Military jacket

C. Webb

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The initials on the epaulettes of this naval jacket stand for Medical Service. The title was replaced in 1872 with M.D. (Medical Department). The length on the epaulettes distinguishes rank, in this case the 2.5-inch length indicates the rank of assistant surgeon. This style of coat was introduced in 1832 and retained its identical form and materials throughout the Civil War. It was worn by Leonard C. McPhail in about 1862.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art