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.

Associated Date: 1861-1865

Wearer: Harper, Robert W.

Location: Currently not on view

Related Event: Civil War

Subject:

See more items in: Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military, Civil War, Military, Military Uniforms, Civil War Uniforms

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: AF.42577Catalog Number: 42577Accession Number: 163704

Object Name: coatOther Terms: coat; Man; CSA, Army; Infantry; Colonel; Officer; Service; Dress

Physical Description: grey (overall color)wool (overall material)gold (buttons material)gold braid (sleeve braid material)blue (facings color)Measurements: overall: 40 1/2 in x 17 in; 102.87 cm x 43.18 cmoverall (padded): 39 in x 18 in x 3 in; 99.06 cm x 45.72 cm x 7.62 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-0b1c-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_446364

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.