Shoulder Scales...Early War

[relichound]

These are in nice condition, and have real nice patina on the brass parts, but do not
have the attaching tabs or other parts. You often see these in photos of Union soldiers
during the early war period. Through Antietam at least. These were found at an estate sale in Frederick, in Maryland.

 

[reading48]

Nice find ....

 

[redbob]

I've always heard that they were to prevent blade slashes to the shoulders, but they always struck me as being too thin for that. I guess that they were more for ornamentation and something else that had to be polished. A great find whatever they were for.

 

[Mild53]

Nice find. I've seen scale relics purported to be from as late in the war as wilderness and cold harbor. How is this possible?

 

[relichound]

Scales found late in the war? Anything is possible. Dress codes for the Union military were not
nearly as strict as today's soldiers, and for the Southern soldiers it was almost "anything goes".
Also they may have been discarded there and that is why they were found there.
It is possible, it is just much more likely to see these scales in early war photos than
in late war photos. This is my opinion.

 

[Frederick14Va]

It was a common belief that such items only existed in the first months of the war and quickly and completely disappeared. They were still part of the full dress uniform liked or not. However photographic and excavated evidence may certainly suggest otherwise. Significantly less found usage in practice, sure. Total disappearance not really. I have still found parts of them in areas that were active in the May-June 1864 time frame...

Years ago a friend found a number of them in an area active in summer of 1862... I cant remember the number but he found around a dozen pairs of them... each pair neatly crossed over each other... each find about two feet apart in a straight line.... as if the unit was formed up in ranks... took them off... placed them at their feet... turned and walked off....

 

[relichound]

I just read that in most units there were gone by the second year of the war or earlier, but in some
units they continued to be used because the commander of the unit wanted it that way.
This sounds right to me.

 

[relichound]

I should mention that these have what I guess are initials scratched into the back.
"AW" and also something else scratched into it, looks like ### but all connected together. Probably means nothing.

 

[Dave Hull]

They were not cheap and soldiers who "lost them" on the field soon found the famous payroll deduction aspect of the Army. The Regulars used them and I have seen a picture of a full dress parade in winter quarters somewhere (unit not identified) with scales and white gloves.