bone buttons on shell jackets?

[okiereb]

Were bone buttons on confederate shell jackets common? I have not seen any period photographs of a jacket that has them. Then again, I haven't seen any period photographs of a jacket that has wood buttons either, which according to research was very common. If anyone has any insight on this, please fill me in. Charles Weatherford

[ThehosGendar]

... I haven't seen any period photographs of a jacket that has wood buttons either, which according to research was very common.

Here's your wood buttons, from "View near the Emmitsburg Road on Battlefield of Gettysburg." by Alexander Gardner.

http://www.3nj.org/emmitsbdead.jpg

http://www.3nj.org/woodb.jpg

http://www.3nj.org/woodb2.jpg

[DougCooper]

Looks like a bone or maybe tin button that is holding on the same man's "poor boy" suspenders. Note the small ball or dome buttons on the vest of the body next to him. Note also the number of what appear to be plain shirts and the tiny check pattern of the shirt on the one soldier.

Jason this is great stuff...you and Les Jensen ought to sit down and write an update to his book using your techniques. Lots more stuff to learn. Here's your wood buttons, from "View near the Emmitsburg Road on Battlefield of Gettysburg." by Alexander Gardner.

http://www.3nj.org/emmitsbdead.jpg

http://www.3nj.org/woodb.jpg

http://www.3nj.org/woodb2.jpg

[ewtaylor]

My question is- are they for sure wood? I saw on ebay about 3 months ago some period gutta percha buttons shaped identical to the dish shaped wood buttons.
any thoughts?
ewtaylor
bluegrass rifles

[Reserve]

The buttons in the photograph conform to the exact type I have seen on CS trousers (Mitchell), "Mystery Jackets", and in a couple of "Commutation" jackets. But, to the original point I have not seen bone buttons on a jacket but the J.B. MacRae N.C. State issue jacket (NC MOH) had shell buttons. This is in all likelyhood and oddity but none the less at least one soldier did use these as ersatz jacket buttons.

[RyanBWeddle]

Check out this article on the "4 Button Jacket" and composite buttons:

http://www.southernguard.org/education/brooke.html

AND

Before it's refit the NPS Vistors Center at Manassas had a 'Type III' Richmond style jacket made from blue/gray kersey with wooden dish type buttons. Since, I don't know where that jacket ended up . . .

[Masked Battery]

A few years back, the "Type III" w/ wooden buttons was at Petersburg, but was not on display.
I don't believe that the buttons on the MacRae jacket are considered original to that garment.

[LocalOaf]

Neal is correct- the shell buttons on the McRae jacket were post war additions. The original buttons had been cut off and the old thread "tails" were left in place when the shell buttons were tacked on. When the jacket was prepared for the current civil war exhibit at NCMOH, the shell buttons were removed.

Regards,

Dan Brennan

[hireddutchcutthroat]

The wood buttons on the "mystery jacket" at Gettysburg are also postwar additions.

[roundshot]

One needs only to check Greg Mast's "State Troops and Volunteers" to see dozens of photos of NC troops wearing RD Type II's with these same type wooden buttons. And then there is the report of the Savannah QM in 11/63 having on hand Richmond jackets with wooden buttons, which he described as "inferior articles" compared to jackets of English cloth.

Bob Williams

[Reserve]

I did always wonder about the MacRae jacket's buttons, always seemed odd. However, it seems more odd that in the post-war period with the ease of acquiring better buttons they were simply replaced with inferior shell buttons.

Here is something interesting on some Columbus made wooden buttons. "Button Factory.- We saw some neat and strong wooden buttons, the other day which we understand were made by Mr. A.D. Brown at the Carter factory of this city. They appeared as strong as bone buttons and equally well finished." Weekly Columbus Ga. Enquirer 11-25-1862 p. 3

I believe the Mystery Jacket in the Smithsonian is the primary example with originally issued wooden buttons. Interestingly enough there are photos of CS POW's wearing US made uniforms with wooden buttons, they are slightly different than their CS made counterparts. Phil Katcher's "Complete Civil War" has one of these pictured on p. 119.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

One needs only to check Greg Mast's "State Troops and Volunteers" to see dozens of photos of NC troops wearing RD Type II's with these same type wooden buttons. And then there is the report of the Savannah QM in 11/63 having on hand Richmond jackets with wooden buttons, which he described as "inferior articles" compared to jackets of English cloth.

Bob Williams


Bob

Do you have the publishing info on this? Is it still in print?

Thanks.

[Bob McDonald]

The wood buttons on the "mystery jacket" at Gettysburg are also postwar additions.


Robert:

To which jacket at G'burg are you referring? I'd assume that it is something other than the shell jacket and matching trousers in jeans, of the so-called Dept. of Ala. style, on display via the full mannequin. That "suit" bears these recessed-center wood buttons throughout, all of which are absolutely on the original thread. (Given its pristine condition, and what is known of its origin, I believe it was taken as a souveneir directly from depot storage.)

Thus, as noted, I'm interpreting that you're commenting on a different jacket but cannot recall which it would be.

Thanks.

Cordially,

Bob McDonald

[Canebrake Rifle Guards]

"And then there is the report of the Savannah QM in 11/63 having on hand Richmond jackets with wooden buttons, which he described as "inferior articles" compared to jackets of English cloth. "

This citation might be misleading. We puzzled over it for awhile after finding it in Savannah. Several believe the Richmond jackets referred to here might be from Richmond Co. Georgia, a huge textile producer during war, both looms and finished goods. Anyone have evidence of clothing coming South from Richmond, VA to Georgia?

Greg Starbuck

[LocalOaf]

Bob

Do you have the publishing info on this? Is it still in print?

Thanks.


Robert-

I believe that the Mast book is still in print and should be available from the Historical publications section here in Raleigh.

Historic Publications Section
Division of Archives & History
NC Dept. of Cultural Resources
MSC 4622
120 West Lane St.
Raleigh, NC 27699-4622

Phone: 919-733-7442

I cannot reccomend the Mast book enough- it has been a tremendous study aid for me, and a great historical resource.

Regards,

Dan Brennan

[RyanBWeddle]

both Serio & Childs offer great replicas -
here is a tidbit from Serio's site referencing production at Columbus Depot:

“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
from Confederate Veteran Magazine

[roundshot]

Bob

Do you have the publishing info on this? Is it still in print?

Thanks.


I believe it to be out of print but available on the secondary market. Here's at least one place that has it:http://theoldentimes.com/civil_war_books.html
Pricey, but well worth it.

Bob Williams

[LocalOaf]

I believe it to be out of print but available on the secondary market. Here's at least one place that has it:http://theoldentimes.com/civil_war_books.html
Pricey, but well worth it.

Bob Williams

I called over to Historic Publications this morning and was told that Volume I is still in print.

Regards,

Dan Brennan

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Bob and Dan¨

Thank you.

[Masked Battery]

"And then there is the report of the Savannah QM in 11/63 having on hand Richmond jackets with wooden buttons, which he described as "inferior articles" compared to jackets of English cloth. "

This citation might be misleading. We puzzled over it for awhile after finding it in Savannah. Several believe the Richmond jackets referred to here might be from Richmond Co. Georgia, a huge textile producer during war, both looms and finished goods. Anyone have evidence of clothing coming South from Richmond, VA to Georgia?

Greg Starbuck

Greg, I think you're right. If I remember correctly, the words used in the record were something like "jackets from the Richmond factory" as opposed to "jackets from Richmond."