Brigadier General shoulder straps with two stars. Composed of black felt with heavy gold bullion borders trimmed on their inner/outer edges with jaceron. Both straps feature embroidered silver bullion star devices. Black silk backing.  Each 4 x 1 1/4 in. 

Provenance: Bob Trownsell Collection

A set of shoulder straps belonging to General Ethan Hitchcock (1798-1870).

An 1817 graduate of West Point, Hitchcock served in the Mexican-American and Seminole Wars, achieving the ranks of brevet colonel and brigadier general for gallantry. He resigned his commission in 1855 due to personal differences with Secretary of War Jefferson Davis.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Hitchcock re-entered the Army and was appointed Major General of Volunteers. He served in Washington on the Commission for the Exchange of Prisoners. During his service in the capital, he became a military advisor and close personal friend of President Lincoln.

After the war, Hitchcock continued his service in the Army on the Pacific Coast but resigned in 1867 due to ill health.

These boards were worn and visible in a portrait of Hitchcock captured by Thomas Easterly, which is held in the collections of the Missouri History Museum (N17208).

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Mexican War, Mexican-American War, Seminole Wars, Florida Wars] [West Point, United States Military Academy at West Point] [Militaria, Accouterment, Equipment, Uniforms]