Burial question

[archieclement]

Came across this story where a soldiers remains were found, it says buckle and buttons were found with body.

But then says they couldn't identify which side he was on..............wouldn't buckle and buttons ussually identify that?

After 158 years, Civil War casualty given Christian burial

The unknown soldier died during a U.S. Civil War battle, and was buried in a field before being rediscovered more than a century later.

www.faithonview.com

Wasn't sure which forum would be most appropriate, but since the focus of question is the buckle and buttons, put it here.

 

[Sheltowee]

So- how can we be certain he was a soldier? Maybe just a murder victim?

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

It's not uncommon to find Confederate uniforms with Federal buttons on it.

Confederate Uniforms of the Lower South, Part V: Miscellaneous Clothing from the Region at Large

Continued from Part IV: click here to navigate back to the previous page... Numerous Confederate jackets survive that defy categories, chiefly because they are one-of-a-kind. Perhaps some represent...

www.adolphusconfederateuniforms.com

"69a. The 69-series of artifact and images are courtesy of the University of Alabama collection, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This front view shows the massive damage to Captain George Little's jacket, resulting from a portion being cut away to treat his wound."

"69c. Another close view shows the jacket's Federal, general service enlisted buttons."

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Confederate soldiers were known to wear Federal buckles, and more generic buckles like the frame buckle or the roller buckle or the imported English snake buckle.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Even if Confederate (or Union) identified buttons and belt buckles were found alongside the remains, they probably required further evidence to have sufficient confidence before making any definitive pronouncements on which side he belonged. (The dead soldier could have been wearing captured uniform items).