Standard issue Union cavalry shell jacket made of dark blue wool with yellow piping. Twelve-button front with hand sewn buttonholes that show some light wear. Proper amount of General Service eagle buttons is present on the collar and down the front. Cuffs have two buttons each and are functional. Piping has faded uniformly but is all present. Back has pillows that are a little thinner than normal. Exterior of jacket is in very good condition. Interior is lined with an osnaburg material that exhibits moderate wear. The lining is hand sewn along its edges. There is a left breast slit pocket and the sleeves are lined with muslin. The main seam down the back center has signs of some old repairs. One area of the lining near the right waist is worn through but was repaired. The seams where the lining meets the sleeves are weak. Small amounts of threads have burst. Right sleeve is well marked with a size number “2” along with two dots, inspectors stamp that reads “JOSEPH JONES, US INSPECTOR, NEW YORK” in three lines and a very light makers mark that reads “W. B. BUTTON, N.Y.” in two lines. Left sleeve also has the two dots for size and a little more pronounced the maker’s marking.

Worthington B. Button of New York City had large Government contracts for uniforms during the Civil War. One of his contracts was for 28,000 Cavalry jackets to be delivered between August of 1862 and December of 1863. Most likely the jacket offered here is from that batch.