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1 Hi! I& #39;m @almostmartita. The ‘Revolutionary Buttons’ map project uses military buttons to explore themes of geography and clothing in the American War of Independence #WTOStakeover https://maphub.net/historyfashion/map">https://maphub.net/historyfa...
2 The buttons were found at Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. The fort was constructed from 1755-1757. It changed hands twice in the war. The Americans took it in 1775 during the first major American offensive. The British took it back in 1777.
3 The buttons were mostly identified by the regimental numbers stamped on them and plotted on a map according to where these regiments were traditionally drawn from. The British regiments came from England, Scotland, and Wales. The American regiments came from the North East.
4 The map was intended as an educational resource. The buttons are not easily searchable in the online collection catalog. The map is interactive, each location can be clicked on to see a description of the regiment and their role at Ticonderoga.
5 Creating the map raised questions about clothing. The 7th Regiment of Foot had their uniforms stolen by Americans in 1775, and a New Jersey regiment also donned redcoats. Many buttons remain unaccounted for. For example, the button from the 36th Regiment, which was in Ireland.
6 Some of these can be explained. The 26th regiment did not fight at the fort, but a detachment of 100 men joined a party that traveled through Canada and ended up at the fort. Further research may uncover more stories like this.
7 The Continental Army did not set a standard uniform until 1779. Washington fought constantly with the states to try and secure provisions for the men, but he often failed. Men wore what they could afford, which often created mismatched regiments (see below)
8 George Washington: “The Cloathing of the Troops is a matter of infinite importance, and if it could be accomplished would have a happy effect, many of em being entirely naked and most so thinly clad as to be unfit for service.”
9 Looting after battles was common at this time, and it would have been an obvious way for soldiers to secure supplies. But openly wearing a British coat was illegal for a patriot soldier, and it is more likely they just stripped the coats for supplies (buttons?)
10 Congress passed multiple laws against the selling and stealing of clothing among soldiers, suggesting it was a common problem. Punishments for individuals were severe, but soldiers continued to steal and trade.
11 Research has shown the importance of military buttons as carefully regulated symbols. The buttons that remain unaccounted for may represent instances of button theft by desperate Continental soldiers during the war, but more research needs to be done.
12 Military buttons are a common finding, but they can be hard to contextualize. The button map project is a useful educational resource that turns simple buttons into a tool of exploration. It also raises new questions about the clothing of Continental soldiers. Thanks!