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bone buttons on shell jackets?

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  • bone buttons on shell jackets?

    Were bone buttons on confederate shell jackets common? I have not seen any period photographs of a jacket that has them. Then again, I haven't seen any period photographs of a jacket that has wood buttons either, which according to research was very common. If anyone has any insight on this, please fill me in. Charles Weatherford

  • #2
    Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

    Originally posted by okiereb
    ... I haven't seen any period photographs of a jacket that has wood buttons either, which according to research was very common.
    Here's your wood buttons, from "View near the Emmitsburg Road on Battlefield of Gettysburg." by Alexander Gardner.





    Jason R. Wickersty
    http://www.newblazingstarpress.com

    Received. “How now about the fifth and sixth guns?”
    Sent. “The sixth gun is the bully boy.”
    Received. “Can you give it any directions to make it more bully?”
    Sent. “Last shot was little to the right.”
    Received. “Fearfully hot here. Several men sunstruck. Bullets whiz like fun. Have ceased firing for awhile, the guns are so hot."

    - O.R.s, Series 1, Volume 26, Part 1, pg 86.

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    • #3
      Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

      Looks like a bone or maybe tin button that is holding on the same man's "poor boy" suspenders. Note the small ball or dome buttons on the vest of the body next to him. Note also the number of what appear to be plain shirts and the tiny check pattern of the shirt on the one soldier.

      Jason this is great stuff...you and Les Jensen ought to sit down and write an update to his book using your techniques. Lots more stuff to learn.
      Originally posted by Thehos Gendar
      Here's your wood buttons, from "View near the Emmitsburg Road on Battlefield of Gettysburg." by Alexander Gardner.





      Soli Deo Gloria
      Doug Cooper

      "The past is never dead. It's not even past." William Faulkner

      Please support the CWT at www.civilwar.org

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      • #4
        Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

        My question is- are they for sure wood? I saw on ebay about 3 months ago some period gutta percha buttons shaped identical to the dish shaped wood buttons.
        any thoughts?
        ewtaylor
        bluegrass rifles
        [FONT="Book Antiqua"]Everett Taylor[/FONT]

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        • #5
          Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

          The buttons in the photograph conform to the exact type I have seen on CS trousers (Mitchell), "Mystery Jackets", and in a couple of "Commutation" jackets. But, to the original point I have not seen bone buttons on a jacket but the J.B. MacRae N.C. State issue jacket (NC MOH) had shell buttons. This is in all likelyhood and oddity but none the less at least one soldier did use these as ersatz jacket buttons.

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          • #6
            Re: buttons

            Check out this article on the "4 Button Jacket" and composite buttons:



            AND

            Before it's refit the NPS Vistors Center at Manassas had a 'Type III' Richmond style jacket made from blue/gray kersey with wooden dish type buttons. Since, I don't know where that jacket ended up . . .
            Last edited by RyanBWeddle; 01-20-2004, 12:07 PM.
            Ryan B.Weddle

            7th New York State Militia

            "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes" - Henry David Thoreau

            "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country."
            – George Washington , 1789

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            • #7
              Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

              A few years back, the "Type III" w/ wooden buttons was at Petersburg, but was not on display.
              I don't believe that the buttons on the MacRae jacket are considered original to that garment.
              [SIZE=1]Neal W. Sexton[/SIZE]

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              • #8
                Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

                Neal is correct- the shell buttons on the McRae jacket were post war additions. The original buttons had been cut off and the old thread "tails" were left in place when the shell buttons were tacked on. When the jacket was prepared for the current civil war exhibit at NCMOH, the shell buttons were removed.

                Regards,

                Dan Brennan

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                • #9
                  Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

                  The wood buttons on the "mystery jacket" at Gettysburg are also postwar additions.
                  Robert Johnson

                  "Them fellers out thar you ar goin up against, ain't none of the blue-bellied, white-livered Yanks and sassidge-eatin'forrin' hirelin's you have in Virginny that run atthe snap of a cap - they're Western fellers, an' they'll mighty quick give you a bellyful o' fightin."



                  In memory of: William Garry Co.H 5th USCC KIA 10/2/64 Saltville VA.

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                  • #10
                    Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

                    One needs only to check Greg Mast's "State Troops and Volunteers" to see dozens of photos of NC troops wearing RD Type II's with these same type wooden buttons. And then there is the report of the Savannah QM in 11/63 having on hand Richmond jackets with wooden buttons, which he described as "inferior articles" compared to jackets of English cloth.

                    Bob Williams
                    Bob Williams
                    26th North Carolina Troops
                    Blogsite: http://26nc.org/blog/

                    As [one of our cavalry] passed by, the general halted him and inquired "what part of the army he belonged to." "I don't belong to the army, I belong to the cavalry." "That's a fact," says [the general], "you can pass on." Silas Grisamore, 18th Louisiana

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                    • #11
                      Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

                      I did always wonder about the MacRae jacket's buttons, always seemed odd. However, it seems more odd that in the post-war period with the ease of acquiring better buttons they were simply replaced with inferior shell buttons.

                      Here is something interesting on some Columbus made wooden buttons. "Button Factory.- We saw some neat and strong wooden buttons, the other day which we understand were made by Mr. A.D. Brown at the Carter factory of this city. They appeared as strong as bone buttons and equally well finished." Weekly Columbus Ga. Enquirer 11-25-1862 p. 3

                      I believe the Mystery Jacket in the Smithsonian is the primary example with originally issued wooden buttons. Interestingly enough there are photos of CS POW's wearing US made uniforms with wooden buttons, they are slightly different than their CS made counterparts. Phil Katcher's "Complete Civil War" has one of these pictured on p. 119.

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                      • #12
                        Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

                        Originally posted by roundshot
                        One needs only to check Greg Mast's "State Troops and Volunteers" to see dozens of photos of NC troops wearing RD Type II's with these same type wooden buttons. And then there is the report of the Savannah QM in 11/63 having on hand Richmond jackets with wooden buttons, which he described as "inferior articles" compared to jackets of English cloth.

                        Bob Williams

                        Bob

                        Do you have the publishing info on this? Is it still in print?

                        Thanks.
                        Robert Johnson

                        "Them fellers out thar you ar goin up against, ain't none of the blue-bellied, white-livered Yanks and sassidge-eatin'forrin' hirelin's you have in Virginny that run atthe snap of a cap - they're Western fellers, an' they'll mighty quick give you a bellyful o' fightin."



                        In memory of: William Garry Co.H 5th USCC KIA 10/2/64 Saltville VA.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

                          Originally posted by hireddutchcutthroat
                          The wood buttons on the "mystery jacket" at Gettysburg are also postwar additions.

                          Robert:

                          To which jacket at G'burg are you referring? I'd assume that it is something other than the shell jacket and matching trousers in jeans, of the so-called Dept. of Ala. style, on display via the full mannequin. That "suit" bears these recessed-center wood buttons throughout, all of which are absolutely on the original thread. (Given its pristine condition, and what is known of its origin, I believe it was taken as a souveneir directly from depot storage.)

                          Thus, as noted, I'm interpreting that you're commenting on a different jacket but cannot recall which it would be.

                          Thanks.

                          Cordially,

                          Bob McDonald
                          Bob McDonald

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                          • #14
                            Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

                            "And then there is the report of the Savannah QM in 11/63 having on hand Richmond jackets with wooden buttons, which he described as "inferior articles" compared to jackets of English cloth. "

                            This citation might be misleading. We puzzled over it for awhile after finding it in Savannah. Several believe the Richmond jackets referred to here might be from Richmond Co. Georgia, a huge textile producer during war, both looms and finished goods. Anyone have evidence of clothing coming South from Richmond, VA to Georgia?

                            Greg Starbuck
                            The brave respect the brave. The brave
                            Respect the dead; but you -- you draw
                            That ancient blade, the ass's jaw,
                            And shake it o'er a hero's grave.


                            Herman Melville

                            http://www.historicsandusky.org

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                            • #15
                              Re: bone buttons on shell jackets?

                              Originally posted by hireddutchcutthroat
                              Bob

                              Do you have the publishing info on this? Is it still in print?

                              Thanks.

                              Robert-

                              I believe that the Mast book is still in print and should be available from the Historical publications section here in Raleigh.

                              Historic Publications Section
                              Division of Archives & History
                              NC Dept. of Cultural Resources
                              MSC 4622
                              120 West Lane St.
                              Raleigh, NC 27699-4622

                              Phone: 919-733-7442

                              I cannot reccomend the Mast book enough- it has been a tremendous study aid for me, and a great historical resource.

                              Regards,

                              Dan Brennan
                              Last edited by LocalOaf; 01-21-2004, 08:40 AM.

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