Posted 10 years ago
Chrisnp
(310 items)
This dark blue “blouse” is not at first glance much different from the enlisted men’s uniform of the Civil War. One of the things many people do to ID an old Civil War/Indian War photograph is count the number of buttons on a soldier’s jacket. There were four front buttons during the Civil War, and five beginning about 1874. Other small changes were made over time, and the placement of three buttons on the cuff instead of two happened in 1884.
Unlike the shapeless Civil War “sack coat” which was cut straight down from the shoulders, this jacket is made to be a bit more form fitting. There are no outside pockets, but there is one vertical opening pocket near the button fly, so that the soldier simply unbuttoned the middle button to reach inside (last photo).
Although The Army produced new coats in both blue and khaki in 1898, these jackets continued to be used for garrison and field duties until about 1903. At that time they were replaced for all personnel except recruits and coast artillery, while the rest of the army would continue to wear them off duty. Recruits stopped receiving them when supplies were exhausted in 1908, and coast artillery officially stopped wearing them in 1911.
Isn't this actually a "shell jacket"? Don't expect any fast responses from my end. Hurricane "Gonad" has passed, but tropical disturbance "Bob" ( friend who visits often) has hit our shores. Why can't they understand that we don't lie on beaches & drink beer all day? Only half!
There are no colour coded pipings or collars? When was that excluded? Never thought about it before.
Ah, you caught me playing fast and loose with terms! Technically speaking, a "shell jacket" ended at the waist. Sack coats were intended to end near the hips. These were replaced by campaign coats like this one.
I've called it a jacket instead of a coat because I think that's what most people would call it today, and CW has a category called "Military Jackets" Eh, Tomato, TamAHto.
Branch edging on cuffs and collar were removed in 1883, the year before they added the third cuff button. I imagine some officer thought "Without the branch colors, the men look so plain. I know, we'll give them another cuff button!" He probably got a nice commendation for that. :)
Don't let the wind muss your hair
Chris
Shell jacket or not? Ends at waist. Trying to find more time for CW now that we have dug out of the wreckage. Lot of work yet.
Nope, this coat ends below the waist. Otherwise the cuffs would be below the bottom of the jacket.
Picky, picky picky Chris! LOL. You seem to leave no tern unstoned.
"leave no tern unstoned"? Are you accusing me of throwing rocks at aquatic birds? :)
Obviously not familiar with that ancient joke Chris.
Chris, maybe the trooper had very short arms. LOL
Familiar with the joke, just trying for a witty comeback. :)