Federal Trousers

[Haversack]

After using the search function and finding no results for this subject,I have decided to go ahead and post.I was wondering how many suspender buttons Federal Trousers were usually issued with?I have always heard that they were issued with one on each side in the front and back.I was wondering if anyone else had heard different or whose research has turned up different results?Thanks.

[MarkTK36thIL]

I can attest to the Harkness, Deering, and J.T. Martin examples; 6 buttons to accomodate forked-front suspenders.

Check out the Columbia Rifles Research Compendium.

[Dan Wambaugh]

Shawn,

Short answer is SA trousers were issued with 4, most contractor trousers were issued with 6. Mark is correct that the CRRC would be an excellent source of information on such questions.


Best Regards,

[Haversack]

Thank you two for your help.I have a pair of Harkness contracts,and they have six.Now I don't have to remove two buttons.

[CJDaley]

I've seen an unissued pair of Federal Issue Trowsers with 8.

[lukegilly13]

Chris,
I wonder how rare that is? I've heard of confederate trousers with 8.....I wonder..is there a possibility that the maker of these trousers was either making or had reason to believe someone else was producing suspenders/braces with forks in the front and back for mass issue?

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

With a full appreciation for contract variations and other exceptions, just as an aside, here are the U. S. Quartermaster "specs:"

Footman's Trowsers

2 yards 15 inches of 2/4 sky blue kersey; 1/2 yard of 7/8 unbleached drilling; 5 suspender buttons, 5 shirt or fly buttons; 1 1/2 inches of black or dark 4-4 muslin; 6 skeins dark blue linen thread, No 30. For Ordnance, dark blue kersey.

Mounted men's trowsers, reinforced on seat and legs

3 yards 8 inches of 3/4 sky blue kersey; 1/2 yard of 7/8 drilling; 8 suspender buttons; 13 shirt or fly buttons; 8 skiens of dark blue linen thread; No 30; 1 1/2 inches black or dark muslin

Curt

[RJSamp]

Hallo!

With a full appreciation for contract variations and other exceptions, just as an aside, here are the U. S. Quartermaster "specs:"

Footman's Trowsers

2 yards 15 inches of 2/4 sky blue kersey; 1/2 yard of 7/8 unbleached drilling; 5 suspender buttons, 5 shirt or fly buttons; 1 1/2 inches of black or dark 4-4 muslin; 6 skeins dark blue linen thread, No 30. For Ordnance, dark blue kersey.

Mounted men's trowsers, reinforced on seat and legs

3 yards 8 inches of 3/4 sky blue kersey; 1/2 yard of 7/8 drilling; 8 suspender buttons; 13 shirt or fly buttons; 8 skiens of dark blue linen thread; No 30; 1 1/2 inches black or dark muslin

Curt

Always wondered about the 8 extra buttons on the inside of my mounted trousers cuffs....they're for a stirrup strap (have never seen nor owned them).....but no mention of suspender strap buttons.....

thanks Curt!