Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

[Cumpston1862]

Gents-

OK the cast I buttons were a mid to late war issue from my research. But trying to find a more difinitive time when they were issued and who made them has been elusive for me.

In EOG ...of the Confederacy, pg 131 the "odd ticking-striped" frock worn by private Schumpert of the 3rd South Carolina Infantry; those are cast I buttons are they not?

If they are and he was wearing that frock at Chickamauga than the buttons would have been issued prior to September 1863. Also many cast I buttons seem to be found in Knoxville and in Virginia indicating some of Longstreet's men got them at some point during the Chickamauga-Knoxville time period as well.

Does anyone have pictures of other Confederate jackets with cast I buttons on them?

And does anyone have information pinpointing who made these buttons; and when they started issuing them?

[Dbackfed]

Re: Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

Hello,
It's most likely difficult to determine what buttons are on jackets unless it's face is very distinguishable like on eagle buttons or script buttons. Look up the Lazy Jack's Mess and their article index for buttons. They describe cast buttons in reasonable detail. Another thing to consider is looking at relic dealers and where they find buttons and when troops were in the area.

[roundshot]

Re: Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

Check out this link: http://lazyjackmess.com/button.htm

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

Thanks for the recommendations guys!

[Jimmayo]

Re: Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

I was once looking at the cast I buttons for more info. Couple of things are still hanging out in my head.

In my conversations with western theater relic hunters recoveries of the cast I buttons were as common as the tin or brass back two piece I buttons are in the East.

There was a display one of the Gettysburg Shows that featured cast brass from the Western theater. I asked the owner of the display where the cast buttons were made. He was of the opinion that they came from the Rome Ga. area.

I have found these buttons in Petersburg but the way troops were moving in and around the works it is impossible to determine who was wearing them.

That is my .02.

[GenuineInformation]

Re: Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

The "Oklahoma jacket", featured in Geoff Walden's article on Columbus Depot Jackets, has a Cast I button on it.

[brown]

Re: Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

Schumpert's frock didn't have those cast buttons on it until recent times, according to the former owner George Wray (they were added by the owner from whom he bought it). So sadly, they are not a match.

As for manufacturing, Rome, Ga, has long been associated with pewter cast belt plates and buttons. The yellow and red brass has been linked to a bunch of places, including Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Griffin, Georgia, but nothing definitive in my opinion.

[RNMCSA]

Re: Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

When did the pewter buttons come into use?

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Confederate Solid Cast Brass I Button

Gents-

Although not always possible and logistics were always an issue for the Confederacy during the war; would it not be sensible to have the buttons either shipped in proximity or made close by where the jackets were being produced?

From what I have been reading (the Lazy Jack's Mess website, the Walden Paper and other posts here) I am starting to think the Tuscaloosa theory holds a lot of merit as a production point for the cast I buttons.

Very interesting about the Schumpert frock by the way Lindsey...Thanks!