Frock Coat buttons

[foxfire949]

Hello Everyone,

I've given the search a good going over, and tried some other places for research material, but I'm stuck and muddled on the subject of enlisted frock coat buttons.

I'm now the proud^H^H^H addled owner of two frocks. My old frock has 7/8 buttons down the front and on the tails (with no functional cuffs or buttons, or any trim at all for that matter), whilst the new frock has 3/4 buttons on the front/rear and 1/2 on cuffs.

I'm trying to figure out which button size is correct. My copy of the CRRC and the 1861 regulations seem to indicate the 7/8 are right, but I'm unsure enough that I'd like some more opinions/references before I go swapping buttons around. (the new frocks button holes will take the bigger buttons)

If only my new frock had the better black lining of the old frock, instead of the white cotton on the new, I think I'd be in pretty good shape. On the whole, the newer coat is a step up

Can any one help?

Thank you!

G. Denis

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I assume you're talking about the Federal dress coat, and if you are, 3/4 inch general service buttons are the norm on the front and rear, and 1/2 buttons on the cuffs. 7/8 inch buttons are for the overcoat.

[brown30741]

I assume you're talking about the Federal dress coat, and if you are, 3/4 inch general service buttons are the norm on the front and rear, and 1/2 buttons on the cuffs. 7/8 inch buttons are for the overcoat.

Ross gives good advice on enlistedmen's clothing. The standard for Us dress coats (frocks) or fatigue blouses (sacks) was the 3/4" general service button. There may have been exceptions in practice, but the OVERWHELMING majority would have had the regulation 3/4" buttons on the front. 1/2" buttons were the norm on dress coat cuffs, forage caps, overcoat capes, and many styles of shell jackets (all Federal government shells that I have seen).

[foxfire949]

oops, forgot to add that I was talking about the federal dress coat. I'm happy that I've saved my self some sewing, though am wondering why the CRRC chapter is misleading. My faith on one of my favorite pieces of reading is shaken.

Thank you!

G. Denis

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

oops, forgot to add that I was talking about the federal dress coat. I'm happy that I've saved my self some sewing, though am wondering why the CRRC chapter is misleading. My faith on one of my favorite pieces of reading is shaken.

Thank you!
G. Denis

Since someone borrowed my CRRC without returning it, just what does it say in there that is misleading? I've found everything in there to be pretty straight forward

[CharlieThayer]

I don't have my copy directly in front of me at the moment, but if I remember correctly it does make reference to Federal Issue Frock coats having 7/8th inch buttons as the standard size button on the front and in the rear. This has always perplexed me as well as I keep thinking I'm reading it wrong (which isn't impossible!) While the CRRC is an EXCELLENT resource that I myself look to first whenever I have a question about something, I don't think it should the end all be all of gear questions. There are simply too many variations of everything that was issued throughout the war to expect a few pages in the larger compendium to cover all. Each section is a superb snapshot of the construction, materials, and uses of the equipment of the federal infantryman, but anyone of those sections could easily be expanded into a book of its own i.e. Paul Johnson's book on cartridge boxes, Gaedes book on shelter halves, or the books out there on canteens.