Original Shoulder Boards? Need Help!

[JerseySkilletLicker]

Folks,
I was given these shoulder boards by a friend of the family that said they belinged to her ancestor from the war. Naturally she had little or no information about him. Shown are a couple of pictures here, any leads you could give me would be most appreciated!

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Re: Original Shoulder Boards? Need Help!

Joe,

First off, thanks for the research project.

Given that the button appears to be a NY State Exelsior Button (someone more knowledgable about them needs to chime in if its of the Civil War or Post-Civil War design) and having the numbers 22 placed on them, my first thought is its from a NY Militia or National Guard Unit's pre or post war uniform.

I looked up the 22nd NY Infantry and 22nd NY National Guard in the NY State Military Museum Database...

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic...2ndInfMain.htm

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic...ndNYSMMain.htm

From the histories, the 22nd NY Inf was a two year regiment with no prior militia organization and the 22nd NY National Guard was called up for the Civil War and had a long history afterwards. I would surmise from my research a mile wide and an inch deep that these are probably shoulder boards from the post Civil War 22nd NY National Guard.

[JerseySkilletLicker]

Re: Original Shoulder Boards? Need Help!

Thanks Peter, I believe the soldier in question was a New Yorker. Maybe more will come to light.

Joe

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Original Shoulder Boards? Need Help!

Most likely a wartime production button, but that's all I can glean from looking at the pictures.

The New York DMNA page lists some bibliographic references, including a Frederick Todd article and a regimental history. Consulting those could open some doors.