Civil war uniform ?

[jcm1111]

This is a naval frock coat from Rhode Island. I was wondering if anyone knew if it was civil war, or post civil war and any other information on it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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[Mark F. Jenkins]

At first glance, I'd say not CW era. The buttons and collar don't look right to me.

There are a number of possibilities, up to and including late-19th Century naval militia; I believe Rhode Island did have one.

 

[AndyHall]

There are a number of possibilities, up to and including late-19th Century naval militia; I believe Rhode Island did have one.

The buttons are not USN. Mark may be onto something, though, as Rhode Island's emblem is an anchor with the legend, "HOPE."

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[E_just_E]

Any reason you think that this might be naval?

The Scoville buttons are one of RI Volunteer buttons manufactured from 1860 on. Looks like a Civil War Senior Officer's (major - colonel + surgeon) RI VI coat from here. Real or reproduction, is another story (8 buttons instead of 7 and the unconventional button for Scoville makes me think that it might be repro...)

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

The anchor usually would indicate naval; but if all RI stuff has an anchor on it, then that does throw it open a bit.

 

[E_just_E]

The anchor usually would indicate naval; but if all RI stuff has an anchor on it, then that does throw it open a bit.

here is a standard Scoville RI VI button c1861 :

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As you see it is a bit different that the OP's, so not sure about it...
Speaking of the anchor, here is the RI flag:

 

[GELongstreet]

The buttons are from Scovill MFG, too - you can actually see the backside markings on the last picture.

And on picture #5 you can see that its a Rhode Island button - has the state seal with the word "Hope".

 

[James N.]

It looks like a normal regulation Civil War-era frock for Officers of the Staff and Field (majors, lt. col's., and cols.) to me; you can see where there was originally a bottom ninth button in both rows that is now missing. (The button hole is still there though!) It's certainly possible, however, that it's a post-war militia or National Guard garment up to around 1872 or so when the Regular Army changed to the less-French and more-Prussian M.1872, eventually followed by most state units as well. A key might be in the buttons, the backmarks of which frequently changed and are well-documented by button collectors and relic hunters.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Blessmag]

The mannequin looks like Captain Picard from StarTrek.

 

[E_just_E]

The mannequin looks like Captain Picard from StarTrek.

Tad more like Iron Chef Michael Symon:

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[7th Mississippi Infantry]

At first glance, I'd say not CW era. The buttons and collar don't look right to me.

There are a number of possibilities, up to and including late-19th Century naval militia; I believe Rhode Island did have one.

That was also my first thought.
They did:

"In the 1890s, during the first decade of the invention of the modern naval militia, the Rhode Island Naval Militia was organized as a torpedo unit and frequently trained at the Navy's torpedo school on Coaster's Island near Newport.[3]The Rhode Island Naval Militia first saw combat during the Spanish–American War when one hundred forty two members of Rhode Island Naval Battalion were federalized and served alongside the United States Navy.[4]

The USS Miantonomoh served briefly under the Rhode Island Naval Militia before her decommissioning in November of 1895.[5] After being decommissioned on 8 October 1898, the USS Kanawha was loaned to the Rhode Island Naval Militia on 12 December 1898; however, the Kanawha was returned to the Navy on 12 August 1899 and transferred to the War Department.[6] In 1910, the naval militia was assigned the USS Aileen.[7] By 1916, the naval militia maintained an aeronautic section.[8]"

http://www.digplanet.com/wiki/Rhode_Island_Naval_Militia

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

Looks to me like a regulation Civil War Senior Officer's (Army not Navy) frock coat with RI State buttons, but without provenance it could also be slightly post-war.
The fabric looks like quality broadcloth and the stitching in those buttonholes is superb.

 

[E_just_E]

It looks like a normal regulation Civil War-era frock for Officers of the Staff and Field (majors, lt. col's., and cols.) to me; you can see where there was originally a bottom ninth button in both rows that is now missing. (The button hole is still there though!)

9 is even worse than 8

Senior Officers (up to colonel) had 7 buttons. 8 was in 2 x 4 arrangement for Brigadier Generals.

 

[Package4]

Four main things to look for to determine whether CW or post for frocks.
1) ballon sleeves at the elbow 18 to 20 inches in circumference
2) hand sewn button holes CW coats generally have hand stitched button holes
3) length of skirt CW coats are longer and not hemmed
4) Sleeve lining usually will be a solid off white without striping for CW coats

 

[Package4]

Taking another look at the coat, it looks to be Indian War period:

• Buttons are post war, at least the cuff buttons that are pictured
• The button holes looks to be machine sewn, though top quality houses had very good seamstresses who specialized in button holes. The obverse of the hole usually tells the tale
• From the picture, it looks as if it is hemmed, if so post CW
• It is definitely not a repop