Regulation 1855-pattern cavalry musician’s shell jacket with yellow, worsted lace "herringbone form” braids across the chest. This pattern was continued and included in the 1861 Uniform Regulations.
This rare jacket is well preserved, with slight field wear; the coat is of Civil War manufacture and exhibits a 2½” high collar with two buttons on each side and standard cavalry "pillows” on the backside. The body lining is loose brown cotton weave, the sleeves in green and cream colored striped cotton, and the collar is lined with black cotton. The worsted wool trim is cavalry yellow and in fine condition.
Also featured are the original twelve buttons and rare, original brass shoulder scales. The scales are attached to the uniform by a tongue on the bottom of the scale, which slides through a brass keeper sewn onto the shoulder of the uniform. At the collar, a rotating stud device or "scale button,” turns and locks the shoulder scale into place. These shoulder scales were not particularly popular with the soldiers, as their required maintenance and inconvenience of wear outweighed any perceived benefits, and they had virtually disappeared from use by the midpoint of the Civil War.