Always good questions when collecting! The reference to the buttons being taken at Melbourne appears to be ones that were given
to female admirers based on the 1867 book written by an officer of the Shennadoah. The buttons and cuff links I have are authentic CS Navy buttons. They are accompanied by a note and envelope from Whittle's daughter to his grandaughter stating that the buttons are from his coat. So, it could have been his everyday fatigue coat or just additional uniforn coat.

In the world of Civil War collecting you are never sure unless you see them cut off his jacket with him wearing it! These have pretty
good provenance as it goes though.

Thanks for the information on his jacket at the Museum of the Confederacy. I wasnt aware of that.

jr