Buffalo Coat

Description:

Physical Description

Specific History

According to legend, this coat was made from the skin of a buffalo killed by Buffalo Bill, and presented by him to Captain J. B. Irvine, Twenty-second U.S. Infantry. Irvine then presented it to Second Lieutenant Albert C. Dalton, Company A, U.S. Infantry.

General History

In a life that was part legend and part fantasy, William F. Cody came to embody the spirit of the West. During the Civil War, Cody served first as a Union scout in campaigns against the Kiowa and Comanche; then in 1863 he enlisted with the Seventh Kansas Cavalry, which saw action in Missouri and Tennessee. In 1867, Cody took up the trade that gave him his nickname, hunting buffalo to feed the construction crews of the Kansas Pacific Railroad. According to Buffalo Bill, he killed 4,280 head of buffalo in seventeen months.

He is perhaps best known for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, a theatrical extravaganza. His show dramatized some of the most picturesque elements of frontier life. It contained a buffalo hunt with real buffalos, an Indian attack with real Indians, and a grand finale that reenacted Custer’s Last Stand, with some Lakota who actually fought in the battle playing a part. The show was enormously successful and traveled the world for three decades.

From Brigadier General Albert C. Dalton, US Army (Ret'd), written 26th July 1951:

"This coat was made from the skin of a buffalo killed by the celebrated "Buffalo Bill" (Mr. William F. Cody) at the time he was engaged in supplying buffalo meat to the workers on the Union Pacific Railway, and also to the troops of the United States Army in the same area. The skin was presented to Captain Javan B. Irvine 22nd US Infantry who was a famous Indian fighter and a close friend of Buffalo Bill during the days when he was with the army as a guide and Indian Scout. Captain Irvine presented the coat to then 2nd Lieut Albert C. Dalton 22nd Inf. who served in Captain Irvine's Company "A" 22nd Infantry from May 1889 to Aug 1891---when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieut and assigned to the regiment for duty as an officer. Captain Irvine retired the same year and on leaving the regiment gave the coat to Lieut Dalton.

The coat was repaired and the quilted lining put in in place of the old lining in 1910 at the Schuykill Army Factory".

Wearer: Cody, Buffalo Bill

Used: United States

Subject: Native AmericansRelated Event: Indian WarsThe Development of the Industrial United States

Subject:

See more items in: Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military, Clothing & Accessories, Military, Transcontinental Railroad, ThinkFinity

Exhibition: Price of Freedom

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: AF.54564Catalog Number: 54564Accession Number: 191694

Object Name: overcoatOther Terms: overcoat; Man; Army

Physical Description: buffalo skin (overall material)Measurements: overall: 59 in x 43 in; 149.86 cm x 109.22 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b2-4671-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_439780

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