Columbus Depot Buttons

[lukegilly13]

I've searched the forum, read Les Jenson's articles, and looked at original pictures from a page linked to the forum. However, I am still unsure. Does anyone know what buttons were used on Columbs Depot jackets (in their earliest stages of production)? I have seen buttons on some originals and seen some in pictures (not real clear but they seem to be block I). However, the buttons could of been replaced. Are there any documentations of the CD ordering buttons or comments on the buttons of new issued jackets in the AOT?

[OldKingCrow]

EDITED FOR CORRECTION

The earliest jacket in this group, a Columbus Type I, belonged to Pvt. Elijah C. Woodward,
Co C, 9th Kentucky Infantry.

The Woodward CD is the earliest provenenace of the extant CD jacket's and it has Block I buttons. edited: Just pulled out EOG and I was wrong on this.

Dan Wambaugh makes a first rate reproduction of the Woodward right down down to specially dyed jean His repro has the Cast I thus the confusion,

[Jimmayo]

Many CD jackets seemed to have been issued with cast brass block I buttons. According to conversations with Ga. relic hunters the cast block I is as common a find in Georgia and Tennessee as the tin back block I is in ANV theater of operations.

[roundshot]

To support Jim's comments on solid cast I buttons, here is a member of Lumsden's Alabama battery wearing an infantry jacket with cast "I"s. Unfortunately the photo copy is not real clear.

[Minieball577]

Bob, how can you identify those buttons as CAST block I's?

[brown]

A brief survey of surviving jackets of this general pattern and their buttons

-Woodward's jacket (likely 1862) actually has a full set of five Kentucky state seal buttons
-of the 3 likely 1863 jackets, two are from the CS army around the Mississippi River/Vicksburg; one Mississippi "I"s and one has cast "CSA"s
-the other supposed 1863 jacket in an AoT jacket and it has federal eagle buttons, plus small civilian cuff buttons added
-the officer's jacket with an 1864 date, have civilian harden rubber four hole buttons
-the jacket in Oklahoma has cast "I"s
-the Weller (most often reproduced; a likely 1865 jacket) has a combination of script "I"s and Kentucky state seals
-the Randolph (a likely 1865 jacket) has post-war replacement US Army buttons.
(this list was first posted from memory, but has been checked against the greatest source on the topic http://authentic-campaigner.com/articles/walden/cdjacket3.htm)

note: it seems that only two jackets have cast buttons, one "I" and one "CSA" and neither of those have strong AoT connections; not to deny AoT usuage of cast buttons b/c digs make it clear, just looking at the surviving originals.
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________

While none exist today on the so-called Columbus Depot jackets, don't discount the value wooden buttons:

"While on an inspecting tour in Columbus, Ga. in the winter of 1862-63, I was informed that wooden, horn and bone buttons were being manufactured there, and I visited the plant. The factory was owned by a former lieutenant of the Confederate army, who had lost an arm in one of the early battles.

The motive power of his factory was an engine of moderate horsepower that had been used to run a printing press. So complete were the saws, borers, and drying kilns that in the final process of their manufacture the completed buttons dropped into the hoppers with as much rapidity as nails from a nail making machine."

Dr. S.H. Stout, Medical Director of Hospitals in Confederate Veteran Magazine.
as borrowed from Robert Serio's website http://www.missouribootandshoe.com/index.asp

[csabugler]

I believe the block cast "I" has been the most commonly used. Of course there were exceptions, but for a rank and file impression, you can't go wrong with them. If yu are doing a specific unit, research them and see if you can find quartermaster records or such.
I believe the term "block" refers to a solid, one-piece construction with the back dished out and the eyelet part of the casting. If someone knows otherwise please correct me on that.

[Joe Walker]

Luke,

The "CD" styled jacket in its earliest manufacture most likely would not have had solid cast "I" buttons if the diggers are correct since most of the solid cast "I" buttons are from the 1864 Atlanta campaign. I have the original Jenkins Jacket. It has eagle buttons that appear sewn on when the coat was made. Jenkins most likely got this in the summer of 1863. Furthermore, speculation is that the "Columbus" depot style jacket was made at other facilities, not just at the Eagle Mills at Columbus. Your question is a good one and if I had to guess I would say state or US buttons on the earliest.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards

[lukegilly13]

Thanks for the quick responses. I'm searching for the columbus Depot records...does anyone know where to find those?

I had always pictured federal eagle buttons and wooden/bone buttons as being used as replacements on depot jackets. It never occurred to me that the depots might of actually purchased those type buttons in bulk. Are the "cast" buttons made by large machine with a stamping process? It seems to me that if the depot possessed such machine it would still be existance or some evidence of it would at east be available.

[Jimmayo]

I believe the term "block" refers to a solid, one-piece construction with the back dished out and the eyelet part of the casting. If someone knows otherwise please correct me on that.

Patrick: The term block refers to the style of the letter, usually a plain roman style I hence the name "cast block I". However the I on the cast brass buttons tend to be a little fatter than the Richmond style block I.

There is also a tin back block I we usually call the Tennessee Puff I. Don't ask me why it is named after Tennessee but they have a distinctive front and seem to be commony found in the deep South. It really doesn't matter because nobody I know of makes reproductions of that button.

I would agree that for early war, wood buttons would be more common than cast brass simply because there were wood buttons around and it took time to get the cast buttons manufactured and out to the depots. That is just a WAG on my part and I don't have any info to back it up. As for Kentucky state seals, my guess is that they were too expensive and scarce to use on the commonly issued CD jackets. They may be period or post war replacements that are seen on the surviving jackets.

[csabugler]

Jim, I stand corrected, i believe you are right. Brain fart from an old man...

[Joe Walker]

Luke,

Minchner out of Griffin, Ga was making the rectangle "CSA" belt plates for the Atlanta depot to issue and since the cast "I"s were showing up about the same time, it has been speculated that they were the source for the "I" buttons. The belt plates were foundry cast, not stamped and the buttons show the same process with a casting sprue. However, I think Lee White or Daryl Black (AC members) would have an oppinion and perhaps an answer.

Back to the early issue "CD" jacket buttons........you would need to consider what was "on hand" for the depots to apply which would automatically throw in the US and state buttons as candidates.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards

[csabugler]

Joe Walker, I have been living in a Griffin, GA zip code for about 3 years. I've seen some local history but nothing on Minchner. Do you have any research info handy on him? Might be able to do some research here locally, just for general info on the mfgr.

[Joe Walker]

Patrick-

I just sent you a PM with the source.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards

[Jimmayo]

Luke,

Back to the early issue "CD" jacket buttons........you would need to consider what was "on hand" for the depots to apply which would automatically throw in the US and state buttons as candidates.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards

Joe: Just a thought, what source would the CD draw on for on hand early war buttons? Richmond clothing makers already had a relationship with northern suppliers. I would assume that portions of this relationship would have carried on into the Depot era.

Did Columbus have a textile community that could have had a similar relationship?

For what it's worth, the Georgia regiment that came to Portsmouth (either the 2nd or the 4th, can't remember which) in the early war had Georgia buttons on thier uniforms. We know this because they left some.

[Joe Walker]

Jim,

The National Archives has the Confederate Business Records from the Eagle Mfg Company in Columbus. Perhaps someone who has researched these records can tell us. I have info given to me from someone who did some research from these records about seven years ago but all of it is about cloth. It is my understanding that the Eagle Mill's only customer was the Confederate Gov't which I guess gets problematic with the early War concept of commutation for clothing. I for one think that these "CD" jackets were made at depots other than at Columbus and I don't know if the idea of early made coats being shipped to state authorities without buttons is out of the question. Pre-War suppiles of state seal buttons were plentiful at first as well as captured US depots clothing supplies. Georgia and states with well-organized militias seem to be able to find state buttons for their uniforms. When Lawton takes over the Quartermaster dept is when many of the "I" buttons seem to show up. Good question. My original CD jacket could have been issued as early as the fall of 62 and it has plain-back Med size gen service eagle buttons on it that I think are original to the coat.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards

[Mississippian]

I too think that the Columbus Depot Jackets were made in more than one place. After checking the OR's for somthing else, I found a report that stated that by early '63 most of the Confederate troops in Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana were being supplied by the three Confederate Depots in the state of Mississippi, the biggest one being in Jackson, which could produce 1,000 suits of clothing a week. Considering that almost half of the surviving CD jackets have ties to the Vicksburg Campaign, along with written accounts of large issues of likely CD-type jackets in North Mississippi in late '62. I think it likely that at least some "Columbus Depot" type jackets were actually made in Mississippi.

Will MacDonald
WIG

[roundshot]

Bob, how can you identify those buttons as CAST block I's?

They can be readily seen in the original photo. My copy just happens to be poor. The size and lettering of the cast block "I" buttons is quite distinctive from most of the stamped patterns. I have seen in North/South Trader that many believe them to have originated in Tuscaloosa.

[Jimmayo]

I have seen in North/South Trader that many believe them to have originated in Tuscaloosa.

That's funny. About 12 years ago there was a fella that had a display of CS cast brass at the Gettysburg show. I asked him about the source of the cast I buttons and he said he was pretty sure they came from Rome Ga. Too bad they didn't cast the name of the company on the back of the button.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Thanks for the quick responses. I'm searching for the columbus Depot records...does anyone know where to find those?

I had always pictured federal eagle buttons and wooden/bone buttons as being used as replacements on depot jackets. It never occurred to me that the depots might of actually purchased those type buttons in bulk. Are the "cast" buttons made by large machine with a stamping process? It seems to me that if the depot possessed such machine it would still be existance or some evidence of it would at east be available.

Typically when casting, there is very little machinery involved. Casting is actually pretty simple only requiring a foundry (something to make the metal molten), a mold (many times sand, sometimes iron/steel, sometimes plaster or a variety of other materials not subject to the intense heat of the molten metal), and a method of transferring the molten metal from the foundry to the mold (vessel called a "crucible")...the process is pretty standard whether casting in brass (Yellow, White, Red), iron, steel...etc.

Machinery is involved in today's casting industry for transporting crucibles into and out of the foundry, producing molds (from pattern pieces), and finishing the work. In the 19th century (and before) very little if any machinery would have been used...(I know Tredegar used Hydro-powered machinery operating from the raceways coming off the canal, but have not figured out what this power was operating).

Machinery does however become involved when you start "Stamping", using dyes to press metal into the desired shapes.

Wikepedia actually has some decent information about casting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casting

Sorry to get side-tracked from the discussion of Columbus Depot Buttons...but I felt it necessary to discuss the method of production for these buttons.

Mr. Mayo,

Not having seen one of these buttons in person, I cannot comment as to their manufacture...I'm thinking though in all probability that these were probably "Sand-cast"...thoughts??

Paul B.

[OldKingCrow]

That's funny. About 12 years ago there was a fella that had a display of CS cast brass at the Gettysburg show. I asked him about the source of the cast I buttons and he said he was pretty sure they came from Rome Ga. Too bad they didn't cast the name of the company on the back of the button.



Ding.....and what noted CS foundary (bronze guns) was at Rome, Ga to further support it ? I had read this too...somewhere.

[roundshot]

An interesting (?) variation on a theme is this photo of a Reb with what looks to be a hybrid between what we call a "Columbus" and a "Richmond" jacket: nine button front, shoulder straps /blue collar and straight cuff trim, and solid cast "I" buttons. Try to "type" that!

[Joe Walker]

Old King Crow-

Noble Bros.

Joe Walker

[OldKingCrow]

Old King Crow-

Noble Bros.

Joe Walker

Yep. In addition to owning an amazing piece of CS history, this ole boy knows his stuff. I am envious.

[Jimmayo]

Mr. Mayo,

Not having seen one of these buttons in person, I cannot comment as to their manufacture...I'm thinking though in all probability that these were probably "Sand-cast"...thoughts??

Paul B.

Looks like sand cast to me. Here is a picture of two from my web page. The fronts are slightly different as would be expected from different castings. The other is the back which I suspect the pour was made as part of the turret. Cast I buttons can be found on e-bay quite frequently. Both of these were found in Petersburg where they do show up occasionally.

[OldKingCrow]

The striking thing to me about the cast button is how heavy they are.

You noticeably feel them on the jacket, especially on a hanger.

What a perfect and plausible use for slag and other waste in a foundary...sand cast bronze buttons using an extant stamped "Block I" to strike the sand mold.

At least one "not so authentic" sutler is claming Noble Bros provenance to this buckle in pewter. I am looking to back that up.

http://www.blockaderunner.com/images/eb390.gif

[Joe Walker]

I had some cast "T.Miller" buttons* (Houston made for the trans-Miss) made from slag that was found at a Confederate arsenal here in Texas. Hanover made them for me from an original cast T.Miller. They were somewhat dark, looked red in color, and played "Dixie" when you buttoned them. Seriously, I was told by Hanover that the slag really stank, and were hell to make. I don't think slag was used to make buttons if avoidable.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards

*they have a star on them with a "CS" in the center of the star

[OldKingCrow]

In reality slag being the byproduct of smelting (impurities) it was an incorrect term for what I meant....strike 2 for me in this thread.

More like the over pour or run off from the casting process which retains its entire bronze composition.

[Joe Walker]

Old King Crow-

The pewter buckle you posted has been dug in Rebel camps, one like it in south central Tenn from the camp of the 9th Texas Infantry.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards

[lukegilly13]

Looks like sand cast to me. Here is a picture of two from my web page...

Jim,
Any idea of who makes a darn close reproduction of this button? It could be beneficial for a person to take a good repro button and create a mold out of some sort of high heat tollerant ceramic/clay....if you had the means of melting brass one could make their own buttons.

If state buttons were abundant pre-war, would it be fitting for an AOT soldier to wear a CD jacket with TN state buttons on it? Also, would there be variance...In other words, are there surviving jackets with unmatching buttons (a mixture of I's, eagles, and wood)? I've read accounts of soldiers whittling their own buttons to replace a lost one.

[Ghostrider_58]

Hanover Brass creates a first rate "red brass" cast I button and a couple of other types... I put a few on my CD jacket.

[c.irelan]

Hello

I'm suprised that this has not already be posted to this thread.

http://authentic-campaigner.com/articles/walden/cdjacket.htm

[lukegilly13]

That is a very good article! I looked at it before posting but I felt like it focused more on the state of the jackets when discovered....I was hoping to determine if there was a standard issue button from the CD to rule out soldier/individual replacement. And if this button does exist, is there a source where I can view those or get a description? Thanks for posting the article though... I have been unable to re-find it!

Luke

[c.irelan]

Hello

I would go with one of two thoughts I have had since I'm planning to make a CD jacket here soon. Go with the most common button that appears in the break down of the jackets as listed in the article which at a quick peek would be anyone of the 3 (I) buttons listed, or you could go with the confederate copy of the eagle which is the prescribed general service button as in the federal army.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

[Jimmayo]

or you could go with the confederate copy of the eagle which is the prescribed general service button as in the federal army.



Would like to know more about the Confederate copy of the eagle button.
Source of the information would be nice.

[27thNCdrummer]

I'm not sure if someone posted this already or not but I'll go ahead and do it again.

This comes from the Missouri Boot & Shoe website on their page about their Confederate wooden buttons:

"While on an inspecting tour in Columbus, Ga. in the winter of 1862-63, I was informed that wooden, horn and bone buttons were being manufactured there, and I visited the plant. The factory was owned by a former lieutenant of the Confederate army, who had lost an arm in one of the early battles.

The motive power of his factory was an engine of moderate horsepower that had been used to run a printing press. So complete were the saws, borers, and drying kilns that in the
final process of their manufacture the completed buttons dropped into the hoppers with as much rapidity as nails from a nail making machine."

Dr. S.H. Stout, Medical Director of Hospitals in Confederate Veteran Magazine.

Hope this helps!

[lukegilly13]

"While on an inspecting tour in Columbus, Ga. in the winter of 1862-63, I was informed that wooden, horn and bone buttons were being manufactured there, and I visited the plant....Hope this helps!

Thank you it does help a great deal! Seeing way too many wooden buttons on CD jackets and being the only person in the ranks with federal eagles on mine caused me to wonder what would of been on one "out of the box". I was doubtful that wooden buttons were being used by the depot. This would definatly give the Columbus depot access to them.
There's always the thought floating around that the South ran low on metal products throughout the war. Could wooden, bone, and horn buttons be the result of steel rationing? If so, would they be more appropriate late war?

[Jimmayo]

Keep in mind that every pair of trousers had 4 or 6 waist buttons and the required fly buttons. There is little doubt that the 4 hole bone, metal or wood buttons were used for trousers. I have always suspected that these were the buttons that were spitting out of the button making machine but that is only conjecture on my part based partly on the following:

The South had a good supply of wood however military jacket buttons were "military" ( which means a lot of things such as functionally or pride in one's uniform) and an substantial effort was made to obtain the best buttons possible. For example, in very late war, the RD started to use block I buttons with stars in the border and on the I, in an effort to dress up the common block I. The change did not improve the function of the button so it must have been for the morale of the troops.

There is also no doubt that large numbers of cast I buttons were used for common infantry despite the scarcity of brass.

Why import large quantities of brass buttons from Europe if you have all the wooden ones you need at your disposal?

State buttons were a source of pride and were very popular when available.

In that time period being in the military ment having a chest full of shiney brass buttons to impress the ladies. Poor people used wood buttons and soldiers had to feel important. No self respecting young lady would ask a soldier for a wooden button from his coat.

IMO wood jacket buttons were a last resort. They were used but only when other metal buttons were not available but thats just my thought.

[c.irelan]

Hello

Here is the quickest example that I can give you right now in the article they are listed as possible copys but what would be the likely hood that they were still sitting on a large store of Federal buttons by late 62 early 63.

www.geocities.com/capitalguards/LRfrock.html

I will see if I can find the rest of my stuff.

[Joe Walker]

As stated in an earlier post, my original Columbus Depot jacket has these buttons on it. The buttons appear to have been sewn on when the coat was made. One other thing- the jacket is made of cassimere. According to the Eagle Mill in Columbus, their output of cassimere over jean was quite substantial. I also had a digger tell me he has found these plain backs in several CS camps.

Joe Walker
Waco Guards

[Jimmayo]

You have to be careful calling 2 piece eagle buttons with no back mark CS. There were US issued eagle buttons with blank backs also. There were also tin back eagle buttons but they were not common. The only way I know how to tell the US eagle button from CS is which way the eagle is facing. Eagle looking to his right - US. Looking to his left - CS. These copies are two piece buttons.

The Confederacy (or someone) also made some copies of the US general service button, BUT they are cast and very poorly at that. Tice says that many were found in
early war Mississippi camps.

You can find most of the info above in Tice's button book.

I think whoever wrote the article on the frock coat referred to in the post above took a leap when he classified the eagle buttons as a possible CS copy (unless he had evidence they were some of the above). Since the coat was taken home by a Union soldier, he may have put eagle buttons it to wear or show at reunions. You just never know . Bottom line is that you can't be 100% sure that the buttons on a surviving jacket are the originals unless there is period documentation.

As for the Confederacy having supplies of eagle buttons in mid war, since they had them at war's start and end it is logical they had access to them at other periods of the conflict.

I have some words about the CS use of eagle buttons on the below page that may be of interest.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/j_mayo/csequip.html

That's enough preaching for a Sat night. I am going outside and inhale some swamp smoke.

[roundshot]

Speaking of Tice, he also speculates that the Cast Block "I"s (CS1275) had a Tuscaloosa provenance but can "neither prove nor deny." (p.216)

[c.irelan]

Hello All.

Now that I i'm back home I can add some more to this discussion althought I was not able to find exactly what I was looking for I fell that this is a good continuation to my origonal start.

As far as the article that I posted showing the Arkansas Frock I am under the impression that it was written by Walden someone please correct me if I am wrong. But the notion of altering a prize of war is a strech for me it would be like my uncle putting earrings in his prizes from Korea to make them pretty when he shows them off.

Going through the short servey of confederate buttons in EOG (which is no way complet) you will see that the the direction of the eagles head is up to the company that makes the button, there is a myth that the united states during times of war turns the head of the eagle from the olive branch the arrows this maybe where the confederate eagle faceing left comes from. Out of 13 buttons pictured reading as they would appear on the human body 10 have the eagle head to the right with 3 going to the left. If the confederate copy of the federal button was cast the most common for of mold at the time would of been sand which would of produced an exact copy of the face.

On page 113 you will find the coat of Capt. Cleaver you can tell that his buttons are of federal design in 1862

On page 130 and 131 you have the coats of Robert Bomar and John Johnston,
Bomar's is from 1861 and Johnstons is fron 1964 both with federal eagle design.

On page 135 Pvt. Greer's Jacket which was produced by the richmond depot from 1862 to 1864 show button of the federal eagle design.

on Page 137 Redwoods jacket richmond depot 3 with complet federal eagle designed buttons

and lastly Pvt Taylors jacket privately made in 1863 with federal eagle design.

The eagle was cosidered a general service button in the confederacy it is obvious and there are four listed as such on page 105.

as far as federal design here is the question if they are pickup off the ground and used by a man it would in no doubt be a replacement. But if it was captured or clamed and issued by a offical agent of the goverment (issued) then would it not matter what the back says? in my opinon they would in simple fact be confederate buttons. Would captured federal button supplies lasted from 1861 to 1864 nore then likely not with the like of a jacket being 30 to 60 days on active campaign so wouldn't one have to say that there had to be additional supplies being made in the southern nation?

[BrownBlanketMess]

By examining these jackets in the MOC and as they are shown in A Catalogue of Uniforms In The Collection of The Museum of The Confederacy,

Captain William H. Cleavers frock has Federal Eagle I buttons with WM. H. Smith & Co./New York back marks.

Private George Greer's jacket has Federal Eagle enlisted buttons with backmark: Scovill MFG Co./WATERBURY.

Private Henry Redwood's jacket has Federal Eagle buttons with no backmarks.

Sergeant Thomas Taylor's jacket has Federal enlisted man's buttons with no backmarks.

Page 105 of Echoes of Glory has and states "Staff, General Officers', and General Service Buttons (Local)" Four buttons are of the Staff and General Officers variety and two are General Service buttons with the CSA and they are of the "Local" variety.

Steve LaBarre
Corn Fed Comrades

[Jimmayo]

The eagle was cosidered a general service button in the confederacy it is obvious and there are four listed as such on page 105.

I would not be 100% sure that any button on a surviving jacket is original. Too much time and reunions have passed since the war ended. Remember immediatly after the war, the US authorities made CS soldiers remove any button associated with the Confederate army from their clothing. I don't know if this applied to eagle buttons or not. It is something to consider. Period pictures provide the best evidence of uniform button use.

Would captured federal button supplies lasted from 1861 to 1864 nore then likely not with the like of a jacket being 30 to 60 days on active campaign so wouldn't one have to say that there had to be additional supplies being made in the southern nation?

Common CS manufactured buttons (such as the block I) exhibit some characteristics that are not found on the eagle buttons recovered from CS sites. The most noticable is poor crimps where the face of the button is attached to the back. Another is the variety of blends of brass, tin and copper used in button construction. Poor die stamping is another that shows up frenquently.
While eagle buttons may have slight differences in the face, they are pretty consistant in quality and materials and most have backmarks.

Based on the lack of documentation and the characteristics of surviving eagle buttons, I would say that it is unlikely the Confederacy manufactured eagle buttons other than the few locals mentioned in my previous post.

They did however import them. I used to have a copy of a document showing the number of eagle buttons received by the Richmond Depot in one single shipment sometime in 1863. I have looked for this document several times but it still escapes me. The buttons received were described as "brass with eagle" and the numbers were so astounding that they could not have all been CS staff.

Would it be a stretch to say that eagle buttons were being bought from contractors in the North and smuggled south? It would be easy to ship buttons from Boston to Bermuda and then back to the Southern ports. Anything to make a buck!

Evidence is around that button makers up north were supplying buttons to the Confederacy in 1861 and that backmarks were changed to hide the true manufactures of these buttons.

Lots of food for thought.

[lukegilly13]

[QUOTE=Jimmayo;111811]I would not be 100% sure that any button on a surviving jacket is original. Too much time and reunions have passed since the war ended. Remember immediatly after the war, the US authorities made CS soldiers remove any button associated with the Confederate army from their clothing. I don't know if this applied to eagle buttons or not. It is something to consider. Period pictures provide the best evidence of uniform button use.
Thanks Jim! This gets to the root of my original question...
We also cannot be sure that the CD used buttons because the Richmond Depot did. It is very hard to tell from pictures and it might be one of those gray areas where we can get pretty close to what we think and be accurate for our impression as we could replace buttons just as easily as they did. Is there a change in trouser buttons or chin strap buttons comming out of the depots as the war progresses?