Civil War-era Union artilleryman’s shell jacket, no size or markings, constructed of heavy wool material dyed a deep indigo blue, with 10-button closure and nine original brass ‘Eagle Shield’ cuff-size buttons sewn to the flap edge and collar area. The 2˝ high standup collar is edged in artillery-red, worsted herringbone piping, with a single row to the front collar, indicating that this may be a St. Louis Depot-made jacket. Same red piping decorates the buttonhole side of the front flap and runs along the entire bottom edge of the jacket. Additional piping decoration, in a chevron design, is stitched along each of the functional cuffs. On the backside of the shell jacket, piping rises from the two waist-level belt-rest pads to each shoulder. In very good condition, with three missing buttons, some loose stitching to front right shoulder, and scattered wear and stains to the inner liner. Less expensive than the army frock coats, these artillery shell jackets were a comfortable and durable uniform garment worn by Union mounted soldiers during the war.
