This Federal mounted services artillery jacket, blue with red trim, has eleven brass buttons down the front, two brass buttons on the collar, and two brass buttons on each sleeve; all buttons have an eagle on them. This style of jacket is commonly known as a “shell” jacket. The jacket was produced and inspected at the St. Louis Depot, a major supplier of jackets for Trans-Mississippi Federal cavalry and artillerymen during the war. This government-produced piece exhibits a number of differences from both contractor and army depot manufactured jackets, including extensive use of machine rather than hand sewing, two single rows of trim (rather than double rows) on the collar, and an eleven button (rather than a twelve button) front.
Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield WICR 30013
