- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
Has anyone seen why the Union Army made special jackets of enlisted men of the Signal Corps? I know that some special jackets and frock coats were made by the Union, but the Signal Corps jacket has puzzled me.
In general it looks like a fairly common roundabout jacket that has 11 buttons. So why 11 buttons? Union mounted jackets (some examples of infantry mounted jackets exist) have 12 buttons and it would seem that the Signal Corps would have been issued either 12 button mounted jackets or sack coats. Making a special jacket for them seemed unnecessary.
Few Civil War uniform books go into any great detail on Signal Corps jackets. I believe I have seen 10 button Signal Corps jackets in photographs, but perhaps these were private purchase.
In general it looks like a fairly common roundabout jacket that has 11 buttons. So why 11 buttons? Union mounted jackets (some examples of infantry mounted jackets exist) have 12 buttons and it would seem that the Signal Corps would have been issued either 12 button mounted jackets or sack coats. Making a special jacket for them seemed unnecessary.
Few Civil War uniform books go into any great detail on Signal Corps jackets. I believe I have seen 10 button Signal Corps jackets in photographs, but perhaps these were private purchase.