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Re: Military Vest
Recoveries of small cuff or vest size eagle buttons in Federal camps indicate that these buttons were present on clothing in great numbers. Sometimes more small buttons are found in an area than standard sack coat eagle buttons. You have to ask where did this quantity of small buttons come from. They didn't come from sack coats or all from officers frocks or kepi straps. The logical answer is that they came from military style vests. Some buttons are top qualitity many with branch of service letters in the shield.
On the other hand, Confederate camps usually yield small flower or ball buttons which IMO came from vests or shirts. Glass buttons could have also been used but are difficult to recover since they are non metallic. As vests were somewhat unavilable for purchase by the Confederate enlisted soldier from sutlers or tailors, their vests would have likely been made in the homeland from established civilian patterns. This would help to explain the quantities of civilian buttons found in their camps.
Vests were a welcome additiion of clothing in cold weather for both armys which would help explain why so many small buttons are found in winter camps. Period photographs also support the wearing of military style vests for the Union soldier. I think a civilian vest on a Fed would be the exception and not the rule.
Originally posted by FC Barlow
Recoveries of small cuff or vest size eagle buttons in Federal camps indicate that these buttons were present on clothing in great numbers. Sometimes more small buttons are found in an area than standard sack coat eagle buttons. You have to ask where did this quantity of small buttons come from. They didn't come from sack coats or all from officers frocks or kepi straps. The logical answer is that they came from military style vests. Some buttons are top qualitity many with branch of service letters in the shield.
On the other hand, Confederate camps usually yield small flower or ball buttons which IMO came from vests or shirts. Glass buttons could have also been used but are difficult to recover since they are non metallic. As vests were somewhat unavilable for purchase by the Confederate enlisted soldier from sutlers or tailors, their vests would have likely been made in the homeland from established civilian patterns. This would help to explain the quantities of civilian buttons found in their camps.
Vests were a welcome additiion of clothing in cold weather for both armys which would help explain why so many small buttons are found in winter camps. Period photographs also support the wearing of military style vests for the Union soldier. I think a civilian vest on a Fed would be the exception and not the rule.
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