Man's Uniform
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Col. Frank W. Cheney
(American, 1832 - 1909)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1861-1863
MediumCoat: Hand-stitched wool, with brass buttons, silver thread and silver-tone metal studs.
Pants: Hand-stitched and machine-stitched wool, with cotton lining and enameled metal buttons.
DimensionsComponent (coat center back length x width between shoulder seams): 36 1/2 x 17in. (92.7 x 43.2cm)
Component (pants waist circumference x outside leg length): 38 x 42in. (96.5 x 106.7cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Charles A. Goodwin
Object number1948.11.1a,b
DescriptionCivil War uniform consisting of a sack coat (.a) and pants (.b), both of navy blue wool. The fabric is twill-woven and has been fulled and napped. The coat is cut straight and loose. It has a narrow turn-down collar, and it buttons up the center front with five brass shank buttons. The buttons are domed, with an eagle insignia. The coat sleeves are decorated with three smaller brass buttons at the wrist. Mounted on each shoulder is a "shoulder board", a rectangle of pale blue wool, edged with silver thread laid diagonally in a thick, rounded border. The boards are held on with two silver-tone metal leaf insignias, which fasten with wires through the fabric of the coat. The back of the coat is cut with three vertical seams. The center back seam ends at the bottom with a small notch. The coat is unlined; the raw edges are turned to one side and stitched down flat, without turning under.
The pants have a button fly and six buttons around the waistband for attaching suspenders. The fit of the pants adjusts with a buckled strap at the center back, just below the waistband. The pants are notched at center back, under the buckle strap. The side seams are stitched with a lighter blue piping. There is a pocket on each side of the front, covered by a buttoned L-shaped flap; there is also a watch pocket on the proper right side. The pockets are made of white twill-woven cotton. The waistband is lined with tan and white printed stripe cotton, stitched on the bias. Crudely stitched with white thread on the proper right side of the waistband opening is what appears to be the numbers "7003."
NotesHistorical Note: This uniform coat was worn by Lieutenant Colonel Frank W. Cheney (1832-1909) during the Civil War.The pants have a button fly and six buttons around the waistband for attaching suspenders. The fit of the pants adjusts with a buckled strap at the center back, just below the waistband. The pants are notched at center back, under the buckle strap. The side seams are stitched with a lighter blue piping. There is a pocket on each side of the front, covered by a buttoned L-shaped flap; there is also a watch pocket on the proper right side. The pockets are made of white twill-woven cotton. The waistband is lined with tan and white printed stripe cotton, stitched on the bias. Crudely stitched with white thread on the proper right side of the waistband opening is what appears to be the numbers "7003."
Status
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