Description:

Lee Robert

Robert E. Lee's Lapel Fragment, with Outstanding Provenance

 

Fabric fragment accompanied by a handwritten oak tag label inscribed: "Cut from under the lapel of the coat of Genl. R.E. Lee." The triangular fragment appears to be made of Cadet Gray colored wool. The color of the cloth is vivid, although the fragment has several holes. Measures approximately 1" x 1.25". This fabric came from the collection of the Luray Museum of Luray, Virginia.

 

Based on the fragment's color and material, it is likely that it came from one of Lee's military uniforms. Lee wore a variety of uniforms during the Civil War, but he apparently preferred the bluish-gray color Cadet Gray. The general typically wore 3-piece uniforms comprised of a double-breasted frock coat, vest, and trousers. Sleeves were sometimes plain or elaborately embroidered with looping gold flat braid. Lee's collars exemplified either notched (military) or laydown (civilian) styles, and were often decorated with stars or wreaths. Civil War photographer Mathew Brady photographed Lee moments before he surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Lee's "Surrender Uniform" can be seen today at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia. Both the Maryland and Virginia Historical Societies, as well as the National Park Service's Arlington House, have preserved full uniforms and apparel accessories belonging to Lee.

 

Hailing from a Virginia family with a prestigious Revolutionary War record, Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) graduated second in his 1829 class at West Point. He served in the United States Corps of Engineers working on coastal fortifications throughout the 1830s and up until the Mexican War. During the 1846-47 conflict, Lee served as an aide-de-camp to General Winfield Scott. Lee returned to West Point between 1852-1855 where he served as superintendent of the military academy. Lee’s reputation for military competency and strategy was so well-established by April 1861 that he was Abraham Lincoln’s first choice to command the Union Army. Instead, Lee accepted a commission in the Confederate Army, eventually commanding the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee saw action at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvile, and Gettysburg, often riding on his famous grey horse Traveller.

 

The Luray Museum of Luray, Virginia was started by town resident Mary "Mollie" Zeiler Zerkle (1845-1933), who safeguarded artifacts of mostly local interest. According to family history, nineteen-year-old "Mollie" nursed Union soldiers after the 1864 Battle of New Market. She married Lemuel Zerkle, and the two lived in New Market, Virginia until 1890. That year, the family relocated to Luray, fourteen miles east across the Massanutten Mountain range, where Lemuel had secured a post as Superintendent of Luray Caverns. Local historian Daniel Vaughn reported that the museum operated between 1938-1960, after which point the collection was sold at auction.

 

Gene H. Baber of Fisherville, Virginia was an avid antique collector. His collection included everything from Civil War letters to epaulettes, from early frakturs to vintage wind-up toys.

 

Provenance: Estate of Gene H. Baber, Fishersville, Virginia; Collection of Mary "Mollie" Zeiler Zerkle and Lemuel Zerkle, Luray Museum, Luray, Virginia

 

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