|
1884 ARTILLERY CORPORAL’S DRESS UNIFORM COAT –
VERY NICE CONDITION:
The regiments of Light
Artillery, armed with the artillery field pieces which
were towed behind teams of horses, were present at
almost every post on the frontier alongside the cavalry
and infantry regiments – a contribution to the American
West that is often under appreciated by modern
collectors. These
Artillery Dress Uniform Coats
were regularly present at the dress parades and are one
of the more striking dress uniforms worn by soldiers in
the Indian War army.
A
true veteran of the Indian Wars Artillery, this original
Pattern 1884 Dress Uniform Coat features original
Corporal Chevrons on both sleeves and is in very nice
condition, showing only minimal signs of wear and none
of the excessive aging or deterioration so often
suffered by these pieces of frontier uniforming. The
red facings and piping are intact throughout on the
collar, sleeves, tails, and down the front edge. The
wool is very solid with no weak points and no open
seams. There is some minor mothing on the lower parts
of each sleeve and a small spot of mothing on the front
– all very small and not very noticeable. The coat is
overall very clean with the exception of one area on the
inside rear surface of the skirt lining. All of the
original buttons are present on the epaulets, cuffs,
tail and down the front.
The chevrons are bright and clean with no mothing or
other damage and are securely sewn.
The coat has the standard quilted cotton lining in the
body, the cotton lining to the sleeves and the skirt is
lined with the proper polished dark green cloth. The
surface of the cotton lining at the right sleeve cuff is
ink stamped “SIZE 4” – the standard US Army sizing of
clothing being 1 through 4. The lining of the right
sleeve just below the shoulder is ink stamped with the
Schuylkill Arsenal inspector’s stamp and there are some
other inked notations on the body lining.
This Artillery Enlisted Man’s Dress Coat is an extremely
attractive, relatively scarce, and very desirable Indian
War Non Commissioned Officer’s uniform piece and one
that would be a fine center piece for any Indian Wars
collection. (0523) $975
|
