Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

[Bill]

I know a lot of Confererate shell jackets were issued with wood buttons. Were any of the Richmond Depot Shell Jackets issued with wood buttons?

[Brian Baird]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24536

Brian Baird

[Bill]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...ad.php?t=24536

Brian Baird

Thank you Brian

[Jimmayo]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

I know this thread met a quick demise but this post seem to fit here most nicely.

Take a look at a great CS picture on Shannon Pritchard's page:

http://www.oldsouthantiques.com/os1872p1.htm

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

In Mike O'Donnell's latest book, Gettysburg Battlefield Relics & Souvenirs, there is a deep-welled, two-hole wooden button depicted on page 144. The caption states "...wooden button taken home as a souvenir of the fight for the Round Tops by S.F. Murray, 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters. Brian Riel Collection."

Samuel Murray was captain of Co. F (New Hampshire) 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters at Gettysburg. The regiment was first deployed throughout Devil's Den but later moved forward to the area of the Slyder Farm where they encountered the right flank of Longstreet's advance. Murray's company was, according to accounts, hidden among the Slyder farm fences, walls, and outbuildings, but later fell back through the "trough" between Little and Big Round Top. Captain Murray also collected an unfired .69 caliber buck and ball cartridge at some point during the conflict.

If the notation is to be trusted the button could have come from the coat of an Alabamian, as Law's brigade seemed to have had the most contact with Murray's company.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

I dont know where it is, but I have a disc with detailed photos of a RD2 with all wooden buttons. I wish I knew where it was, if memory serves, somewhere in Illinois.

[tr17]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

Oh Brandon, I'm glad you mentioned that. I live in Springfield made an appointment with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in early December and went down and looked at the jacket I think you're talking about again. It was on display in the early 1980's and while I looked at it several times I didn't look at it with the critical eye 30 years in the hobby, graduate degree in history, making period garments, etc. gives me. It was amazing. It is indeed Richmond Depot Style; 6 piece body, 2 piece sleeves, 4 piece collar, epulattes, belt loops made out of a coarse grey jean (although it is mostly faded to a tan color now) and lined in osnaburg. Down the front it has 8 wood scooped two hole buttons very similar to the type MB&S sells and two of the same buttons on the epulattes. It appeared to be all hand stitched. The interesting part is it's background. According to the story give by the ABL Library it was given to a captured Illinois cavalrymen in Shreveport in early 1863 by a "rebel" woman after his capture near Richmond, La. What this particular depot style jacket which we normally attribute to the eastern theater was doing in the Trans-Miss. area is totally beyond me let alone how this Illinois cavalryman came about this jacket. Supposedly he had the jacket throughout his 13 month imprisonment. That's my story. Don't ask about pictures I don't have any.

Tim Ruyle

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

Brandon and Tim,

I have a few pictures of that jacket somewhere on my laptop hard-drive...when it comes back from the shop I'll see if I can find them. I haven't reviewed those in years though, but I seem to remember that it was a machine-sewn dark blue-gray kersey jacket.

Here's a link to another alleged Richmond Depot jacket with what appear to be wooden buttons. http://www.gallarock.com/RDII.html Not sure if this one has been discussed yet.

[tr17]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

Brian,
Back in the "90's Randy Jackson, Joe Covais and I argued quit a bit as to whether this jacket was machined topstitched or not. Randy thought it was, Joe and I didn't think so. When I looked at it in December I looked at the topstitching very closely and still don't believe it was done by machine. I'm pretty sure the stitches are done by hand and sewed extremely well. But who knows.
Tim Ruyle

[Brian Baird]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

Here's one pic I have of the jacket that is in Springfield. I have a bunch more of them on a CD.
Brian Baird

[OldState]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

There are a few bodies wearing RDII coats with wooden buttons in the Rose Farm pics from Gettysburg. I'll post a close up when I get to my home computer.

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

Oh Brandon, I'm glad you mentioned that. I live in Springfield made an appointment with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in early December and went down and looked at the jacket I think you're talking about again. It was on display in the early 1980's and while I looked at it several times I didn't look at it with the critical eye 30 years in the hobby, graduate degree in history, making period garments, etc. gives me. It was amazing. It is indeed Richmond Depot Style; 6 piece body, 2 piece sleeves, 4 piece collar, epulattes, belt loops made out of a coarse grey jean (although it is mostly faded to a tan color now) and lined in osnaburg. Down the front it has 8 wood scooped two hole buttons very similar to the type MB&S sells and two of the same buttons on the epulattes. It appeared to be all hand stitched. The interesting part is it's background. According to the story give by the ABL Library it was given to a captured Illinois cavalrymen in Shreveport in early 1863 by a "rebel" woman after his capture near Richmond, La. What this particular depot style jacket which we normally attribute to the eastern theater was doing in the Trans-Miss. area is totally beyond me let alone how this Illinois cavalryman came about this jacket. Supposedly he had the jacket throughout his 13 month imprisonment. That's my story. Don't ask about pictures I don't have any.

Tim Ruyle

Tim,

I haven't seen the coat in the link below brought up on this thread due to it not having wooden buttons, however it is clearly what we call a type II and it is of non ANV provenance. The site states that it is of trans miss. manufacture, but I'm not sure how they came to that conclusion.

http://www.oldsouthantiques.com/os1581p1.htm

mods, If I violated any rules, you move the post and send me to the guardhouse if need be.

[jasonw]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

I believe this is what closeup was needed. From LOC, Rose farm, July 5, 1863

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Wood buttons on Richmond Depot jackets

That's the one Brian! Gosh I wish I knew where that disk was...