Please see my posting of 27 July 2009 in this thread. Neither signal corps, US nor CS, had a wartime manual, as we would consider it (thinking, say, in terms of the usual books -- Hardee, Gilham, and others); rather, written/printed instructions were one or a few pages, or, at most, what we would term a pamphlet -- to describe the version directed by Porter Alexander and executed by his brother, J.H. Alexander. A.J. Myer (US) followed suit in 1864, and then produced the original version of what became "Myer's Manual," which I would consider a book. That, again, combined with his weapon (which says "infantryman"), sets aside IMO any consideration of a signal-related object.

Is what I called Stuart's "battle shirt" comparable with those worn by other members of his unit, so that the essential features (such as the trim on either breast pocket) are clearer, and has anyone done a study of the company or regiment to see when issuance of clothing commenced? (That might help in establishing the date, which I am presuming is 1861.)