Civil War Union Officer’s Infantry Shell Jacket – 2nd Lieutenant

Civil War Union Officer’s Infantry Shell Jacket – 2nd Lieutenant – This finely tailored jacket is constructed of blue wool, somewhat comparable to enlisted shell jacket material. The coat has nine Eagle I buttons on the front of the jacket and no cuff buttons; all of the Eagle buttons are back marked “D. Evans”; the shoulder rank straps are single bullion, sky blue velvet center straps representing the rank of 2nd Lieutenant of the Infantry. The jacket is a pronounced high collar. The interior of the coat is constructed of a heavy grade of off-white, quilted cotton; the sleeve linings are constructed of a comparable cotton. There is one interior, cotton lined pocket in the left chest area. There are some numbers and letters stenciled on the lower left corner of the interior of the coat; we are unsure of what these numbers represent. The construction of the jacket combines treadle machine and some hand work. The coat remains in excellent condition, with some minor insect nips and tracking; the color remains vivid. These officer shell jackets are not commonly available today.