Civil War army-issue undergarments are extremely rare. They were made and issued in huge numbers, but were characteristically cheaply made, often disliked, and hardly worth preservation as a cherished relic of wartime service. Very few survive even though Osman estimated US purchases of drawers at 11 million, with hundreds of thousands more made at clothing depots. Most were cotton flannel, but there were some knit, domet flannel, or other types specified in individual contracts. They were ankle length, fitted with cloth ties at the slit ankles to keep them from riding up, fastened by two buttons at the waist and laced across the open V at the rear of the waistband through sewn grommet holes for adjustment, They were issued in three sizes, which were often all too small, in one weight of material that was often too hot in warm weather and not warm enough in cold. Many troops thus relied on private purchases or dispensed with them altogether. A study of a company of the 33rd Mass. on campaign indicated perhaps one man in three was not drawing issue drawers.
 
This set of army issue drawers is COMPLETELY  intact and in great condition. It was found in a collection from Philadelphia, along with an officer grade dress shirt, and is almost identical to examples in the Gettysburg Military Park collection. Made from cotton osnaburg, it is entirely hand sewn, with hand-whipped button holes. Bone buttons appear original to the garment, and there are no contractor/ inspector stamps, typical of early war issue. It displays very well, is very, very scarce, and would fill a gap in just about every Civil War collection out there, private or public.