Late Civil War United States Union Officer's Fatigue Uniform belonging to Colonel William G. Rankin, originally Captain of the 13th Infantry Regiment during the Civil War and then Colonel during the American-Indian Wars and founder of Fort Buford in the Dakota Territory, including one (1) jacket or coat and one (1) vest, 2 items total. Both items are primarily constructed of dark navy blue wool. 1st item: Late Civil War era single-breasted sack coat or jacket retains four brass buttons, 2-piece construction, all depicting the Great Seal of the United States, including one (1) G.W. Simmons and Son, Boston, MA, one (1) Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, CT, two (2) unmarked, with two (2) sewn-on rectangular shoulder straps depicting the Great Seal of the United States rendered in buillon stitching on velvet surrounded by bullion loops, dark brown twill lining to body and off white silk lining to sleeves. 31" H x 22 1/2" W. Note: inside one of the pockets is a scrap of funerary black crepe, suggesting this coat was worn to a funeral. 2nd item: Indian War period single-breasted sack vest or waistcoat with a false lapel, a black cotton back and belt with a metal buckle, retains five (5) brass buttons, 2-piece construction, all depicting the Great Seal of the United States, including one (1) Horstmann, Philadelphia, PA, one (1) Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, CT, one (1) Waterbury Button Company, one (1) D. Evans and Company, Attleboro, MA, and one (1) unmarked, off white silk lining to body, false lapel with a brown twill lining. Initalled "WR…" to inner breast pocket. 19 1/2" H x 19 1/4" W. Biography: William G. Rankin of Pennsylvania first appeared in the United States Military Records on May 14, 1861, when he was appointed as Captain of the 13th Infantry Regiment, commanded by General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891) as colonel of the regiment and served in Headquarters, Military Division of Mississippi. While Rankin officially remained in the position of Captain, he was honored on March 13, 1865 for "faithful service during the war," and received two Brevetted promotions, including Brevet Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, before the war's end. He was transferred to the 31st Infantry Regiment in September 1866 and then back to the 13th Infantry Regiment in July 1869. During his post-war years, Rankin was once again Brevetted as a full Colonel in the U.S. Army under Sherman's command during the American-Indian Wars. In 1866, he founded and commanded Fort Buford in the Dakota Territory along the Oregon Trail. During the construction period, the fort was attacked by elements of the Sioux Nation. As Rankin and the other members of his regiment were isolated and unable to send out mail or telegrams to report the garrison's status, newspapers inadvertently created the story of the "Fort Buford Massacre" in which the entire garrison, including Rankin's wife, was believed to have been massacred. Ultimately, this story was proved to be false due to Rankin's eventual correspondence to the war department. Rankin left the service due to re-organization of the Amry and was discharged in December 1870, under Section 3 of the Act approved on July 15, 1870. (source: adapted from research information provided by the consignor).

PROVENANCE: Private Virginia Collection, purchased by the consignor from dealer/collector John Hudson in Nashville, TN in the 1970s.

CONDITION: Both items with overall staining, fraying, fading, holes, areas of loss to stitching, to be expected from age and manner of use. Some buttons with dents. Top brass button on coat is not present. Vest has some added linen field modifications/alterations to back and a corp badge missing at the lapel.