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Coat

Description

Uniform coat for the Confederate States Navy worn by Admiral Franklin Buchanan (1800-1874), when in command of "Merrimac," or "Virginia," at the Battle of Hampton Roads, in March 1862. The coat has two columns of nine brass buttons on the front, gold patches on the shoulders, and five gold stripes with the top stripe looped on both sleeve cuffs. Buchanan was born in Baltimore and joined the U.S. Navy in 1815. Expecting his State of Maryland to resign at the start of the Civil War, he resigned his commission. When Maryland remained with the union, he tried to be reinstated, but was refused. Buchanan then turned to the confederate navy, where he was commissioned a captain. Wounded by a bullet to the thigh, while wearing this coat at the Battle of Hampton Roads, he later returned to service and was promoted to full admiral.

Creator

Date

circa 1862

Materials

Wool, brass

Dimensions

30 H x 21 W inches

Object ID

1984.1

Accession Number

1984.1

Resource ID

11498

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Earnest Julius Meiere, Mrs. Felix R. Sullivan, and Mrs. Tilghman Owen, his daughters

Digital Publisher

Digital resource provided by the Maryland Center for History and Culture

Rights

This digital image is made available here for private study, scholarship, and research. Commercial and other uses are prohibited without the permission of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. For more information, visit the MCHC’s Reproductions and Permissions web page.