What's New
• Reduced Price Items
• Artillery
• Books
• Bottles
• Buttons
• Confederate
• Contemporary Artist Prints
  • Framed Prints
  • Unframed Prints
• Currency, Bonds & Tokens
• Documents & Paper Goods
  • Art
  • Broadsides
  • Commissions
  • Discharges
  • Letters
  • Newspapers
  • Signatures
• Edged Weapons
  • Bayonets
  • Knives
  • Scabbards
  • Swords
• Firearms
  • Carbines
  • Cartridges & Gun Tools
  • Handguns
  • Holsters
  • Longarms
• Gettysburg Items
• Identified Items
  • Accoutrements
  • Edged Weapons
  • Firearms
  • Personal Items
  • Photography
  • Uniforms & Cloth
• Medical Items
• Military Accoutrements
  • Buckles/Plates
  • Canteens
  • Insignia & Badges
  • Leather
    • Belts
    • Cap & Cartridge Boxes
    • Haversacks / Knapsacks
    • Holsters
    • Scabbards
  • Spurs
• Personal Items
  • Amusements
  • Cooking
  • Jewelry
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Sewing
  • Smoking
  • Writing
• Photography
  • Albumens
  • Albums
  • Cabinet Cards
  • CDVs
    • Identified CDVs
    • Unidentified CDVs
  • Hard Images
    • Ambrotypes
    • Daguerreotypes
    • Tintypes
  • Stereoviews
• Relics
• Stock Items
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Riker Cases
  • Shell Bases
  • Wood Display Cases
• Uniforms & Cloth
  • Flags
  • Headgear
  • Sashes & Hat Cords
  • Uniforms
• Veteran Memorabilia
  • GAR
  • UCV
• WWI / WWII
  • Equipment
  • Posters

A RARE REGULATION IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE CAVALRY OFFICER'S FROCK COAT AND SERVICE REVOLVER: WILLIAM P. BOHANNON, 5TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY

Hover to zoom

This coat and side arm came to light in an estate sale held by the Bohannon family in Mechanicsville, Virginia in 1974.  The Bohannon family goes back centuries in this country and is still well represented in Virginia in general and in Mechanicsville in particular. It was purchased by Governor's Antiques and sold to the highly respected dealer Will Gorgas. Mr. Gorgas sold it to Mr. Ray Richey and in time it was put on display at the Texas Civil War Museum.  A multitude of Bohannons joined the Confederacy but only one was a lieutenant (2nd and 1st) in the Virginia cavalry. The coat was worn by William P. Bohannon.

HISTORY:  William P Bohannon enlistment June 21, 1861, at age 24. He enlisted at King & Queen Court House, Virginia in the 5th Virginia Cavalry as a private in company E. He was elected 2^nd Lieutenant on May 22, 1862. He was captured near Sharpsburg, MD, on the 18th or 19th of September, paroled on Sept. 26,1862, and declared exchanged November 8th, 1862. On the 17th of March 1863 he was wounded at Kelly's Ford Virginia March 17th, 1863, and had a horse killed under him at Todd's Tavern Virginia April 30, 1863. On May 11th, 1864, the day of the battle of Yellow Tavern, he was promoted to a 1st lieutenant Co. E 5th Virginia Cavalry. Sadly, on June 18th of 1864 he was severely wounded ending his military career.

THE UNIFORM:  His frock coat is all hand sewn and made of mid- gray wool having a texture with little nap, probably Domestic. The buttonholes on the 5-button double breasted front are finely hand whipped. There was a total of 10 buttons on the breast, of these 9 remain.  The Virginia state seal buttons are all pre-war and all are back marked SCHUYLER.H.&G. NEW YORK". All buttons appear to have been affixed contemporaneously. It has full-length skirts ending in a basted edge rather than a raw edge which makes sense as a mounted frock. The yellow wool broadcloth standing collar is 1-3/4 inches high and is lined with gray wool. The gold bullion insignia of 2 bars per side for a 1st Lieutenant (one remains on each side) are each 3 1/4 inches long 1/8 inch+ wide and are hand tacked in place. The yellow shadows on both sides of the collar of a top bar can be discerned. Also, the very low placement of the two existing bars begs the question, "what these was above these?". The sleeves bulge to 7 1/2 inches at the elbow and end in non-functional cuffs. "The collar matches the cuffs". The cuffs of yellow broadcloth are 2 inches tall in back and in front run to a high point of 3 1/2 inches.

Here let me address the color yellow. There has been a suggestion that there was an issue with the availability of yellow dye in the wartime South, but this is erroneous. The production of yellow dye was never a problem. Please note the following article in the COLUMBUS GA ENQUIRER, December 1, 1863. "Receipt (sic) for Dyeing Brown.—Take red oak bark, sufficient to make four gallons of very strong dye, boil very strong, then strain it; add two table-spoonsful of blue stone, then dip your thread in the dye, then in strong lye; repeat it four times, then hang out and let it get half dry an rinse in clear water.

Yellow Dye.—Take of each a lot of sassafras, swamp bay and butterfly root, put in four gallons of water, boil until strong, then strain and put in your thread or cloth and boil it thirty minutes, take out and air fifteen minutes, put in a table spoonful of burnt copperas and two of alum and boil fifteen minutes, then rinse in clear water and let it dry."

There were originally 2 buttons on each sleeve but now one remains on each side. These Virginia state seals are the same maker as the breast buttons. The sleeves have one row of 1/8-inch flat fall gold braid or galons in a quatrefoil pattern, this is regulation Confederate sleeve insignia for a lieutenant. It is 100% intact overall and runs up the sleeve for just over 10 inches. The interior of the upper chest is lined with a decorative line pattern brown cotton blend material while the skirts of the frock are lined with the same cotton blend material. The one chest pocket inside is on the wearer’s left breast. This pocket is lined in a neutral-colored cotton. Inside this pocket penciled on the cotton, very faded/worn, but readable are the initials "W.P.B." for William P. Bohannon. The sleeves were lined in an unbleached linen. The tail pockets, open on to the outside. The pocket flaps are not piped. The pocket linings are cotton and intact. All four buttons are missing from the tail.  Other than scattered insect damage and honest wear, mostly to the interior lining, the condition of the coat is beyond reproach.

THE REVOLVER:  This is an English Webley Wedge Frame double-action percussion revolver. These were produced from the late-1850s through the mid-1860s. This Webley wedge frame has an action more akin to that of the Beaumont-Adams than the typical Bentley style double-action only mechanism.  A handful of examples of similar English double action revolvers are known with pre-war Southern retailer marks, usually from New Orleans. Confederate purchasing agents acquired these revolvers, as they were much less expensive than the competing Adams, Tranter & Kerr patterns. The Pratt Roll which is an inventory list of revolvers that details the 15 handguns in the possession of Company H of the 18th Virginia Cavalry in July of 1864 lists 3 Webley and/or Bentley revolvers. While there are no direct Confederate Central Government contracts known to exist today for this pattern of revolver, some Confederate correspondence exists that suggest the more reasonably priced double action revolvers were purchased primarily by speculators for importation to the Confederacy. A Webley Wedge Frame revolver resides at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond. Several others in private collections have strong Confederate connections.

The condition of this revolver is good. It shows heavy period field use which has resulted in little of its original factory finish remaining. The weapon is gunmetal gray-brown-blue color with minor pitting here and there and many small dings from hard service. The approximately .45 caliber bore is very good but dirty. The barrel is 6 inches long. There are British proofs on the barrel and the 5 shot cylinder but there is no evidence of a retailer or gunmaker on the barrel or frame. There is however clearly engraved on the left side of the frame below the cylinder " PATENT No. 3646". The loading lever is in place and functioning. The gun operates perfectly with the cylinder turning smoothly. The checkered wooden 2-piece grips are dark but perfect. Overall, the look is pleasing.

The compiler believes the frock was worn by Bohannon as early as 1863 if not earlier. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant in Spring 1864 while on campaign and in constant flux until he was seriously wounded a short time later it is highly improbable that upon his elevation to 1st lieutenancy, he was in a place or position to have a new frock coat tailored. It is surprising he took the time to add a bar!  After his last wounding he was no longer on the regimental rolls, and he certainly did not have the coat made then. The rarity of such a cavalry frock coat cannot be overstated. His revolver could have been imported early in the conflict and shows condition reflects with this. Both frock and pistol "saw the elephant" no question.  [pe][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!

Inquire »