Infrantry <I> buttons

[ericmaggard]

Did the any federal units wear the I for Infantry buttons? How popular were these I buttons in the south?

[Jimmayo]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

I assume you are talking about Eagle I buttons. The common Fed 4 button enlisted blouse buttons were general service buttons with no letter in the shield and were the common button for that garmet. The eagle I button was a better qualitity button which if used in any quantity, would increase the cost of a contracted blouse. That is not saying that some may have been issued with the eagle I buttons for reasons such as not enough GS buttons on hand.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

If you are speaking of the Federal infantry officer buttons, I have viewed two extant garments and seen photos of a third that were issued with this style of button. One was an infantry enlisted man's frock coat identified to an Ohio soldier and the other was a U.S. Sharpshooter's frock coat. Granted, the sharpshooter frock coat had rubber officer "I" buttons but it still falls within the realm of arsenal-made issue uniforms. Both of these garments had the buttons attached before the interior facing was put into place, thus leading me to the conclusion that they were attached before the frocks were completed and later issued.

The third garment was an infantry frock identified to a soldier in a U.S.C.T. regiment but since I have not seen images of the interior I cannot comment if they were original to the coat.

Brian White
Wambaugh, White, & Co.

[Mark Carey]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

As far as the Eagle I buttons being used in the federal world all I can tell you is some of the soldiers if they could aquire the eagle I buttons they would sometimes replace their regular coat buttons with the "I buttons"

Mark Carey
-64th Ohio-
-Devils own mess-

[JimKindred]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

As far as the Eagle I buttons being used in the federal world all I can tell you is some of the soldiers if they could aquire the eagle I buttons they would sometimes replace their regular coat buttons with the "I buttons"

Mark,

A little documentation to go along with your statement would be appreciated on the AC.

[Spongebucket]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

Prior to the War of 1861, the US Army issued garments with buttons with the branch of service in them. These were not the officer size or grade. You can see some "I", "D", and "A" buttons. This is probably based on the fact that the army was issueing frock coats as the main garment and using up the supply of shell jackets left from the Mexican War. Another neat note speaking of the Mex. War and related to Nick's question of more "I" than others....a note to the QM during the conflict stated that all the caps will have the white metal buttons (those were the 1821 Infantry buttons) except dragoons. Now it is also to make note that the artillery buttons of that time were yellow metal. So, during the '61 conflict, there may have been more cap sized "I"s than other branches....there were a lot more of them. Just my 2pennies.
Joe Blunt

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

Hallo!

An interesting question... the 1861 regulations called for the post 1851 regulation buttons to continue with the branch of service letters on officer's buttons (1464) but not enlistedmen (1467) but the "supply" or the "fashion" seems to have continued on in some incidents.

I recall some 1872 pattern (1872-1881) infantry officer's dress caps having the cap "I" buttons.

On the other hand, the Army likes to use things up.. some Reno-Benteen casualties from June of 1876 were excavated with the nine dress coat "I" buttons from the dress coats with the skirts removed they were issued.

Curt

[ericmaggard]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

Great Reply gentleman and ladies. I am specifically asking about the I buttons to see if these would be accurate to place on my Union 9 button shell jacket. I know that several KY units were issued shell jackets but I don't know if the "I" buttons would be accurate.

Regards,

[Mark Carey]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

Mark,

A little documentation to go along with your statement would be appreciated on the AC.

Columbia Rifles - The Compendeum II

Mark Carey

[JimKindred]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

Mark,

Thank you for providing that. Unlike some other forums we like for posters to provide documentation along with their comments.

[Adjutant]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

Mr. Maggard,

It seems you mean the block I buttons as used common on Confederate uniforms. This would be a block capital I set on the face of the button. Correct?

If so I have seen no Federal uniforms with this style of button. As this was a style created by the Confederate government for use on purely Confederate uniforms (I know, it's a redundant statement) there would be no issue US garments with these buttons. While there may have been some US soldiers who got their hands on these buttons as souvenirs, I cannot imagine this was common.

The Eagle button with I in the shield is, however, common on Confederate uniforms, particularly early in the war. I had made a spreadsheet of all the uniforms in the MOC and many had this style of button (officer and enlisted) but don't have the numbers with me.

In short, eagle I is appropriate for either, block I seems strictly CS. I hope this helps.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

Mr. Maggard: Just for clearity

Left picture, CS block I with EM Lewis backmark

Right picture, US Staff button and 3 eagle I buttons

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

Hallo!

"Some soldiers replaced the buttons on their coats. In one case, the owner substituted officer-style buttons that had the "I" in the eagle's shield. In two other cases, state buttons were substituted for the federal ones.'

CRRC II, "Enlisted Men's Frock Coats," page 39

Without a discussion of "one case" becoming "some..." ;) :) :)
Just a-funnin'...

Curt

[ericmaggard]

Re: Infrantry <I> buttons

thanks for the clarity Jimmao and Andrew Dangel and Great attachments that clarifies the issue.

Much appreciated!