Military - Overview
The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.
The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.
"Military - Overview" showing 25 items.
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Confederate Army Frock Coat, Model 1861
- Description
- This Confederate Army frock coat would have been worn during the American Civil War. It is a single breasted gray wool frock coat with eight brass State of Virginia buttons down the front. The buttons depict the Virginia state motto of "Sic Semper Tyrannis" around an image of Virtus standing over a defeated Tyranny. The bottom button on the chest is missing, and two buttons are missing on the back waist. There are two locations with missing buttons on the back of the skirt. There are three smaller brass buttons on the right cuff and two on the left cuff. The top button is missing on the left cuff. There are cloth belt loops on each side just above the waist and secured with a small button on the upper end of the loop. There is single breast pocket in the left inside of the coat. The coat is fully lined with padded wool. Sleeves are lined with a polka-dotted fabric. The same fabric is used to make a fabric loop on the inside collar.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated dates
- 1861-1865
- ID Number
- 1983.0860.01
- catalog number
- 1983.0860.01
- accession number
- 1983.0860
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Mexican Army Frock Coat
- Description
- Physical Description
- Blue wool with red edging and facings. Guilt buttons and gold-colored shoulder strap.
- Specific History
- This uniform coat would have been worn by a lieutenant in the Artillery of the Mexican army.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1840
- associated date
- 1846 - 1848
- ID Number
- AF*16156
- catalog number
- 16156
- accession number
- 13152
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Confederate Army Major General Samuel Jones' Frock Coat, Model 1861
- Description
- This frock coat was worn by Confederate Army Major General Samuel Jones during the American Civil War. Conforms to the Model 1861 pattern as listed in the Uniforms and Dress of the Army of the Confederate States except for the lack of full facings at the cuffs and collar. Double breasted gray wool frock coat with two rows of nine large gilt general service eagle buttons grouped in threes down the front, two at the back waist, and three small buttons on each cuff. There is a single button at the top folds of each skirt tail. Both sides of the breast on the coat have button holes. There is a hook and eye closure at the collar. Above the cuff is a row of four elaborate 1/8" gold lace braids woven into an arabesque. The gold braid also lines the cuffs. The collar, both edges of the front of the coat, the edge of the top coattail, and an inverted "V" on the cuffs are trimmed with buff wool cording. On each side of the front of the collar is a wreat, with three stars enclosed and embroidered in gold with gold sequins. The center star on each side of the collar ornamentation is larger than the others. There is a left breast pocket. There are deep pockets in each coattail. The entire jacket is lined with black fabric. The lining of the sleeves is salmon-colored cotton twill. There is a loop of fabric at the inside back collar.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1861-1865
- user; associated person
- Jones, Samuel
- ID Number
- AF*18871
- catalog number
- 18871
- accession number
- 62349
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Army Sack Coat, Model 1858
- Description (Brief)
- This is a model 1858 sack coat that would have been worn by an enlisted man in the U.S. Army. Dark blue unlined wool hand sewn collared blouse. Center front has four buttonholes down left side. All buttons are missing. Cuffs are plain. There is a breast pocket in the lining on the left side created by sewing the outer and lining fabric together. A mended hole is on the left cuff.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- used date
- 1858-1872
- ID Number
- AF*316364.001
- accession number
- 316364
- catalog number
- 316364.001
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Confederate Army Brigadier General Marcus J. Wright’s Frock Coat
- Description
- This is Confederate Army Brigadier General Marcus J. Wright’s double breasted gray wool frock coat. The coat originally had two rows of eight large gilt eagle staff-type buttons down the front, placed in pairs. The bottom pair of buttons on the right side are now missing. Three small buttons are also missing on each cuff, and two buttons are missing on the bottom of each pocket in the rear of the coat. Both sides of the jacket have button holes. There is a hook and eye closure at the collar. The collar and cuffs are faced with buff wool and the cuffs form an inverted "V". There are four rows of elaborate 1/8" gold braided metallic lace, called an Austrian knot, sewed on with a single row of gold thread above the cuff. The gold tape also lines the cuff. The collar has a wreath with three gold stars enclosed and embroidered in gold and silver thread on each side. The center star on each side of the collar is larger than the others. The buttonhole flaps and front of the skirt are piped with blue wool. The coat is fully lined. The button flaps and the inside of the collar are lined with buff wool. The sleeves are fully lined with cotton twill. The rest of the lining is a tan-colored cotton. The chest, shoulder, and underarm are lightly padded and quilted. There is a slit breast pocket on the inside left. There is a deep pocket in each coattail in between the coat and the lining. There are remnants of a loop made of cotton at the inside back collar.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1861-1865
- user; associated person
- Wright, Marcus Joseph
- ID Number
- AF*34754
- catalog number
- 34754
- accession number
- 83543
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Captain Woodbury Wheeler's Frock Coat, Model 1861
- Description
- This frock coat belonged to Confederate Army Captain Woodbury Wheeler of the 10th Battalion of the North Carolina Artillery. Double breasted gray wool frock coat with two rows of seven large gilt artillery "A" buttons down the front, two at the back waist, and two small buttons on each cuff. The reverse of the buttons are marked: "Superior Quality" except for one which says: "Riveted and Soldered" with the image of a unicorn and a lion. Both the inner and outer breasts of the front of the coat have button holes. There is a hook and eye closure at the collar. There is a brass belt bolster at the left back waist seam. There is a heavy hook and eye at the front waist. The collar and cuffs are faced with red wool. Above the cuff there is are two rows of 1/8" gold lace ornamentation called an Austrian knot. The entire jacket is trimmed with red wool cording. There is a deep pocket in each coattail. The openings to the pockets are bound with red wool. The collar has three bars of 1/4" gold metallic tape on each side. The entire jacket is lined with a brown glazed cotton-wool mix fabric. The lining of the sleeves is cotton twill. The fronts of the jacket have been hand quilted in squares. There is a breast pocket in the front left.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1861-1862
- ID Number
- AF*35675(4)
- catalog number
- 35675(4)
- accession number
- 99695
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Confederate Army Colonel Robert W. Harper's Frock Coat
- Description
- This frock coat was worn by Confederate Army Infantry Colonel Robert W. Harper. Double breasted gray heather wool frock coat with two rows of seven large gilt infantry buttons with the raised letter "I" on the face down the front, two at the back waist, one at the bottom of each pocket opening on the rear skirt, and three smaller general service eagle buttons on each cuff. The bottom right button on the right front row is detached from its location and is tied to the top buttonhole with string. The back of the buttons read, "Halfmann & Taylor Montgomery." Both sides of the breast of the coat have button holes. There is a hook and eye closure at the collar. The collar and cuffs are faced with bright blue wool. The facing on the cuffs forms an inverted "V". Above the cuff there is a triple row of 1/8" gold braided metallic lace, called an Austrian knot, sewed on with a single row of gold thread. The gold tape also lines the cuff. The collar has three large five-point gold stars on each side which are woven onto the collar facing with thick metallic thread. There is a small slit pocket on the right front of the jacket above the waist. The buttonhole flaps and front of the skirt are piped with blue wool. The coat is fully lined. The button flaps and the inside of the collar are lined with blue wool. The sleeves are fully lined with cotton twill. The rest of the lining is a dark brownish green cotton. The chest, shoulder, and underarm are lightly padded and quilted. There is a slit breast pocket on the inside left. There is a deep pocket in each coattail in between the coat and the lining. There is a loop of brownish green cotton at the inside back collar.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1861-1865
- wearer
- Harper, Robert W.
- ID Number
- AF*42577
- catalog number
- 42577
- accession number
- 163704
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Confederate Army Lieutenant John Singleton Mosby's Frock Coat
- Description
- This frock coat was worn by Confederate Army Lieutenant John Singleton Mosby. Confederate cavalry leader John Mosby is among the most romantic characters in the Civil War, and with good reason. From 1863 to the end of the conflict, Mosby's raiders were a constant headache for the North. The raiders usually acted in small detachments of several dozen, though more than 1000 men served under Mosby. They sacked supply depots, attacked railroads, and harassed federal troops. They seemed to move behind enemy lines almost at will. Their most celebrated exploit occurred when Mosby himself rode into Fairfax Station, Virginia, in the dead of the night and kidnapped a Union general.
- Double-breasted gray wool jacket which originally had two rows of seven large gilt eagle buttons down the front. Five buttons are missing on left and two on right. There are two buttons at the back waist, and thread remains of two buttons on coattails. Both sides of the jacket have button holes. Above the cuff there is a single braid 1/4" gold lace insignia called an Austrian knot; the single braid indicates that Mosby was a lieutenant when he wore this coat. The collar and cuffs are faced with buff wool. There is a deep pocket in each coattail. The body of the coat and parts of the coattails are lined with dark green cotton-wool mix fabric. The sleeves are lined. The front of the jacket is lightly padded and quilted.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1861-1865
- wearer
- Mosby, John Singleton
- ID Number
- AF*4409(A)
- catalog number
- 4409(A)
- accession number
- 20063
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Army Major Joseph C. Willard's Frock Coat
- Description
- This non-regulation model 1862 frock coat was worn by U.S. Army Major Joseph C. Willard. Dark blue wool double breasted field coat with two rows of 5 large brass eagle buttons down the front, 3 small buttons on each cuff. Each front panel has buttons and button holes. There is an outside pocket on the left chest. There are 2 outside pockets on each side of the lower front. There is a breast pocket in the lining of the right side. There is a major's gold leaf epaulet strap on each shoulder with a single row of metallic braid edging around a dark blue velvet field. There is a hanging loop at the inside neck line. Both fronts and pocket openings have been edged with black binding. The collar is a turnover collar with dark blue velvet on the exposed side. There is a 6 inch vent in the back center. The coat is lined only across the shoulders and the front panels with a silk-wool blend. The lining of the sleeves is natural cotton.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1862
- wearer
- Willard, Joseph C.
- ID Number
- AF*58159M
- catalog number
- 58159M
- accession number
- 205100
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Confederate Army Frock Coat
- Description
- This frock coat was worn by Confederate Army infantryman Frank B. Gibson while a member of Company D of the 26th Infantry of South Carolina. Single-breasted coarse brown wool "butternut" coat which formerly had six brass infantry "I" buttons. The top button and two bottom buttons are currently missing. There are two small brass buttons on the near the sides of the collar which depict a pinwheel design. There is a large pocket with a flap on each side of the coat. There is one breast pocket in the left inside of the coat. The coat is fully lined with the same brown wool. The chest lining is wool and is padded.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1861-1865
- wearer
- Gibson, Francis B.
- ID Number
- AF*77555M
- catalog number
- 77555M
- 310956.01
- accession number
- 310956
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center