Pants

[hoosier]

I'm not trying to be funny here, but I wonder if real Civil War soldiers didn't have a terrible problem keeping their pants on.

My wife, knowing that I'm descended from a Union Civil War soldier, surprised me on our last wedding anniversary by presenting me with a Union uniform.

Unfortunately, though she got the length of the pants right, she guessed wrong on the waist size, and the pants are too big in that area.

She said, "Oh, don't worry. You wear these with suspenders anyway, so they won't fall down."

So I tried to put on the suspenders.

Now, these pants were made with authentic Civil War-style buttons. These weren't the nice, solid plastic buttons we have on our clothes today. These were thin little pieces of tin, with holes punched in the middle so they could be sewn to the clothing.

I attached the suspenders to the two buttons in the back, brought them over my shoulders, and tried to attach them to the buttons in front.

I tried to be very careful, but one button popped off as I was trying to attach the suspender to it. I managed to get the suspender attached to the button on the other side, but that button popped off as soon as I stood up. With the suspenders inoperative, I didn't dare wear the uniform outside the privacy of our own room, because the pants would have fallen down.

Given my experience with how fragile those buttons were, I would think that, if a large group of men suddenly engaged in any sort of intense physical effort, plenty of buttons would pop off under the stress.

I have the unsettling thought that the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble charge, portrayed so heroically in the movie "Gettysburg," might actually have been a tragicomedy of sorts, as one after another of the Confederates, trying to advance at the double quick, suffered the embarrassment of having his pants tumble down around his ankles.

Does anyone know if this was a real problem during the Civil War?

Any reenactors have any tips on how to prevent it from being a problem today?

[johan_steele]

LOL, the top of the trousers should be on level w/ your belly button, ask your wife to get some pewter buttons and sew them on for you. Put the suspenders on the pants first, then put the things on over your shoulders. That should help. I'm on my second pair of pants and have never had them fall down... now the crotch busting out of them is another thing entirely.

So is your Indian name "pants round knees"? Sorry, couldn't resist.

[ami]

Sounds like someone was in a rush sewing the buttons on.

My hubby has worn is pants and suspenders to many skirmishes over the years and never had trouble with the buttons.

My suggestion, find some matching thread and sew them on yourself, but really make them sturdy.

[brian_swartz]

The paper backed tin buttuns are the correct bottons to use. Depends on how they are sewed on do not sew them in two straight lines, sew them on crossed they will hold much longer.

Shane is correct about being level with your belly button.

As far as a way to keep the trousers up. The army issued you trousers but it was up to you to find a way to keep them up. Many had suspenders of their own ,Others made what was known as poor boys which were nothing but two strips of cloth cut to leanth with holes cut and sewn at each end.
Another common method was no suspenders. Some would use a musket sling. Others would just us a piece of rope as a belt.
I been using a rope belt or a musket sling for last couple of years .
It beats popping buttons,Have suspenders digging into your shoulders.
It also beats having to take of your jacket in a port-a-john on a cold night.

I'd follow Shane's idea. And as for the buttons flying off? I can only tell you one thing. Learn to sew and sew it on right. I've had a button almost come off from one of my suspender straps. So I did the sensible thing and removed it and took some Dark Navy Blue thread and doubled it up, ensuring that it would be stronger than originally thought. Nothing happened to them since I sewed it.

As a tip to anyone: Always double thread all your buttons on your uniform. It'll help you in the long run before you lose your britches or anything else that'd likely fly or fall off.

[rbenne]

one word of advice though, don't sew them on TOO well either. It is better to lose a button then to rip the pants. As one who is occasionally referred to as "a challenge to dress" (read large) I have found that sewing on the buttons too well will cause the pants material to rip, creating a larger problem.

I like Brians idea, I might try that.

[brian_swartz]

Raymond give it a shot .It is much more comfortable. Plus photo evidence will show soldiers with and without suspenders.
Brian

well i have a suggestion... make sure 1st that your pants are about an inch above your navel. then try to attach the suspenders... also were a belt if you dont like the suspenders get a belt... a good place to get a belt is missouri boot&shoe

[hardtack61]

Hi pards,
For those sewing on buttons: For federal pants use paper back buttons!
Remember.. Theres period threads and bad threads... Try to research your threads.! Many are mad from fibers and materials that are far from civil war times.! Good maker of threads are wooded hamlet.
http://www.woodedhamlet.com/

lol hey shane! pewter buttons on federal pants??? dude do some flipping research