Variant Sack

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Variant Sack

the coat is a plain old 5 button sack with a exterior pocket

I don't think 'plain old' is a good description of this.... this is a rarity... for sure.

Now there are two things were looking at here:

The Sgt Chevrons on his upper arms, are definate NCO chevrons. They appear to be directly applied to the coat, (i.e., no backing was used during construction of these chevrons), this also points to a non-issue blouse, since these would have had to have been individually applied by a skilled party.

The "service/veterans" stripe is on the forearm, near the wrist. I guess I am not being clear in my terms. Indeed, this is a probably a 'veteran' stripe. I guess I had my terms crossed, as I use them interchange-ablly in my discussions... :confused_

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Variant Sack

I don't think 'plain old' is a good description of this.... this is a rarity... for sure.

Now there are two things were looking at here:

The Sgt Chevrons on his upper arms, are definate NCO chevrons. They appear to be directly applied to the coat, (i.e., no backing was used during construction of these chevrons), this also points to a non-issue blouse, since these would have had to have been individually applied by a skilled party.

The "service/veterans" stripe is on the forearm, near the wrist. I guess I am not being clear in my terms. Indeed, this is a probably a 'veteran' stripe. I guess I had my terms crossed, as I use them interchange-ablly in my discussions... :confused_

I can't see chevrons in any shot, can you post one of your great close-ups.

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Variant Sack

Here we go:

The Sergeant Chevrons are circled in RED.

The Veteran Stripes are 'circled' in Tuqouise.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Variant Sack

Here we go:

The Sergeant Chevrons are circled in RED.

The Veteran Stripes are 'circled' in Tuqouise.

Thanks,
I see the wrist stripes clearly, I only see ''scruffy'' looking folds on the upper arm. I'm sure it's my monitor, they must be there.
Thanks again though, I'll keep looking and reading with interest.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Variant Sack

I may have missed this above, sorry if I did, the wrist stripe is the ''hash'' stripe that goes from side-seam to side-seam (on a two piece sleeve) and does not circle the entire wrist? In this case a wool twill tape. Seen from the front they would be at about 45 degree angles down and in...similar to \ /...obviously with but one \ on each sleeve.


I have seen a med-corp private purchase jacket with deep, dark green stripes and wool chevrons that are very hard to see in person, as would heavy artillery with some dirt and wear in these ''b/w'' images. An applied worsted wool twill tape chevron softens the edge of the device and the sleeve visually.
Cotton tape that tends to fade quickly displays a sharper edge against a woolen textile.

Is this service stripe for Reg. Army units or could the early Vols. wear them in the later stages of the war?
Can it be purely ornamental?

[NY Pvt]

Re: Variant Sack

Let me throw another thought into the mix. Look at the guy on top of the bomb proof. He two has a 5 button sack coat on. Now I don’t know whether they are private purchase, but don’t you think two guys with 5 button sack coats is a little odd unless a bunch of guys got together and decided to buy them. Perhaps we could be looking at different issues? Different units? The fat guy there close to the camera with a four button sack coat has what looks like cross swords for Calvary (can someone zoom in on that) and the guy on the bomb proof doesn’t seem to have anything on his cap, but has the similar coat to the sgt. with the 5 button sack.

Personally I think they are from at least two different units, and the sacks are either a group purchase or an issue item.

What do you all think?

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Variant Sack

Dane,

The attached photos show:

The sentry on the top is wearing a regulation blouse, the "extra button" you are seeing is just a pucker/gap in the front of the blouse which shows enough of his undershirt (in a light color) which would appear to be an extra button, however it isn't . . .

The large character on the left appears to have artillery crossed cannons, a regimental number (1) and a battery letter (G). . .

[markmason]

Re: Variant Sack

Were only making assumptions, but I can agree with Dane. The 5 button jackets may have been privately purchased for a veteran regiment. This was common to see veteran insignia sewn on them too. The 34th Indiana is one regiment who reenlisted in Dec 1863 while in New Iberia, La., in doing so, the veterans of the regiment voted to employ a local tailor to make a zouave style jacket, complete with the veteran service insignia. This insignia is placed on the lower fore-arm and both sleeves.

Here are to cheerful looking lads in the 34th Indiana showing one example of the "stripe". These look similar to our veteran stripes in question.

Any thoughts?

[Clark Badgett]

Re: Variant Sack

Yes Mark that is the type seen on some of the 3rd KY Cav CDVs I have in my files, but the jacket style was more in common of the SA infantry style jacket. One of the things I've found to be odd about the jackets is that the chevrons and stripes are white against the dark blue of the jacket, as is commonly seen with infantry trimmed uniforms, but they have been confirmed as cavalry, both thru service records and the states AG report.

Image #31 in the US section of the image gallery shows one of the jackkets that I describe.