Epaulet

Object Name:

Epaulet

Object ID:

2016.036.02

Date:

1861-1862

Description:

A-B. Pair of epaulets. Worn by General Fitz-John Porter (1822-1901) during Civil War. Each shoulder piece covered with gold silk striped fabric. Cast gilded brass crescent on edge, with gold gadrooned gold wire band around edge. A single star and stud with eagle on each. Gilded wire fringe suspended from outside end. Red patent leather and cotton velvet interior lining. Brass slot and clip on underside.
A. Clip marked "RIGHT".
B. Clip marked "LEFT".

C. Epaulet case. Japanned rectangular tin box with rounded corners and hinged top. 9.3" wide x 6.5" deep x 6.2" high. Hinged handle on top and hinged clasp on front. Interior lined with red cotton fabric. Oval tin form in center with removable sloped cover. Printed in black on red paper mounted on top of cover: "TO / ADJUST THE EPAULETS / IN THE / AIR TIGHT CASE / Raise the Wire Frame put One to / the RIGHT then replace the Frame / for the reception of the other. / NO PAD OR PAPER REQUIRED. /1854." Moveable wire and oval cotton velvet divider originally attached to interior rim.

Material:

Metal
Gold
Brass
Leather
Tin
Paper

Dimensions:

H-4.5 W-6 L-7.8 inches

Provenance:

These epaulets and other uniform accessories descended from General Porter to his son, Holbrook Fitz-John Porter (1858-1939), then to his grandson, Fitz-John Porter (1889-1973), then to his great-granddaughter Peggy Porter Poole (1916-2014), then to his great-great-grandson, David Dixon Porter Poole, who gave them to a cousin, the donor, David Cornell Adams.

Fitz-John Porter was born in Portsmouth, NH, on August 31, 1822, the son of Captain John and Eliza Chauncy (Clarke) Porter. He was the nephew of War of 1812 naval hero Commodore David Porter (1780-1843) and the cousin of Civil War naval hero David D. Porter (1813-1891). Porter attended private schools and graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1845. He went on to serve in Mexican-American War and was an artillery and cavalry instructor at West Point.

When the Civil War began, Porter was commissioned a colonel in the 15th U.S. Infantry but was soon promoted to brigadier general and placed in command of a division of the Army of the Potomac. On July 4, 1862, in recognition of his admirable performance as commander of V Corps during the Peninsula Campaign, Porter was promoted to major general of volunteers. Porter's corps was then sent to reinforce Major General John Pope's Army of Virginia. Porter was openly hostile toward Pope, so when the two generals repeatedly clashed over the disposition of troops at the Second Battle of Manassas, and the battle ended in disaster, Porter was court martialed, found guilty of disobedience and misconduct, and was dismissed from the army on January 21, 1863.

Credit Line:

Gift of Deborah Stewart Adams and David Cornell Adams, in honor of Peggy Porter Poole and David Dixon Porter Poole

People:

Porter, Fitz-John (1822-1901)

Subjects:

Civil War, Military uniforms, Stars