site search
online catalog
A GROUP BELONGING TO CAPTAIN TO MAJOR DAVID SCHOOLEY
Hover to zoom
$5,500.00
Quantity Available: 1
Item Code: 1268-550
Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer
To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail
Battery M, Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (112th Pennsylvania Volunteers) was recruited by Capt. David Schooley, July and August 1862. It was known then as Schooley’s Independent Battery. Please click on this link (ABOUT « David Schooley's Independent Artillery). It was composed of men and boys from Pittston Borough, Pittston Township, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Carbondale, also of boys from Susquehanna and Wayne Counties. The greatest number were from Pittston. There were only ten married men in the Battery; the rest were young men from 16 to 24 years of age. Please follow this link for more details (https://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/pennsylvania/2nd-pennsylvania-heavy/).
In July of 1864 Captain David Schooley was taken prisoner while laying out a new picket line at Petersburg, VA and was held prisoner until the end of the war. He was confined at Macon, GA and Columbia, SC. Released on 4/26/65, place not stated. Promoted to Major on 5/18/65. He had subsequent service in the US Army from 07/28/1866 until retiring 04/01/1888. Schooley died in 1910 and is buried in Carverton Cemetery, Carverton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
THE FROCK COAT: This fine Civil War U.S. infantry officer's frock coat is a private purchase. It is double-breasted with an 18-button front (nine on each side) three-button cuffs, and four buttons on the rear waist. All the buttons, large and small, are eagle officer staff buttons and all are made by Schuyler Hartley & Graham of New York. The material used to tailor this frock is fine wool black/blue broadcloth. The sleeves bulge to 8 3/4 inches at the elbow and are 6 inches at the 3-button cuff. The un-piped stand-up collar is 1 inch high. The coat has a bottom that is raw cut or unbasted. There are 2 rear tail pockets lined in a brown polished cotton. The exterior of the frock is excellent with a few minor moth nips. The interior of the frock is lined with a quilted green polished cotton. There is 1 interior breast pocket on the left lined with polished brown cotton. The sleeves are lined with a glazed tan cotton blended material. The condition of the lining is excellent showing minor wear. Sewn to the shoulders are two excellent condition infantry major's shoulder boards. These are embroidered in metallic gold bullion with 3 exterior borders and a pair of oak leaf clusters embroidered on the ends all on a crimson velvet backing. The shoulder boards measure 2 inches by 4 1/2 inches and are now sewn in place. On both shoulders near the collar are two intentionally cut 1-inch slits which once held the brass fittings required to hold in place 2 full dress bullion epaulettes (these are with the group still). This major's frock dates from May of 1865 when Schooley returned from captivity and was then promoted to major.
THE KEPI: This kepi is possibly post-war. If it is wartime, it would be Captain David Schooley's "undress" fatigue cap. It is unembellished other than a 1-inch stamped brass "2" on the top. The cap rises to 2 1/2 inches in front and 5 inches in back. The patent leather bound peak or bill is 2 inches deep. It shows evidence of a repair running from end to end there has been little attempt to hide this. The thin tan leather sweatband is 1 1/2 inches tall, it is 100% intact and whip stitched into place. The interior is lined in brown polished cotton. There is a blue wool welt sewn in place on the underside covering the junction between the peak and the cap. One tin backed eagle officer's button remains on the right side. The chinstrap is missing. There is evidence of missing insignia from the front.
SWORD BELT: This is a regulation Model 1851 eagle officer's buckle with its keeper on a most unusual leather belt that has a decorative striated pattern overall. The slim cast brass rectangular eagle plate measures 3 1/4 inches by 2 inches. It is well worn from polishing. The keeper which fits perfectly is bench-marked "88". The pliable and strong adjustable leather belt measures 35 inches in length. It is decoratively and functionally machine stitched. The two leather movable sword hangers are missing.
THE EPAULETTES: There are 2 sets of epaulettes. Set 1) These "boards" are made of red wool over cardboard and are enlisted man grade. They are the Model 1851. They have enlisted man's eagle "A" buttons. They were kept by Schooley as a souvenir of his service as he personally would never have worn such devices. The condition is excellent. 2) A pair of officer's gold bullion epaulettes with hanging tassels of gold wire. These were possibly worn by Schooley as a captain or later as a major. If there was indication of rank, often pinned onto this type, it has long disappeared. It is also possible these too are souvenirs related to another than himself and are correct as they sit for lieutenant's rank. The screw-on buttons are eagles but of an early 1850 vintage. Some of the wire tasseling is unravelling but otherwise the condition is very good.
THE SASH: This is a regulation crimson sash for an officer. It is made of a silk material and is 120 inches long including the tassels and 4 inches wide. The tassels show some discoloration and there are some dark stains and holes from use on the sash.
THE EAGLE FINIAL: This eagle flagpole top is of excellent quality almost, but not quite, worthy of Thomire (The flagstaff eagles of the French First Empire were cast in gilded bronze by Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), based on a drawing by Antoine-Denis Chaudet (1763-1810); these sell for upward of $500,000). The spread winged eagle is cast brass and made in 2 pieces and still showing considerable amounts of original gilt. The eagle standing on a round plinth (maybe the globe?) measures 7 1/2 inches by 7 inches in height. This component was then screwed on to the regimental flagpole of the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, or one would assume.
CAP BOX: A very nice condition pistol percussion cap leather pouch that measures 3 3/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches and has 2 one half inch loops sewn on the reverse. The front flap is stamped "US" and the reverse "L.B.C." an inspector. The internal wool is gone as is the wire pick, but it has over a dozen pistol percussion caps inside.
MISCELLANEA: A round leather collar storage box that has a diameter of 5 inches and is about 5 inches deep. On the lid is embossed the British Royal seal of Queen Victoria. Inside is a gold-filled ca. 1880 "WALTHAM" pocket watch which is showing 10 o'clock; it has the correct time twice a day. A civilian frock coat. This might actually date from the 1840s. It is entirely hand sewn. It is double breasted with a 10-button front. The buttons are all early coin type. There are 3 tail pockets (1 is internal only) and a right breast pocket. The 3-inch-wide fold down collar is faced with brown, probably once black, velvet. There are two coin buttons above 2 of the external exiting vertical slit tail pockets. The cuffs, once fasten each with a coin button, are functional. Other than a couple of open seams, the condition is excellent. There is a 16 square inch linen handkerchief in the breast pocket that gives no indication of having been used.
An interesting group to a hard fighting officer who was a prisoner of war. From the Texas Civil War Museum. [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 About A GROUP BELONGING TO CAPTAIN TO MAJOR DAVID SCHOOLEY
Most Popular
Historical Firearms Stolen From The National Civil War Museum In Harrisburg, Pa »
Theft From Gravesite Of Gen. John Reynolds »
Selection Of Unframed Prints By Don Troiani »
Fine Condition Brass Infantry Bugle Insignia »
featured item
SCARCE 1859 DATED AMES LIGHT CAVALRY SABER, AKA MODEL 1860
Old habits die hard. Although we now know production of the new pattern cavalry saber intended to replace the heavy Model 1840 started in 1857, most still refer to them as the Model 1860. This is a scarce example of one produced by Ames in 1859 and… (2022-718). Learn More »
site search
