The Civil War Relicman,
Harry Ridgeway.

Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!).
 authentic Civil War relics.

relicman.com.

Ridgeway Reference Archive, Civil War relics.
Insignia, officer shoulder straps.

This is the "Ridgeway Reference Archive", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader.   Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author.  None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale.  This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items.  I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me.
All items listed are believed to be original and authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.
Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.
Any artillery or ordnance relics have been disarmed and rendered safe.
Any weapons are pre 1898 antique weapons, and are exempt from Federal regulation, no licenses or permits are required.
This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

Officer shoulder straps, braided metal, single border.
 Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps.  Some were made of metal stamped with a false braided look, this pattern is single border.  Typically the strap was gilded, and attached to a stiff backing with 12 hooks soldered brass hooks.  Note that the pattern was some sort of stiff paper, it was not metal.
Ref: Crouch Artifacts, pg. 175.

M0432     Officer shoulder straps, braided metal, single border.
 Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps.  Some were made of metal stamped with a false braided look, this pattern is single border.  Typically the strap was gilded, and attached to a stiff backing with 12 hooks soldered brass hooks.  Note that the pattern was some sort of stiff paper, it was not metal.  Recovered: Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia.
Ref: Crouch Artifacts, pg. 175.

Officer shoulder straps, braided metal, double border.
Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps.  Some were made of metal stamped with a false braided look, this pattern is double border.  Typically the strap was gilded, and attached to a stiff backing with 16 hooks soldered brass hooks.  Note that the pattern was some sort of stiff paper, it was not metal.
Ref: Crouch Artifacts, pg. 175.

M0620     Officer shoulder straps, braided metal, double border.
 Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps.  Some were made of metal stamped with a false braided look, this pattern is double border.  Typically the strap was gilded, and attached to a stiff backing with 16 hooks soldered brass hooks.  Note that the pattern was some sort of stiff paper, it was not metal.  Recovered; Fairfax, Virginia.
Ref: Crouch Artifacts, pg. 175.

Officer shoulder straps, Captain Medical Service.
Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps, this is Captain (two bars on each side), with "MS" (Medical Service) in the middle.  Strap is cloth, embroidered, with cloth backing.
Ref: Lanham Army Shoulder Straps, pg. 76.

M1059     Officer shoulder straps, Captain Medical Service.
 Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps, this is Captain (two bars on each side), with "MS" (Medical Service) in the middle.  Strap is cloth, embroidered, with cloth backing.
Ref: Lanham Army Shoulder Straps, pg. 76.

Officer shoulder straps, Captain Infantry.
Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps, this is Captain (two bars on each side), with blue background for Infantry.  Strap is metal, with exposed metal backing using brass wire hooks for attachment.
Ref: Lanham Army Shoulder Straps, pg. 76.

M1060      Officer shoulder straps, Captain Infantry.
 Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps, this is Captain (two bars on each side), with blue background for Infantry.  Strap is metal, with exposed metal backing using brass wire hooks for attachment.
Ref: Lanham Army Shoulder Straps, pg. 76.

Officer shoulder straps, First Lieutenant Cavalry.
Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps, this is First Lieutenant (single bars on each side), with yellow background for Cavalry.  Strap is metal, with hard backing covered with cloth.  This is Smith's patent.
Ref: Lanham Army Shoulder Straps, pg. 76.

M1061     Officer shoulder straps, First Lieutenant Cavalry.
 Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps, this is First Lieutenant (single bars on each side), with yellow background for Cavalry.  Strap is metal, with hard backing covered with cloth.  This is Smith's patent.
Ref: Lanham Army Shoulder Straps, pg. 76.

Officer shoulder straps, Second Lieutenant, Artillery.
Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps, this is Second Lieutenant (no bars), with red background for Artillery.  Strap is cloth, embroidered, with cloth backing.
Ref: Lanham Army Shoulder Straps, pg. 76.

M1062     Officer shoulder straps, First Lieutenant, Artillery.
 Officer rank was indicated generally by the use of shoulder straps, this is Second Lieutenant (no bars), with red background for Artillery.  Strap is cloth, embroidered, with cloth backing.
Ref: Lanham Army Shoulder Straps, pg. 76.