August 18 & 19, 2020 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/18/2020
A very rare pair of Civil War "Major-General-Commanding-the-Army" shoulder straps. This rank and insignia - using the 2 stars of a Major General with a third, larger star between - came into use in 1855 to distinguish the senior general in overall command of the army and was first awarded to Winfield Scott. The number of officers entitled to wear it during the period was extremely limited: generals Scott, McClellan, Halleck, and Grant. Grant, in fact, was given the rank of Lieutenant General and General Commanding the Armies by Lincoln in March 1864, but used this insignia of "Major General Commanding" until the new insignia using 4 stars was implemented in 1866. These straps conform to the standard wartime construction, using an open back, black velvet base to signify staff and general officers, gilt bullion borders with gilt jaceron edging wire inside and out. The silver embroidered stars are raised high and prominent, as befits the rank. The borders are plain by comparison, using a single border that avoids alternating dead and bright bullion. The wartime nature of the straps and their avoidance of ostentation suggest Grant as the owner and a time-frame of 1864-1865. Several other sets of Grant straps survive, including a rather fancier version of these. The straps measure 1-3/4" by 2-1/4" with interiors of 7/8" by 3-1/2". The smaller stars measure 5/8" horizontal tip to tip. The larger measures 7/8". CONDITION: Excellent. Slight wear to nap of black velvet on one inner corner. Slight lifting to one end of jaceron wire on outer short border. Black velvet base trimmed at exterior edges. Gold bullion borders have oxidized to a muted silver similar to the stars. The jaceron wire retains its gilt. SR
Item Dimensions: 1 - 3/4" x 2 - 1/4".
Paperwork
Assorted internet printouts