Skip to content

ATTENTION! Digital Pattern Special: A Complete U.S. Uniform Pattern Package for only $59.00

Purchase both a John T. Martin Contract Fatigue Blouse Pattern and a John T. Martin Contract Trouser Pattern, then receive over a 50% discount on the H.B. Lord Contract Issue Shirt Pattern when combined with your order!

Browse Patterns

Blog Posts

Museum Fundraising Tips for a Civil War Exhibit

Thinking about constructing or revitalizing a Civil War exhibit for your museum in the upcoming year? The fourth fiscal quarter is a perfect time to partner with funding entities to make your exhibit a reality! Here’s five fundraising tips to explore based on the experience of Civil War Patterns’ owner.

Mystery of the Mismatched Shirt Sleeves

Sometimes as a historian, I find it’s necessary to play the role of a detective and ask “whodunit” and “what’s the motive,” when working with the mysteries of Civil War material culture. One of these mysteries is the mismatched shirt sleeves that are occasionally encountered on Civil War era men’s shirts.

Sourcing and Distribution of U.S. Sanitary Commission Clothing

Hundreds of thousands of garments made through organized volunteer efforts on the home front, contributed to saving the lives of U.S. soldiers who were fighting to preserve our nation and make others free. Something as simple as a wool shirt could mean the difference between life and death during a war when more men died of illness than bullets and artillery.

Red Wool Flannel Shirts as Medicine

Red wool flannel shirts were common enough in the United States military during the Civil War that they are frequently depicted in historic artwork, written about in period narratives, and observed in tinted historic images—but there is not much evidence of them being contracted for and issued on a large scale by the United States military. That’s why it is exciting to discover red wool undergarments being specifically called for by the U.S. Sanitary Commission.
Close (esc)

Popup

Use this popup to embed a mailing list sign up form. Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page.

Age verification

By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol.

Search

Added to cart