My First CS Civil War Button!

[Sooper Dave]

[size=medium]I went back to the place I found an 1841 Half Dime last week for another quick hunt after work this evening. The last time I was using my stock coil and getting through the heavy iron was tricky. This time I was using my 6x8 coil to get in between all of it. Not too far from where I dug the Half Dime I got a good signal and dug out a button. It came out pretty clean and with a little brushing I could tell right away what I had, My very first CS button and it's a very nice Script Infantry button! I dug a few harmonica reed pieces and some camp lead but not much more. I had to get home and cut grass.
It cleaned up well, I just dry brushed it off and used a toothpick to get in the tight spots. This is by far my best CW button and I'm very excited to have found it. HH David[/size]

 

[Jason in ID]

That button is sweet! Definitely one I'd like to find. You did a nice job cleaning it too.

 

[Dale(Ia)]

Can't get much nicer than that!

 

[Cladiator (OR)]

That's a beauty--it cleaned up well. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[ChicagoJohn]

Very nice! Own a piece of history!

 

[NebTrac]

Beautiful! Congratulations on a great find! Thanks for the pictures.

NebTrac

 

[Goes4ever]

very nice first CW button! I have found a lot of CW buttons but never a script one, that is awesome!

 

[Sooper Dave]

very nice first CW button! I have found a lot of CW buttons but never a script one, that is awesome!

Hey thanks! Yeah I have found a few Union Buttons from the Civil War but this is my first Confederate States button worn by a soldier in the Confederate Infantry. This was pretty high on my relic to find list. Seems to be a lot harder to find the CS stuff. The Union had a lot more guys in nice uniforms than the South.

 

[looknforgold]

Nice Button Dave... CW stuff is so interesting too me, Thanks for the pics

 

[moonshine]

beautiful button, help me shed my ignorance. how do you know its a civil war button, and what is the script saying, is it the letter "F"? and if so what does that mean?

 

[Sooper Dave]

beautiful button, help me shed my ignorance. how do you know its a civil war button, and what is the script saying, is it the letter "F"? and if so what does that mean?

Thanks moonshine! I should have put more of a description in my post of what this button means. Both Army's had different uniforms and had different buttons to determine the type of division that you were in. The most common type of button that the Union had was a General Service Button which has an eagle and shield on it. The Confederate Army used buttons with letters on them. The letters represent the type of division. The letters "A" for Artillery "C" for Calvary "R" for Riflemen and the "I" is for Infantry. The Union had letters on their buttons as well but was on the shield of those Eagle buttons.

The Confederate buttons had different styles of these letter buttons. They had block letters and script buttons. This one is a Script "I" button for the Confederate Infantry.

Army buttons normally have the Makers Mark on the back that can date and ID it. This type was made in London England by S. Isaac's Campbell & Co.
There is a lot of info on the web about Civil War relics.
I am in the Southeast where there was a ton of movements and camps going into small skirmishes and then into major battles. I get excited to find any CW relic but the Confederate relics are less common to find because the Southern Army had less guys and money so the "fancy" uniform dress wear was not available to them.

Sorry for such the long reply. I have been more of a coin shooter in the past but I am really getting into CW relic hunting and I am learning this type of stuff also.
HH- David

 

[moonshine]

That was very interesting and I appreciate it. I think buttons are cool, it would be nice to know more about them. Ill have to pay more attention to the ones I find.