[MILITIA]. Frock coat and Model 1851 shako with original box identified to Massachusetts Militia Brigadier General Eliab Ward.

Navy blue double-breasted frock coat with velvet-lined, standing collar and unmatched soldier straps. Coat buttons spaced in four sets of twos as per regulations for brigadier general officers. Buttons specific to the Massachusetts volunteer militia design, ca 1840s-1850s, with an arm holding an unsheathed, curved sword on a lined field encircled by the words "Mass. Volunteer Militia" and a circle of stars. Backmark of "R & W Robinson / Makers / Attleborough Mass." Crudely made brigadier general straps with a varying shade of navy blue on each side, single gold bullion border, and a single star. Straps are in poor condition and likely are not original to the coat. Functional cuffs each with four "Mass. Volunteer Militia" cuff buttons. Skirt approx. 17 1/2 in. to rough edge. Sleeves approx. 7 in. width. Four coat-sized buttons on rear vent at waist and at tails. Partially lined interior with black stitched panels at sides under armpits, and white cotton lined sleeves. One interior left breast pocket and two lined pockets at the tails. Handwritten ink identification under the collar lining on handsewn tag reads "E. Ward." Coat with scattered mothing, wear, and light soil. Interior side panel lining with heavy wear and deterioration. Overall coat in good condition given use and age.

[With:] Visor to crown 6 in. 1851 pattern dark blue wool shako with tarred leather visor and chinstrap with 10 mm diam. brass Massachusetts militia buttons reading "Mass. Volunteer Militia" surrounding an arm holding a sword and surrounded by stars, elastic strap, black leather sweatband, and red polished cotton lining (mothing, scuffs to visor);  overall length 7 1/2 in., acorn height 3 1/2 in. gold bullion acorn "plume" with brass pins with 1 3/4 x 2 3/8 in. 1851 pattern gold bullion left-facing Federal eagle, suspended from acorn by brass pin; approx. width 3 3/8 in. gold bullion letters reading "2d Brig / MVM" surrounded by a laurel wreath. Gilt manufacturer's label to crown lining: "Cor. Court & Washington Sts. / Boston / Bent & Bush / Lowell / No. 50 Central Street."

[Also with:] 9 x 8 3/4 x 12 in. original yellow paper-covered pasteboard hat box (general wear, some paper loss, separations at edges.) Paper label to box lid: "From / Bent & Bush's / Fashionable / Hat Establishment, / Corner of Court & Washington Streets, / Boston.  / N. B. All the different Styles and Qualities of / Ladies' Dress & Fancy Furs / in their Season. / For M" with the name written in pencil: "Gen. Ward." 

Eliab Ward (1805-1892), son of General Ephraim Ward, was born in Carver, Massachusetts. He was an 1831 graduate of Amherst College and, after reading the law with Jacob. H. Loud of Plymouth, MA, was admitted to the bar in 1836 thereafter practicing in Middleborough, MA. He engaged in politics serving at the local level as town officer and postmaster, and as both a Massachusetts state representative and state senator. Following in the footsteps of his father, he entered military service. For approximately eighteen years he served with the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, first as Lieut. Col. 3rd MA, 1843-1844, then as Colonel 3rd MA, 1844-1850, then attaining the rank of Brigadier General of the 3rd Regiment of Light Infantry in the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division in April 1850. He held this rank until discharge in October 1855. 


The Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann