Housewifes and Rollups

? (Probably Joel) C. Butler

Co. D 8th Regt

Ind Vol 

This may have been made for Joel or Theodore Butler of Wayne County, Indiana

Godey's pattern for a "Housewife for a Gentleman"

While a housewife or sewing kit for a lady might be stitched of  colorful scraps, a soldier's sewing roll up was often more austere with an outside layer of leather or oil cloth.

Inside: pincushions and pockets of dark silks and wools.

Most of these photos are from online auctions

Red, white and blue

From Homefront & Battlefield

Exceptions are those decorated with monograms and patriotic images.

Housewife made for Confederate Lieutenant Colonel James T. Gee, Alabama

Fort Morgan Historical Site

Thread, needles, extra buttons might be included.

Boston Light Artillery

Kansas Museum of History

Above & below on display at the Atlanta History Center

Here's one packed with small, useful items 

One could keep a cased photo of a loved one as in Mr. Butler's at the top of the page,

or of a hero as in this one with a photograph of General George McClellan.

See more about James Gee's housewife at this post:
https://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-confederate-sewing-kit.html