US638.)SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR US.ARMY CAVALRY NAME-IDENTIFED GROUPING: consists of this cavalryman's tunic, gloves and campaign hat. Belonged to corporal Benjamin Kinney who served with the 7th US Cavalry and was posted at Fort Grant, Arizona Territory and then shipped out for Cuba 1899. Comes with photocopied paperwork detailing all aspects of this man's service. Shows that he enlisted at Denver, Colorado on 'May 19th, 1898'. Shows too that he was inducted into the '7th Regiment of Cavalry'. He was discharged at 'Fort Oglethorpe, GA Sept 28th, 1905'. Served with the 12th US Cavalry too. The 7th US Cavalry departed Savannah, GA January 1899 and arrived at Havana, Cuba (Camp Columbia....M Company/7th US Cavalry). He then re-enlisted at New Orleans and was discharged from the US 21st Infantry Regiment in 1905. His tunic is 4-pocket khaki with gold finished American eagle buttons which are removable for laundering (have cotter pins on the backs). With buttoned shoulder straps; upper pockets are pleated while the lower ones are cargo type....all four with buttoned flaps. Rank chevrons are yellow woolen felt on khaki underlay and are machine sewn on. At lower sleeves are horizontal stripes for service in both the cavalry (yellow woolen felt) and infantry (above with white center bar). Tunic soiling from use, no rips nor any holes. His Spanish-American War campaign hat (itself easily worth over $1k!...try finding one of these) is salty and worn. Just radiates originality. With yellow cap cord for cavalry, wear and age. Sides of campaign hat show that typical and correct salt and pepper shaker ventilation holes. At front is US Army cap device - screw-back -- for M Company/7th US Cavalry. Nice. Interesting to note that corporal Kinney placed a safety razor blade behind this cavalry cap device. It's been there since the beginning of time. At first I thought it was a metal plate but upon closer examination I have noted that it's a safety razor blade. No doubt for self-defense if and when needed. The blade is ancient and if you examine it closing the statement on it states that it's not to be 'honed or strapped' (that is, not to be sharpened). Inside of hat has brown leather sweat band that shows wear and age, salty. Stitching is strong. Has its original brown leather chin strap, intact. Included too are his cavalryman's leather gloves. These show the expected wear and age from use but are soft and supple and intact. One is hand inscribed with ancient india ink 'Government Issue 1905 to Corporal Kinny, B.of 12 Cavalry, Ft Oglethorpe, FA'. EXC++++

This group was acquired from the 6th US Cavalry Museum at Chattanooga, TN when the museum was disposing of many donations that were unrelated to the collection. The three items were appraised at a value of $3,000.