The 7 button sack coat

[major bill]

For some reason, that has yet to have been fully explained, some of the soldiers in the western regiments wore 7 button sack coats. These were not made as 7 button sack coats but were standard Federal 4 button sack coats with additional buttons added between the existing buttons.

Has anyone seen why soldiers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky decided to make this kind of field alteration? This may have started when Illinois soldiers added the extra 3 button, to their Federal 4 button sack coats so they looked more like the 7 button Illinois sack coats that they had been originally issued.

A 4 button sack coat altered to a 7 button sack coat.

 

[major bill]

Another field alteration sometimes seen was cutting the skirts off the sack coat and turning the sack coat into a kind of shell jacket. Frock coats could also be cut short and become shell jackets.

Care must be taken when examining photos because cut off Civil War frock coats were also seen after the Civil War, often being worn by mounted troopers.

 

[mofederal]

I had never seen them in photographs before, although I might have seen them and mistaken them for cut down frocks. They are a little weird looking. I guess they thought the old sack coat was not smart enough looking.

 

[Billw12280]

For some reason, that has yet to have been fully explained, some of the soldiers in the western regiments wore 7 button sack coats. These were not made as 7 button sack coats but were standard Federal 4 button sack coats with additional buttons added between the existing buttons.

Has anyone seen why soldiers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky decided to make this kind of field alteration? This may have started when Illinois soldiers added the extra 3 button, to their Federal 4 button sack coats so they looked more like the 7 button Illinois sack coats that they had been originally issued.

A 4 button sack coat altered to a 7 button sack coat.


View attachment 161986

It is odd to actually see a 7 button sack coat. Thank you for posting this. I have not heard why this was done but would be interested to see what everybody else thinks.

 

[captaindrew]

I would have to guess they wanted to make them look more like the stylish shell/roundabout jacket or maybe they liked the fit better with more buttons.

 

[captaindrew]

Or could it be a cold weather modification to stay warm?

 

[MIKirby]

The cuffs also have buttons on them. I know Michigan had their 5 Button Sack Coat with Standing Collar, and Epaulets. Seeing a 7 Button Sack is quite odd. Any 7 Button Sacks issued? Or was it specifically a field modified blouse?

 

[major bill]

We would have to look at all the different sack coats issued by Northern state governments. Most states went with roundabout style jackets or frock coats, but there were state sack coats.

 

[Package4]

For some reason, that has yet to have been fully explained, some of the soldiers in the western regiments wore 7 button sack coats. These were not made as 7 button sack coats but were standard Federal 4 button sack coats with additional buttons added between the existing buttons.

Has anyone seen why soldiers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky decided to make this kind of field alteration? This may have started when Illinois soldiers added the extra 3 button, to their Federal 4 button sack coats so they looked more like the 7 button Illinois sack coats that they had been originally issued.

A 4 button sack coat altered to a 7 button sack coat.


View attachment 161986

From what I have read, speculation was that it was an attempt to "smarten" a rather drab and unappealing garment, yet maintain the comfort. Two existing 7 button sack coats are known, one owned by an officer who purchased the enlisted wear and had altered and the other Id'd to an enlisted man in the MVM; tag in the collar reads "Sergt. F. Edmands, Co L 1st MVM". Might the MVM refer to Maine, Mass., Mich, Minnesota or Missouri?

 

[Package4]

From what I have read, speculation was that it was an attempt to "smarten" a rather drab and unappealing garment, yet maintain the comfort. Two existing 7 button sack coats are known, one owned by an officer who purchased the enlisted wear and had altered and the other Id'd to an enlisted man in the MVM; tag in the collar reads "Sergt. F. Edmands, Co L 1st MVM". Might the MVM refer to Maine, Mass., Mich, Minnesota or Missouri?

Researching F Edmands came up goose eggs, but there are two clues:

• Edmands seems to be a name fairly unique to Massachusetts.
• Very few infantry regiments had an L company, leaving either a cavalry or heavy artillery regiment.

 

[Tin cup]

Boredom in camp?

Kevin Dally

 

[Dom71]

From what I have read, speculation was that it was an attempt to "smarten" a rather drab and unappealing garment, yet maintain the comfort. Two existing 7 button sack coats are known, one owned by an officer who purchased the enlisted wear and had altered and the other Id'd to an enlisted man in the MVM; tag in the collar reads "Sergt. F. Edmands, Co L 1st MVM". Might the MVM refer to Maine, Mass., Mich, Minnesota or Missouri?

So basically an attempt at adding some bling.

 

[LtRusell]

Boredom in camp?

Kevin Dally

No, Never. Boredom? Not in camp!

I know this is a link to CS uniforms, but it was enlightening to me from several different perspectives. One being the cutting down of frock coats. Check it out if care to:

http://adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/basics-of-confederate-uniforms.html

 

[1867crete]

I agree with the desire to "spice" up a drab piece of issued uniform! I have seen several images of the 4 button sack coat that are not very flattering!! This image is from my collection

 

[Joe Corrado]

This was most likely done in an effort to add some extra pizzazz to a rather dull-looking coat. I don't know about it being a cut down frock, as the collar doesn't appear to be that of a frock, unless it's a turned down frock collar, and frocks would also typically have two cuff buttons and cuff piping. They sure did a nice job, looks much better than the four-button!