Circa 1865-1866 Distinctive NY Zouave Uniform

Circa 1865-1866 Distinctive Uniform of New York's Famed Hawkins Zouaves. Consists of the jacket, fez, vest, sash, trousers and gaiters belonging to Sgt. Frank Hardley of Co. A. The dark blue jacket is trimmed in red worsted tape and red edging along collar, cuffs, seams and front, with red tombeau on each chest in the classic French style. Each cuff retains its eleven decorative ball buttons and is closed by a hook-and-eye arrangement. Above each cuff are sewn three red chevrons, points up, indicating Hardley's rank. A brass shield-shaped closure device is in place at the throat. The inside of the garment is clearly marked in ink "F. Hardley/ Co. A/35," reflecting the sergeant's company number. Stained from many hard campaigns, the interior itself has great character and is complete and sound. The matching dark blue vest is trimmed on the collar and down the front in red worsted tape, with 27 of its 28 original small ball buttons still in place. The false-front garment closes with three buttons on the side. Nicely inked on the back is "Sg[t] F. Hardley/ Co. A." The spacious, pleated dark blue trousers are trimmed down the outside of each leg in the same narrow red piping as the jacket, with loops of decorative red piping around each pocket. The back vent is belted and the wide legs are gathered at the cuffs and close with common tin buttons. In the waistband is inscribed in ink "Frank Hardley." The red fez is complete with its dark blue rough woolen tassel suspended nearly 18" from the crown. Unlined, as correct, the headgear still has remnants of its yellow binding in place. With the set is the original red muslin sash which, when unfolded, measures approximately 18" x 8'. Faintly but clearly inked on one end is "F. Hardley/ Co.A No. 35." The set is completed by the original short gaiters made of white canvas with leather reinforcements around the tops and at the side openings. Dirty and showing period wear, they are very sound with the five original ball closure buttons, identical to those on the other uniform pieces, still in place. Only the leather on the buckles sewn to the sides might be mid-20th Century replacements done for display purposes. Overall, the set is in excellent condition with negligible mothing and some seam openings that do not detract in any way from either its appearance or value. Frank Hardley joined Col. Rush Hawkins' zouave regiment at the age of 22 on April 22, 1861 and rose to the rank of sergeant a year later. He saw service in every major engagement of this redoubtable unit including Roanoke Island, South Mountain and Antietam where it lost 233 killed, wounded and missing. Unlike many other early-war zouave units that discarded their colorful garb during the realities of service in the field, Hawkins Zouaves proudly wore their distinctive uniforms throughout their two-year term of service. An absolutely gorgeous and extremely rare Civil War associated uniform set as worn by members of this famed regiment in the New York National Guard, subsequent to the expiration of their term of volunteer service.

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