American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Featuring Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana & Historical Documents

Scarce Union Missouri cavalryman's jacket modified with Zouave style V-neck collar and custom-trimmed with bright yellow narrow cording at cuffs and on front, forming a semi-regulation rack pattern with looped cloverleaf ends. Seven-button front with three-button non-functional cuffs (one button missing on left cuff). Sleeves lined with white cotton. Body lined with distinctive orange plaid that suggests jacket may have been an early product of Schuykill Arsenal which did at times use colorful, patterned material for jacket linings.
 
Provenance: Donated by William Bopp's grandson, Richard Bopp, to a Wisconsin museum ca 1950s, then deaccessioned and offered at auction in Missouri. Later purchased by James C. Frasca and sold with accompanying documentation to Chris Nelson ca 2003 or after.  From Nelson to current consignor.

Coat with scattered mothing and wear, small tears along seems, some re-sewn eagle buttons. Overall good condition.

[With:] Documentation identifying the jacket to William Bopp (1842-1914) and two copy photographs of an aged Bopp, one in which he wears his GAR medals and another in which he wears the jacket offered here.

Bopp enlisted in April 1862 as a private in Company I of the 11th Missouri State Militia Cavalry but on consolidation of the unit, was transferred to Company E of the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry as a bugler. He served three years with his regiment throughout Missouri and Arkansas and was mustered out in April 1865. The Missouri State Militia was a federally funded state militia which began service in 1862 and whose primary purpose was to conduct offensive operations against Confederate guerrillas and recruiters, while also repelling raids by regular Confederate forces.