Civil War Period Man’s White Linen Shirt

Civil War Period Man’s White Linen Shirt – Original Civil War period men’s shirts have become extremely difficult to find now, so we were pleased to be able to recently obtain this fine example. This shirt remains in superior condition; it has the following, typical, war period characteristics: combination of hand and treadle machine sewing construction processes, underarm gussets, hand-whipped buttonholes, milk glass buttons, placket front, gathered back neck area, significant layover collar, fine linen composition and pull-over style.

Most shirts of the 1860s period were white and plainer than in previous decades, although stripes and plaids were still seen. Shirts continued to be in the pullover style with a partial front placket. Although many were made without collars or cuffs, numerous war period examples, as well as period images, indicate that both collars and cuffs were incorporated in period shirts. In the 1860s, collars were worn low on the neck and often turned down. Retired dress shirts were often worn collarless as work shirts. During the Victorian era a shirt was considered little more than an undergarment and a true gentleman would not be seen out of doors without a proper vest to cover his shirt. Shirts were tailored of natural textiles such as cotton, linen and silk. While solid white was a signature color for Victorian and Edwardian shirts, many a dandy fellow could be seen sporting stripes, plaids or paisleys. During the Civil War, soldiers often wore white shirts, particularly early in the war or when they were wearing civilian clothing. While the standard issue shirt for the Union army, which is extremely rare to find today, was gray or navy blue, many soldiers supplemented or replaced these with civilian-style shirts, often made of white linen or homespun.