Spanish American US Navy Enlisted Uniform Yeoman 2CL, Samuel Claude Sessions

[SGM (ret.)]

Hi all,

 

I recently received this uniform from a family friend. It was left for the better part of the last century on a dirt basement floor. The sea bag that had held it had completely rotted away, and cleaning the uniform up was quite a bear. (The white uniform had completely rotted into dust and dirt.)

 

Fortunately, this uniform eventually clean-up with some elbow grease and TLC.

 

The grouping consists of the flat hat, the shirt, pants, ditty bag and a tintype of the owner wearing this (or another of the same type) uniform. The owner was Yeoman 2CL, Samuel Claude Sessions of South Carolina.

 

The ship he served on was the USS Vixen, a converted yacht that participated in the Battle of Santiago Bay (among other actions). The night before the fleet arrived to blockade Santiago Bay, two sailors (firemen) on board the Vixen were awared the Navy MoH for bravery during damage control in the engine room (steam pipe manifold gasket explosion).

 

This is somewhat outside of my normal collecting interest and experience, so if anyone has any comments or observations, please feel free to sound off.

 

Mike

[SGM (ret.)]

Here are some more views of the uniform:

 

A 3/4 rear view; The flat hat; a photo of the tintype. In the tintype, you can see Yoeman Sessions has his watch indicated on his left (port side) shoulder (remember the tintype is a mirror image) with white stripe.

 

The uniform has all of the features of the 1897 regulation pattern. This includes the small tie at the bottom of the front neck opening, the hand stiched white stars on the neck flap, and 11 buttons on the pants front opening.

 

 

 

 

Some details of the shirt front opening and the neck flap.

 

Note the discoloration (looks like fading) on the shirt is much more noticible in the photos than in person. The camera flash enhanced the difference I think because the discolored areas don't have as much nap on the fabric surface (these were areas that were in direct contact with the rotted sea bag and the dirt basement floor).

 

 

 

Close up of the obverse of one of the neck flap stars.

 

A reverse view of the same. (I didn't reduce the file sizes enough when I resized these photos and couldn't put both views on the same post- sorry).

 

 

Detail view of the pants front flap showing the 11 button opening. The number was later changed to 13 around the turn of the century. According to my research, the reason for the increase was only because more buttons were needed. It is an old wive's tale that the number was made to be 13 in honor of the original 13 states.

 

Also a view of the ditty bag. Does anyone know if sailors were given service numbers at such an early date? The number here, 2214, is stenciled on in black paint. The bag is hand-sewn. The only contents when I got it were about a dozen "clothes stops." These are pieces of light cotton line, about a foot in length, very carefully whipped on the ends which (according to my research) were used as sailor's "clothes pins" to tie washing onto a drying line.

 

I'd love to get some more information on how this (tying the washing onto a drying line) was done- beyond the obvious. I'd think that there must have been some "old salt" tricks to doing this chore.

 

 

 

Here's a view of the owner's name stenciled in white paint inside the cuffs of the pants. The name is repeated twice inside each cuff.

 

 

Here's the owner's name stenciled inside the shirt tail, once again in white paint. It is repeated in two other places around the inside of the shirt tails. It is interesting to note, the shirt tail is not hemmed, but is cut on the edge with a zig-zag and a single line of stiching. At first glance it looks like a selvage edge, but it's not. A strange construction detail.

 

 

Here's a shot of the inside of the hat. You'll note that the lining has almost rotted out, once again because of how the hat was laying on the dirt floor. The lining is a blue-white checked cotton "ticking" type material. The headband is a heavy burlap material sandwitched inside of the wool. You can also see the owner's name stamped in white paint (same size stamp as was used in the shirt tails).

 

Fortunately, the interior damage is not visible on the outside of the hat, so it still displays quite nicely.

 

 

Final view for tonight's postings.

 

Here's the Yeoman 2nd Class sleeve insignia. It's been carefully hand-sewn using a cross stiched type pattern. The red stripes are a fine, crushed velvet.

 

The black silk neckerchief and the knife lanyard are repros. The silk neckerchief is OK for this display, but I am looking for an original, turn-of-the-century Navy issue knife lanyard.

 

I have a couple of detail pictures of what these lanyards look like if someone isn't sure what I'm talking about. If I can't find an issue one, then I'm planning to "lay" one up myself using bleached cotton line. (I braded the one in the photos from nylon cord for practice.)

 

Hope someone out there found this unifom interesting. I've learned a lot researching this one. (I never knew much at all about the Spanish American War, much less about the Naval battles!)

 

Take care,

Mike

 

PS, Sorry for having to make so many separate postings. I should have resized all of the photos to much smaller files.

[usmcraidergirl]

What an excellent find! It is SOOO rare to find a Navy uniform from this period that is un-messed with... and not to mention it is nearly impossible to find one to a guy that is named (and the name is still visible) AND a picture! Wow!

[SGM (ret.)]

Thanks Raider Girl.

 

I was horrified when the family friend handed me a plastic garbage bag from out of the trunk of her car with the uniform in it. She had cleaned out her deceased father's basement, and the old rotted seabag was burried under a pile of junk. The lady's an old friend of my mother's; they grew up together, and she knows about my collecting. Bless her heart for thinking about me and scraping the uniform up off the dirt floor.

 

(I thought it was pretty hopeless when I started looking at it. Patience, cold water, and Woolite along with some gentle, but persistant, scrubbing and scraping brought it back. I do have the missing buttons, too, and may sew them back onto the shirt cuffs and pants front at some later date.)

 

Yeoman Sessions was her uncle (father's older brother), and she still has several other tintypes of him from this time period. He originally joined the SC State Militia and then enlisted in the US Navy at the start of the SAW. The other photos show him in his state militia uniform and wearing his white uniform (from the photographer's studeo background, possibly taken in Cuba after the war).

 

As for the markings: the uniform is marked exactly according to the 1897 Navy uniform regulations, as far as I can tell. (With the exception of the multiple / repeated stencils: I would guess this was done because the first markings applied were not 100% legible.)

 

I'd be interested in any other information that other members might have in reference to these uniforms. In particular, I'm trying to figure out the "service number" (presumably) that's stenciled on the ditty bag. My reading of the 1897 Uniform regulations don't mention any kind of service numbers, so I'm not sure if that is in fact what the number is, if it was a service-wide usage, or only a fleet or ship afectation.

 

I have some illustrations and text from the 1897 regulations that I'll post later to show and describe the uniform details.

 

Mike

[QED4]

First let me say Great Uniform. Now you ask how the stops were used, they were used two ways, first each piece of the uniform was rolled and tied with them. This was done for inspections and to make packing the sea bag easier. Second they were used, as you said, as clothes pins, if you look at the bottom edge of the jumper you should see two holes with stitching around them on each side. The stops would be threaded through them and then it would be tied to a railing or what ever. The same should be found on the waist band of the pants. Also I am not sure if you tucked the jumper into the pants so we could see the top of the pants better but the jumper should not be tucked in. There should be a draw string at the bottom of the jumper, this would be pulled tight around the waist and the jumper bloused over the pants, much the same way the Army blouses the pants over the boots.

[SGM (ret.)]

Hi QED4.

 

Thanks for the reply and info on the clothes stops. The shirt and pants both do indeed have pairs of round, sewn eyelets (on the bottom sides of the shirt and the top sides of the pants). I had wondered about them, since they're clearly not useful for ventilation. Mystery solved! I suspected that there was more to the story than just the obvious.

 

As for blousing or not blousing the shirt (or jumper, as you refer to it): there's no blousing draw-cord on the bottom. It has a zig-zag, raw cut edge on the bottom (shirt tails) with a single line of stiching to keep it from unraveling. At first glance, it looks very much like a selvage edge, but on closer inspection, you can see that it was made that way. By the way, the eyelets for the clothes stops are on the side seams, just above the bottom edge of the shirt tail. So, I don't think the shirt could have originally had a tunnel sewn around the bottom for a draw-cord.

 

I'll post a picture later from the 1897 uniform regulation. It clearly shows the shirt bloused at the top of the pants. The only way this shirt could possibly be done so would have been by tucking it in. The shirt tail is also very long in comparison to, say, a modern dress shirt.

 

It's possible that the draw-cord was a later (or earlier?) design feature.

 

Thanks again for the reply,

Mike

[QED4]

Could you post a picture of the bottom of the jumper? There is so little good reference material on this period that every bit of information is a big help. I just looked in "Spanish American War 1898" by Ron Field and he shows a cabinet photo of two sailor with their jumpers definitely bloused as all you can see is the rolled under edge of both of them. However next to that picture is one of a Cutlass Drill where they have their jumpers tucked into their pants. I am now thinking that tucked in or not may have been the difference between the Dress Jumper and the Undress Jumper. I don't remember ever seeing what we think of today as an undress jumper (no cuffs and a plain bib) from that time period. If anyone else can shed any light on this I would be grateful as it really has me wondering now, another can of worms opened.

[hhbooker2]

"Regulations Governing the Uniform of Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men of the Unted States Navy With Plates - 1897" Here are Plates VI and VII which show both summer whites and winter blues for the 1897 uniform of enlisted men. Sarge Booker (hhbooker2@yahoo.com) (POST SCRIPT: Would you like to receive free scans by email? I can email you scans of Navy uniform regs from 1852 to 1941, including the 1897 uniform regs too, email me.)

[topdcnut]

Hi,

Nice grouping, the yeoman rating badge looks like 1905 through WW1. The Lanyard should be pictured in the 1897 regs. Too bad this group was not stored in a closet or the attic.

John

[SGM (ret.)]

QED4: I'll post a photo of the bottom edge of the overshirt when I get a chance. Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo of that, and I'm now away from home on business. But, not to worry, I will get you a picture of that detail. The regulations reference two different clothing items that we may be confusing here. One is a blue flannel jumper, the other is the blue overshirt. The uniform that I have posted is the overshirt. (Although in reading, there doesn't seem to be much difference between the construction of the two.)

 

hhbooker2: Sir, you beat me to the punch on posting the plates from the 1897 regulations. I won't repeat the ones you posted here, but will add the blue trousers plate and the text from the applicable section covering the overshirt and trousers.

 

From the Special Regulations Section of the book posted above:

 

OVERSHIRT.

For all enlisted men, except chief petty officers, officers' messmen, and bandsmen (Pl. VI, figs. 3 and 4).—Of dark navy-blue flan¬nel, loose in the body; back and breast to be of double thickness, such double part to descend four (4) inches below the line of the shoulder blades, and to be cut with a deep shield shape. Neck opening to extend downward seven (7) inches, and to be covered by a detachable breast piece of double thickness, having button¬holes in each corner and secured by four (4) corresponding buttons on inside of shirt. Sleeves to be from twenty (20) to twenty-three (23) inches in circumference, and to be sewed to cuffs in six box or double plaits, over the lower edges of which the upper edges of cuffs will be sewed Collar of double thickness; to be from nine (9) to ten (10) inches deep and from fifteen (15) to eighteen (18) inches long (according to size of shirt) ; square corners, to be trimmed with three (3) stripes of white linen tape three-sixteenths ( 1 3/16) of an inch wide and three-sixteenths (3/16) of an inch apart, the outer stripe to be one-quarter (1/4) of an inch from the edge, the stripes to extend down in front to the bottom of the neck opening; to have a plain five-pointed star, three-quarters (3/4) of an inch in diameter, worked in white in each corner, its center to be one and one-eighth (1 1/8) inches from inside (bottom and side) edges of inner stripe. Cuffs of double thickness, three (3) inches deep, with wrist slits extending three (3) inches above the upper edge of cuffs; to be fastened with two small black navy buttons; to be trimmed around with stripes of white linen tape three-sixteenths (3/16 )of an inch wide, as follows: For petty officers of the first, second, and third classes and enlisted men of the seaman first class, three (3) stripes, one-quarter (1/4) of an inch apart, the middle stripe to be in' the center line of the cuff; for enlisted men of the seaman second class, two (2) stripes, one-quarter (4) of an inch apart, the middle line of the space between the stripes to come over the middle of the cuff ; for enlisted men of the seaman third class, one (1) stripe, placed over the middle line of the cuff. A small pocket to be let into the left breast with a straight opening, strengthened at each end by a crow's-foot, or diamond point, worked in black silk; lining of pocket to be of same material as shirt.

 

BLUE TROUSERS.

For all enlisted men except chief petty officers, stewards, officers' cooks, and bandsmen (Pl. VIII, figs. 3 and 4).—Of dark navy-¬blue cloth; to fit snugly over the hip and clown the thigh to two (2) inches above the knee, from which point downward to be cut bell-shaped and full enough to be pulled over the thigh; one seam on each leg on the inside; wide turn-up hem at the bottom. Waist¬band to be two (2) inches wide in front and one and one-half (1 1/2) inches wide at the back, fastened in front by two (2) buttons, the lower one serving also as the center button for the flap; to have a gusset at center of back, two (2) inches wide at top (when open) and four and one-half (4 1/2) inches deep-that is, three (3) inches below the band-with six (6) eyelet holes on each side, two (2) of which shall be in each end of waistband, and a flat black-silk lacing, three-eighths (3/8) of an inch wide, run through them. Flap to be six and one-half (6 1/2) inches deep, with a crow's foot worked in black silk at the lower corners; upper corners to be rounded; to have eleven (11) buttonholes around the sides and upper edge so arranged as to show seven (7) across the top and three (3) on each side. Pocket in waistband on each side. Small black navy but¬tons to be used.

 

The plate illustration is from the regulation and the detail of the trouser's side is from my uniform. You can see the small sewn eyelets that QED4 mentioned were used to tie the trousers to a drying line when doing the washing. You can also see the black silk "crow's foot" referenced in the regulation.

 

You can find the regulation online at: <http://www.quarterdeck.org/uniforms/1897/21-37%20Enlisted%201897.htm>

 

 

 

Here's a plate of the blue uniform, but this time from the 1886 regulation. You can see some small detail differences, but these might be more in the area of artistic license. Here the shirt is either tucked into the pants or somehow otherwise bloused at the waist.

 

And on final detail of the shirt pocket area of my uniform. In this view, you can see the decorative stiching and the black silk "crow's foot" reinforcing. This photo also gives a better idea of the actual color of the uniform. It's quite a bit darker than the earlier photos I posted.

 

Mike

 

[SGM (ret.)]

Hi John (topdcnut),

 

Yes, the knife lanyard is illustrated in a regulation plate. I've also found a collection photo of one. The written description in the regulation implies that the lanyard could be hand-made (it gives the description of the brading style to be used - a flat sennit - and material - bleached cotton), but the illustration and photo of the issue lanyard clearly show a "factory made" lanyard made from a woven flat, almost harringbone-twill-like tape with a round, factory made knife loop.

 

I'm lamenting the fact that the lanyard wasn't stored with the rest of the uniform items and has been lost to history. Hence my hand-laid practice piece in the display and hope to find an original in the future.

 

US Navy uniforms are quite outside my regular collecting area. I'm interested in your comment reference the style of the rating badge. My research efforts, so far, have been pretty limited.

 

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the rating badge on my uniform and one of the ones illustrated in the 1897 regulations. There are obvious differences in the angle of the eagle's head, but the only references that I've read about the rating badges speak to the eagle's wing tips (either pointed up or out), but no mention of the head. Of course, the regulation plate is an artist rendering and not an actual badge. So, that could account for the difference (or not).

 

Perhaps someone can post some comparison photos of the rating badges as they appeared over various time periods. Might make a nice reference posting.

 

Mike

[sigsaye]

Here's a plate of the blue uniform, but this time from the 1886 regulation. You can see some small detail differences, but these might be more in the area of artistic license. Here the shirt is either tucked into the pants or somehow otherwise bloused at the waist.

 

And on final detail of the shirt pocket area of my uniform. In this view, you can see the decorative stiching and the black silk "crow's foot" reinforcing. This photo also gives a better idea of the actual color of the uniform. It's quite a bit darker than the earlier photos I posted.

 

Mike

The jumpers of the SAW still had draw strings in them. The jumpers them selves were now worn out of the trousers, so the original owner may have just removed it to reduce bulk. These draw strings were a feature of Navy jumpers until the end of WW 2. Most were removed, but my father says that he and others retained them to "semi-blouse" thier jumpers to hold cigarettes and such. The lanyard is actually an issue item and was worn from 1883 until 1913. It was not for a knife, but was expressley for the Sailors locker key. These turn up on e-bay every now and then.

 

At the time of the SAW, there was no specific "Undress blue jumper". Old blue uniforms were simply worn for work. Speaking of whick, you have your neckerchief rolled backwards. Once it is folded into a triangle, the point of the triangle is rolled in to the long edge. The number on the ditty bag woould be the Sailors "Billit Number" This number is assigned per ship. It is sometimes also refered to as a "Ships Number". This number corresponds to the "Watch, Quarter and Station Bill" that lays out where each Sailor is to be for each ships evolution, From where he slings his hammock, where his cleaning station is, battle station, coaling station and so forth.

 

And, that is a beutiful uniform. And of course, too bad the rest of the gear was lost. Great Job saving this one. Thank you.

 

Steve Hesson

[topdcnut]

Hi,

 

The issue type lanyard you are looking for is described in the 1897 uniform regs as a knife lanyard and pictured in the noted plate. Of course one hand made out of the proper dia. cotton line works too. I sent a scan of one of mine, they used to come up on ebay for about 10 bucks. They are shown in the 1905 regs in the pants pocket in the blues and in the jumper pocket of the whites.

 

T/Y John

[topdcnut]

Mike,

 

On the chevrons 1886-97 the chevrons were one piece of cloth with navy thread and padding behind each stripe. 1897-1905 individual chevrons still stitched through the face of the stripe no padding. and in 1905 to the mid 50's each stripe was sewn down with an overlocking stitch which apears on your uniforms rating badge, and of course the eagle differences.

 

Hope that helps, John

 

Also todays boatswain mates make thiers out of the line used in the shot line guns used to pass line between ships but I do not know the line dia. off hand.

[SGM (ret.)]

Hi all!

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm getting quite the education on the rating badges. Sarge Booker sent me a couple links by PM to his earlier postings in the Ranks and Ratings section, but thanks to everyone else too. (I can't believe that I never even looked into that section on the forum- go figure!)

 

John, if you ever decide to part with one of your lanyards, please keep me in mind. 'Til then, I'll keep practicing my 5-line flat sennit and Turk's head knots!

 

Thanks for the billet number explanation, Steve. I'll correct that neckerchief error as soon as I can. Such a simple thing, but now the written instructions that I was trying to follow seem so clear...

 

It's actually pretty nice to get out of your "collecting comfort zone" every now and again. I've had a ball diging into some new things.

 

v/r

Mike

[SGM (ret.)]

Hi again all,

 

I've been fortunate enough to receive some more items from the family of Samuel Sessions. These included several medals, numerous photos and tintypes, and a bunch of documents (which included two books on the Span-Am War that belonged to Sam and have inscriptions written by him in the frontspieces).

 

I also got some time to get QED4 some snap shots of the un-hemmed shirt tails. So, over the next few posts, I'll show the up-dated grouping with some of the nicer items and information about Sam's service.

 

As it turns out, he was a "double" Span-Am War vet, having served in the US Army (as a member of Company B, 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry) and the US Navy (from 1902-1905, part of the extension of the official war period which included the Phillipines Insurrection).

 

The ephemera items document this service record, as well as Sam's brief period as a member of the "Columbia Volunteers," a group that formed and drilled in January, 1918 with the anticipation (unfortunately, thwarted) of enlisting as a "company" in WW I.

 

At some time (the precise date is yet to be determined), he joined the United Spanish War Veterans (USWV), and served as a member and held several office positions until his death in about 1962.

 

The fist attachment shows the shirt tails that interested QED 4 and Steve (sigsaye). I believe that this uniform was in fact worn with the shirt tails tucked in. The tintype posted in one of the earlier posts shows, on close inspection, the glint of the pants buttons (look near his hand). In addition, the attachment below shows that the shirt tail was cut with "pinking" shears (creates a zig-zag cut edge) which was then followed by a single line of straight stitching. There is no indication that the shirt ever had any kind of draw-string or other hemming. This is, in my opinion, the way the shirt was manufactured. Finally, the shirt tails are longer than the crotch of the pants and whould have presented a very "un-military" appearance if worn un-tucked.

 

However, I remain open to other ideas on this.

[SGM (ret.)]

Of the other items that I've since received, Sam's medals are perhaps the most interesting here on the forum.

 

The picture below shows a "Souvenir" medal purchased at "Camp Cuba Libre, Jacksonville, Fla, 1898." Company B, 2nd SC Vol. Inf. spent a few weeks at Camp Cuba Libre before passing through Savana, GA on their way to occupation duty in Cuba. In the center of the reverse of the medal, on the brass disk, in nearly microscopic lettering, is the Lord's Prayer.

 

I couldn't believe it until I put the medal under magnification that the engraver was able to fit this text in a space only slightly bigger than a 1/2 inch in diameter.

 

The next medal is the US Army of Cuban Occupation Medal. This medal was established around 1918 and was awarded to veterans who applied and paid for it. (It was awarded free to those who were still in the Army.)

 

The medal is numbered on its rim. Although not illustrated, I also have the original single clutch ribbon.

 

Next up is Sam's Spanish-American War Service Medal. In much the same manner as the last medal, this one was also established around 1919 and was awarded to vets who applied and paid for it.

 

This medal is also serial numbered on its rim, and again, although not shown in this collage, I have the original clutch single place ribbon.

 

Sam was also very active in the United Spanish War Veterans organization. I have numerous documents (newspaper clippings, correspondence, membership cards, etc) that give some of the details of his activities.

 

He was a member of the David Dubose Giallard Camp #4, Columbia, South Carolina until his death in 1962. During his membership, he served as the Camp Commander (Adjutant?) ca. 1956-57 and as the Department of South Carolina Commander ca. 1958-59. These periods are based on incomplete information, but are about right.

 

Finding information on the membership medals has been pretty hard since the USWV no longer exists. I would appreciate any info that other members would share about the details of the different medals.

 

I believe that the ribbons with the pale blue edges signifies "Camp" duty or positions and the ribbons with the red edges indicate "Department" duty or position. The rank insignia at the top of the device (acting as the hanger) may indicate actual "command" position, while the same insignia on the ribbon may indicate former "ranks." The wreath around the medal may indicate that the wearer was serving as the unit's "Graves Registration Officer." Finally, there are two different sizes of the medals. The larger medals may be for "formal" occasions or indicate actual "command."

 

The medal below is a full-sized medal. The rank insignia is for a Department commander. This medal has had the standard ribbon (a miniture US Flag) replaced by a piece of heavy weight, rose and yellow silk. My assumption is that Sam used an actual piece of a Spanish flag presumably captured and divvied-up by his regiment while in Cuba. But that is speculation.

 

This next medal is also a full-sized medal. I believe that this one was the one Sam wore when he was the DD Gaillard Camp #4 commander.

 

This medal is a small-size (about two-thirds size of the full-size) medal.

 

I believe that this one signified Sam's former postion as the Department commander as well as his "current" duty as the department's "Graves Registration Officer." This would fit with the ephemera that included dozens of obituaries of Span-Am War veterans who were citizens of South Carolina. It appeared to me that he was keeping careful track, and there are also several USWV letters addressed to Sam requesting up-dated information on vets who had passed away over some time period.

 

Having said this, though, if this is not correct, please feel free to correct me.

 

This final medal is also small-sized and I believe that it was worn by Sam indicating his former position as "Camp" commander and "current" duty as the camp's Graves Registration Officer.

 

Again, if anyone else has any information of these USWV membership "medals" (badges, really), please don't hesitate to chime in.

 

BTW, Big Sarge Booker, I did use the illustrations you posted down in the medals forum to reason out some of the significance of these USWV medals. If I got it wrong, the errors are mine, and I appreciate your sharing the info.

 

If there's enough interest in this grouping, I'll post some more images tomorrow of some of the ephemera items.

[SGM (ret.)]

Following up the posts from yesterday, here are a few more items from the grouping, as it has grown.

 

Below is a collage of several tintypes and photos of SC Sessions. Most are obviously from his service in the Navy. However, the cabinet photo in the upper right shows a young, dashing Sam as he enlisted in Company B, 2nd SC Vol. Inf. The hand-written inscription on its reverse states that the date is 1898 and that he is 16 years old.

 

In the lower right is the hand-written inscription on the card cover of the tintype in the upper center (Sam and his shipmate in whites).

 

Next is a collage of images from a book that belonged to Sam: "South Carolina in the Spanish-American War" by General J.W. Floyd, the Adjutant General of the SC State Militia. It was published by the author in 1901 and lists every member of the state militia in each unit mustered for the war.

 

Shown are the cover, the title page, the several hand-written inscriptions that Sam made in different places in the book, and finally, Sam's name listed in the roster of Company B, 2nd SC Volunteer Infantry.

 

Interesting is the inscription with his pension munber.

 

Next is a collage of images from Sam's first edition copy of Friedel's "The Splendid Little War." In itself, the book is not especially rare, but what makes this copy so interesting are Sam's hand-written inscriptions noting his military service.

 

Next are images of the obverse and reverse of a Pensacola Navy Yard Gate Pass, issued to Yeoman SC Sessions by the XO of his ship, the USS VIXEN.

 

This pass was laminated at some time in the past by the family. The hand-written note on the reverse asking anyone who finds the pass to return it to the owner is pretty interesting. Although hard to see, there is a raised seal in the obverse lower left corner.

[Croix de Guerre]

FANTASTIC! Thank you for taking the time to post a wonderful group! I'm kind of a closet Span-Am guy, so this was very appreciated!

 

I have a WWI Navy group and it has the clothing strings as well. The image I'm including isn't Span-Am but what the heck?

[SGM (ret.)]

The last item I'd like to share is a leather (!) souvenir post card from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The reverse is addressed to one of Sam's relatives in Columbia, SC, but doesn't appear to have actually been posted.

 

The ship shown on the obverse is the USS AMPHITRITE, a Patrol Yacht (PY) in the same class as the USS VIXEN (PY-04).

 

If anyone would like to see more detailed images of any of these artifacts, please ask, and I'll try to oblige.

 

Finally, if anyone has any information or comments, especially on the correctness or accuracy of any of the information that I posted, don't hesitate to offer up your info. In particular, the details about the USWV membership medals (badges) are still a bit mushy for me. It seems that the best info available has only been published in some special medal collector periodicals which are nearly impossible to access.

 

At any rate, I hope someone else out there has found this interesting.

 

v/r

Mike

[SGM (ret.)]

FANTASTIC! Thank you for taking the time to post a wonderful group! I'm kind of a closet Span-Am guy, so this was very appreciated!

 

I have a WWI Navy group and it has the clothing strings as well. The image I'm including isn't Span-Am but what the heck?

 

Thanks for the kind words, Croix de Guerre! I'm glad someone else had found this as interesting as me. BTW, any info on the picture you posted? It looks like there's something embroidered on the bottom edge of the sweater.

[sigsaye]

I must appologize, I was absolutely wrong. The jumpers were still worn tucked in at this time. They came out in the 1905 regs. Are there four small buttons on the inside of the front of the neck opening? At this time, there was a small "dickie" buttoned there when worn.

 

Again, sorry about that.

 

Steve Hesson

[wingman68]

You did very well its a nice bit of kit for its age and looks to be in relatively good condition considering its age and storage conditions, I love it.

[SGM (ret.)]

Hi Steve,

 

Yes, there are four small internal buttons (one on each side of the lower end of the neck opening and one near each shoulder) for the "dickie" you mention. (On this example, there's actually only one button still present, but the stitches are there for the other three.)

 

I appreciate your observations, though. The discussion about blousing, tucking, or wearing the tails out prompted me to dig deeper into the subject than I might have otherwise, and so I've enjoyed it all the more.

 

Wingman68,

 

Thanks for the kind words.

 

For all,

 

One correction I'd like to make in the post with the leather post card: The USS AMPHITRITE was a monitor class ship, not a patrol yacht. It was the Guantanamo Bay station ship for most of the period of Yeoman SC Sessions Navy service. The USS VIXEN, Sam's ship, was a patrol yacht (PY-04), and according to the history I've been able to dig up, had brief periods when it was a tender for the AMPHITRITE.

 

Mike

[sigsaye]

Yeah, I went back and looked at your photos more closely, and could see that the jumper was actually bloused (the reason they were so long.) Then re-checked my old regs and it was in "05 when it changed, (also the dickie went away). I had been working on an article about ames 1860 cutlass' at the time and had a photo of SAW Sailors doiong cutlass drill on the peir and they were tucked in tight. Don't know why I got lost and quoted the next gen regs.

 

Beutiful uniform by the way, Thanks again.

 

Steve Hesson