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The ubiquitous fatigue blouse, better known as a sack coat, was made by the millions during the Civil War, and issued to the troops as an "undress" garment to be worn when on work details, ideally leaving the fancier frock coat for other occasions. However, practicality dictated that many soldiers put their frock coats into storage when on campaign, and hang on to their fatigue blouses. The Schuylkill Arsenal in Pennsylvania had been the army's primary supplier of goods before the war, and produced this jacket continuously from 1858 to 1865. As it had no on-site facilities for garment production, the arsenal contracted work out to thousands of local women. Our fatigue blouse replicates a Schuylkill Arsenal model, featuring a three-piece body of indigo-dyed wool flannel, one piece sleeves, lightweight wool flannel or jean lining, handsewn topstitching, buttonholes, and sleeve lining in logwood or indigo thread. The squarish-tipped collar is interlined with a stiffner so it lies flat as seen in period images. An original in the Smithsonian features a facing of a lighter shade of blue than the body, an aspect which we incorporate into our reproduction. We also incorporate details observed on the blouse worn by Sgt. Franklin Smith (formerly of the Stamatelos collection, now in private hands) and we feel this reproduction stands as a prime representation of a Schuylkill Arsenal product. The body is sewn together with a dark blue cotton thread, but may be handsewn with naturally dyed thread by special request. We stamp one sleeve lining "SA" and sizing dots in one sleeve, and our own maker's mark and another set of sizing dots in the other sleeve. Jacket comes with four Federal eagle buttons sewn on. Please state size when ordering. Sizes 48 and over, add 10% to the price.
Federal Fatigue Blouse (hand topstitched) . . . . . $200.00 + $7.00 s&h
Federal Fatigue Blouse (all handsewn) . . . . . Will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Trowsers coming soon!