online catalog

• What's New
• Reduced Price Items
• Artillery
• Books
• Bottles
• Buttons
• Confederate
• Contemporary Artist Prints
  • Framed Prints
  • Unframed Prints
• Currency, Bonds & Tokens
• Documents & Paper Goods
  • Art
  • Broadsides
  • Commissions
  • Discharges
  • Letters
  • Newspapers
  • Signatures
• Edged Weapons
  • Bayonets
  • Knives
  • Scabbards
  • Swords
• Firearms
  • Carbines
  • Cartridges & Gun Tools
  • Handguns
  • Holsters
  • Longarms
• Gettysburg Items
• Identified Items
  • Accoutrements
  • Edged Weapons
  • Firearms
  • Personal Items
  • Photography
  • Uniforms & Cloth
• Medical Items
• Military Accoutrements
  • Buckles/Plates
  • Canteens
  • Insignia & Badges
  • Leather
    • Belts
    • Cap & Cartridge Boxes
    • Haversacks / Knapsacks
    • Holsters
    • Scabbards
  • Spurs
• Personal Items
  • Amusements
  • Cooking
  • Jewelry
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Sewing
  • Smoking
  • Writing
• Photography
  • Albumens
  • Albums
  • Cabinet Cards
  • CDVs
    • Identified CDVs
    • Unidentified CDVs
  • Hard Images
    • Ambrotypes
    • Daguerreotypes
    • Tintypes
  • Stereoviews
• Relics
• Stock Items
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Riker Cases
  • Shell Bases
  • Wood Display Cases
• Uniforms & Cloth
  • Flags
  • Headgear
  • Sashes & Hat Cords
  • Uniforms
• Veteran Memorabilia
  • GAR
  • UCV
• WWI / WWII
  • Equipment
  • Posters

CIVIL WAR SEWING KIT WITH REGIMENTAL BADGE

Zoom In Zoom Out Reset

This small soldier’s sewing kit, popularly known as a “housewife” in Civil War camp jargon, is made of a red wool, with the edges bound in a light green, which might be a faded light blue, and is made to form a pocket with additional folding flaps, which would typically carry thread, needles, extra buttons, etc. It is fitted with long tie of the same material as the edging and contains a single general service eagle button. This bears an embroidered regimental badge with a jaceron wire border bearing a Roman numeral “V” (“5”) over foliate letters “NG,” now attached by a single line of stitching along its top edge.

This is likely the badge of the 5^th New York National Guard, designated the 5^th NY State Militia until April 1862 when the state changed the designation of all its militia to “national guard,” hence the oft seen “N.G.S.N.Y.” on painted drums, etc. This regiment was known also as the Jefferson Guard and was called up for three tours of active duty in the Civil War. On April 20, 1861, it was ordered to Washington, leaving the state on April 28, and mustering into US service for three months on May 1. It served at Washington, taking part in the occupation of Arlington Heights, until July 1, when it joined Patterson’s army posted at Hagerstown, Martinsburg, Charlestown, Bolivar Heights, and Knoxville, MD. It returned to New York to muster out on August 7. Its second tour was short: it was called up on May 27, 1862, for another three months, but the order was revoked on June 6. Its last call-up was made during the Gettysburg Campaign as Lee’s move north threatened the Pennsylvania state capital. It was called up June 18, 1863, for thirty days service, departed the very next day, and served at Harrisburg, Marysville, Carlisle, and Chambersburg in the 1^st Brigade, Dana’s Division, Dept. of Susquehanna. It mustered out back in New York July 22, 1863.

This is a nice sewing kit, typical of those hurriedly given to soldiers heading off to an uncertain fate, by girlfriends, wives, daughters, and other loved ones as a means of easing camp life, and the badge is a nice memento of military service.  [sr][ph:m/L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire »