Epaulette help???

[gtoast99]

Hey all!!

Found this whatsit on the farm not too long ago, and it got tossed in one of my many "unsorted unidentifiable stuff" boxes. Then I'm browsing another forum this morning, and happen across someone's thread where they posted a more complete example of this piece among their other civil war finds.

Someone id'ed it as a shoulder epaulette, which is pretty darn awesome. But I haven't been able to find another exact copy on the net (except that original thread). Anyone know any more about it, or a likely date on it? Any info you have would be much appreciated!

Thanks so much in advance

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The specific type of metal-bodied (in this case, brass) epaulette you found is 1840s/50s US Army. A metal-bodied epaulette had an actual "functional" purpose, rather than being merely "ornamental." Its functional purpose was to protect a soldier's shoulder from saber-slashes by cavalry. Your type was issued to number of yankee troops in the first calendar year of the civil war ...but quickly fell out of favor, because they turned out to be nearly useless in actual combat. Most such epaulletes have been found in 1861/early-62 yankee sites, with very few coming from later sites. Nonetheless, they continued to be used for "ornamental" purposes, as seen in many civil war photos of officers posing in the fancy dress-uniform.

Most of those metal-bodied epaulettes had a cloth covering ...which of course does not survive a century in the ground.

Epaulettes made of nothing but cloth are still a part of many military uniforms today, used mainly to display an emblem of rank.

Here are photos showing two "complete" specimens of the exact type of epaulette you found. These two were dug at an early-1862 yankee-occupied site in New Kent County, Virginia (a few miles east of Richmond). As you see, this type of epaulette's main body consists of overlapping flat scales ...like a knight's armor ...in order to resist a saber-slash.

 

[gtoast99]

WOW, THANKS!!

What an awesome, thorough reply. Totally made my day learning that much about them.

I wonder how it ended up lost in my field? It was found on a North Carolina farm, home site was 1840's but torn down and rebuilt in the 1970's. I've found a few other military items scattered about the general area, including a few buttons and a carbine sling buckle. I know there were several brothers who lived here that all served for the confederacy. I guess we'll never know, but I'm pleased as punch to have found this and for the AWESOME ID on it

THANKS again cannonballguy!!!!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Gtoast99, you're welcome. Since you liked hearing detailed info, I'll add a bit more. I mentioned that your 1840s/50s US Army epaulette's main body consisted of overlapping flat scales. Here's the additional info, which may be particularly useful for you. The epaulette's (six) scales were actually separate parts which were attached together in an overlapping pattern. Because you found the large disc-shaped endpiece all by itself, the six smaller scale-shaped parts very likely could be in the area where you found the endpiece. Take close note of the backside photo, so you'll know what to look for ...such as the boardlike "stiffener" on the back, and the thin wrap-around frame which helped to hold the six scales together. Good luck when you go back to that digging spot!

Thank you for providing the background about where you found the large disc-shaped endpiece. About how it came to be there... here in Virginia, we often find civil war military relics at old house-sites which are many-miles from the nearest battlefield or campsite. Apparently, there are two reasons for that:
1- Soldiers "on the march" are always hungry and thirsty ...so they would visit local homes hoping for a meal or at least some water from the well. Sometimes they would lose some of their gear while they were there.
2- That being said, I think many of the "house-site" military relics were lost there years after the war, by ex-soldiers living in those houses who continued to wear parts of their uniform in daily life. (We know that many ex-Confederates did that, due to poverty.) Or, just as likely, their kids played with their Veteran daddy's war-souvenirs, and lost them in the yard, as kids tend to do. In such cases (postwar usage and loss), you'll find military stuff but no civil war BULLETS at that site.

 

[gtoast99]

I'll go back and look for the rest when it gets cut down some more. It's quite a bit overgrown at the moment. I sure hope I can find some more!!

1- Soldiers "on the march" are always hungry and thirsty ...so they would visit local homes hoping for a meal or at least some water from the well. Sometimes they would lose some of their gear while they were there.
2- That being said, I think most of the "house-site" military relics were lost there years after the war, by ex-soldiers living in those houses who continued to wear parts of their uniform in daily life. (We know that many ex-Confederates did that, due to poverty.) Or, just as likely, their kids played with their Veteran daddy's war-souvenirs, and lost them in the yard, as kids tend to do. In such cases (postwar usage and loss), you'll find military stuff but no civil war BULLETS at that site.

I'm going with #2. There was a veteran who continued to live here until 1929, and raised two boys. AND I haven't found a single bullet. The veteran (Capt. Sam Webb) was VERY involved in the United Confederate Veterans, so I imagine he may have worn part or all of his uniform for events etc. Or, as you say, the boys could have lost it.

Thanks for the info and the discussion. One of my best finds for sure, and one of the most unique