December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
Three British major generals were killed in action at the head of their men during the War of 1812: Sir Isaac Brock (Queenstown Heights, 13 October 1812, at age 43), Sir Robert Ross (North Point, 12 September 1814, at age 48) and Sir Edward Pakenham (New Orleans, 8 January 1815, at age 38). All three officers sat for their portraits shortly before their deaths wearing their undress uniforms and at least Ross is known to have worn his undress coat into battle when mortally wounded (this uniform is now in the Canadian War Museum; it is likely that Pakenham and Ross were similarly attired when they met their fate0. The general officer's undress coat was a practical alternative to the full- or half-dress coats (which featured gold embroidered or gold laced buttonholes, respectively). It was intended for everyday wear and was especially favored on campaign, being both less showy (rendering its wearer less noticeable to enemy sharpshooters) and less costly to replace or repair. It was to be made "of Scarlet Cloth, long skirts made to hook back, and lined with white kerseymere, Standing Collar of Scarlet Cloth [with a "patch" of blue facing the front on each side], with small Cuffs of Blue Cloth, Lappels of the same colour as the Cuffs, 3 Inches in breadth and made to Button over the Body down to the waist." Those worn by major generals had the buttonholes "set on 2 and 2" or in pairs, on the lapels, skirts and sleeves. They were trimmed with gilt "General Officers' Button[s]...nearly flat, ornamented with a Sword and Truncheon, encircled with a Wreath or Laurel." In the case of the undress coat, the holes were worked with silk twist, rather than laced or embroidered as in the dress coats. This rare example of a major general's undress coat is made to fit a man that stood approximately six feet tall, with a 38-39 inch chest measure and a 30-31 inch waist. Such a trim cut would suggest that it was worn by a relatively young (30s or mid-40s), tall, fit and athletic general officer--a man of action akin to Brock, Ross and Pakenham. Each shoulder has small eyelets or grommets worked in silk twist, through which the cords on the underside of epaulettes would pass, to fasten such to the coat, as with the extant Brock undress coat. On 1 July 1811, it was ordered that "All General Officers...are hereafter to wear One Aiguillette on the Right Shoulder instead of Epaulettes." As such, this coat was made no later than some time in 1811 and judging by its cut, no earlier than c. 1805. It took many months before the 1811 order reached foreign stations and even longer before general officers were willing or able to replace existing coats; it is probable that this coat, as with Brock's, was still in service during 1812 and beyond--but now worn with an aiguillette on the right shoulder, in lieu of epaulettes. CONDITION: Although in very good overall condition for its age, it does show evidence of heavy or extended use, as would be expected when worn on campaign: the outer edges of the cuffs are worn through in spots where they would rub against the hands; soiling and sweat staining is evident; the functional buttonholes are somewhat worn from repeated fastening and unfastening; and the superfine cloth coat has its nap worn off in the area where active movement would most stress the fabric (underside of arms, elbows, etc.).