High quality post-1870 two-piece uniform that consists of a gray worsted shell jacket and matching trousers. The jacket has seven gilt metal buttons displaying the seal of the state of Tennessee with four matching cuff buttons (two on each sleeve). The buttons are in excellent shape and were manufactured by Pettibone of Cincinnati, OH. The short stand collar and upswept cuffs are trimmed with teal colored flannel and the black cloth interior with pinstripe silk sleeve linings are in excellent condition. The trousers have matching teal stripes down the legs and a full complement of gilt finished fly and suspender buttons. Both the jacket and trousers are in excellent condition with only some very minor age discoloration and a few negligible sewn repairs. An original Southern Cross of Honor medal is pinned to the left breast of the jacket engraved with the recipient's name across the top bar: “J. P. Francis, Co. I 41 Reg. Tenn. Vols.” John P. Francis of Franklin County, TN, enlisted on November 26, 1861, and mustered into Co. I, 41st Regiment of Tennessee Infantry. Francis was captured in December of 1864 and kept as a prisoner of war, first at the military prison at Louisville and later at Camp Douglas in Illinois. He was paroled in March of 1865 and transferred to Point Lookout for eventual exchange and repatriation after swearing an oath of allegiance to the United States on June 26, 1865, just prior to his release. Included with the uniform is a large binder of information concerning Francis and the 41st Tennessee, as well as a small handwritten note identifying the uniform as belonging to John P. Francis. This is a splendid United Confederate Veterans uniform and belonged to a long serving Confederate soldier who survived to the end of the war.
