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3218

EXCEPTIONAL PRE-WAR & EARLY WAR CONFEDERATE

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 45,000.00 USD
EXCEPTIONAL PRE-WAR & EARLY WAR CONFEDERATE
UNIFORM JACKET OF SECOND LIEUTENANT CUTHBERT H. SLOCOMB OF THE WASHINGTON ARTILLERY. A rare early war Confederate Artillery officer's jacket of the Washington Artillery of New Orleans, Louisiana. The single breasted jacket is constructed of black wool broadcloth which has now faded to a mellow dark gray. At the first notable battle of the Civil War, First Manassas, Second Lieutenant Cuthbert Slocomb was present with the Washington Artillery commanding three 6 lb. guns at Mitchell's Ford. After First Manassas, Confederate forces quickly recognized the problem of confusing the blue and black uniforms worn by many southern militias on the battlefield with those of the opposing Union troops. Slocomb's black uniform jacket was likely retired early in the war and more distinctive Confederate officer's uniforms were adopted. There are nine 16mm U.S. Infantry “I” buttons down the front. The buttons have no backmarks, but have 2 concentric rings on the reverse and are typical of late prewar construction and design. There are 9 button holes with conventional stitching. The jacket body has 3" darts extending down from the collar and 6" darts extending up from the waist giving the jacket a very fitted look on the wearer. The collar is of 2 piece standing construction and is lined in the same material. It has gold braid cord piping around all edges. This finely tailored jacket features 2 piece sleeves measuring 5 1/2" across at the cuffs. The cuffs are designed with no slit and no buttons. The elbows are 8" across. Flat, gold braided, 1/4" wide galons adorn each sleeve. The galons begin 2 1/4" up from the cuff and extend to a point 17 1/2" up from the cuff. The galons end at the seam of the sleeve and do not extend to the rear half of the 2 piece sleeve. Each shoulder bears a Second Lieutenant of Artillery shoulder strap sewn in place. Strap edges and rank insignia are bullion with red wool broadcloth centers. The jacket is lined with unbleached cotton and the sleeves appear to be lined with bleached cotton. The padded breast is lined on the coat side with linen buckram. On the inside left is a horizontally set pocket with a 5" opening. The jacket measures 20 1/2" in the back and 18 3/4" in the front from the waist hem to the base of the collar. The back sleeve seam measures 24". An extraordinary example of a prewar southern militia jacket worn into early Confederate service. This jacket likely saw intense action during the Battle of First Manassas. Second Lieutenant Cuthbert Slocomb must have retired this jacket soon after the Battle of First Manassas allowing it to survive as one of the few remaining early Confederate uniforms. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Les Jensen authentication letter. CONDITION: in general, this uniform shows light to moderate overall wear with some color fading particularly around the cuffs. The jacket body shows very light scattered insect damage. Sm. areas at the right front bottom, left front upper breast, left sleeve and rear left lower back show tiny moth holes while insect tracks can be seen in the nap over several sm. scattered areas. The black jacket, in general, has faded to a dark gray. The lower half of each sleeve shows more noticeable fading and appears a bit stained from extended field wear. The area around the lower hem of the coat is also slightly more faded with areas of spatter patterned fading. There is a 3/4" hole with partial loss 7" up from the lower hem on the right rear side of the uniform. Piping around the collar is worn and tarnished but complete. Galons show only light wear and no losses with light tarnish. Shoulder straps show moderate wear and the lightest of insect damage to the wool centers. Buttons are complete and undamaged. Body lining shows overall sweat staining and the sleeve lining shows similar staining. The left sleeve lining has a minor seam opening. There is a notable 1" hole in the lining corresponding to the hole in the right rear side of the uniform body. The uniform has a crisp overall appearance and has acquired a distinguished dark gray color. Much of the fading around the cuffs and hem of the coat may be mud spatter, possibly from the fields of First Manassas. PROVENANCE: Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Chicago, IL, to legendary collector George Markham in 1957 to the esteemed collection of Don and Judy Polifka in 1987. (02-13421/BF). $25,000-45,000.
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