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A friend of mine was doing some digging at a private civil war encampment location in East Tennessee (North East of Knoxville about 35 miles near Cumberland Gap). In a somewhat small location he found a couple of US buckles (not in good shape), a couple of gun pieces (in bad shape), and several buttons (in relatively good shape). He found a great deal of US general service eagle buttons, a few Federal Eagles with the I in the shield and then some random little tiny buttons....and here comes the question. The small buttons were a little bit smaller than what the federal great coat cape buttons or the buttons on the sides of forage caps would be. They have a 6 point star and what looks to me like a D in the middle of the star on the button. They are shanked buttons and have a makers mark on the back but I can't identify it. He wants to have an idea of what he found before he allows me to photograph them or I would post pictures. Any clues? Is there any other tell tell signs that I should look for that might help??
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Luke Gilly
Breckinridge Greys
Lodge 661 F&AM
"May the grass grow long on the road to hell." --an Irish toast -
Re: Button Identification
No picture, no ID. It's really hard to identify uncommon buttons with out a picture. They could be school or civilian buttons. Looks like he wants the cart before the horse.Jim Mayo
Portsmouth Rifles, Company G, 9th Va. Inf.
CW Show and Tell Site
http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/j_mayo/index.html -
Re: Button Identification
I agree with Jim. It's hard to even make a guess without seeing anything.
But in regards to a guess; Don't the Masons use a six pointed star on some of their stuff...?
Here is a link to a SEVEN pointed star on ebay.
And another button from an on-line dealer.
Louis Zenti
Pvt. Albert R. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-W.I.A. February 15, 1862)
Pvt. William H. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-K.I.A. February 15, 1862 Ft. Donelson)
Pvt. Simon Sams (Co. C, 18th Iowa Inf.-K.I.A. January 8, 1863 Springfield, MO)
Pvt. Elisha Cox (Co. C, 26th North Carolina Inf.-W.I.A. July 3, 1863 Gettysburg)
"...in the hottest of the fight, some of the rebs yelled out...them must be Iowa boys". Charles O. Musser 29th Iowa InfantryComment
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Re: Button Identification
Thanks for the pictures. I will try and see if I can convince him to let me post a picture after work.Luke Gilly
Breckinridge Greys
Lodge 661 F&AM
"May the grass grow long on the road to hell." --an Irish toastComment
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Re: Button Identification
Has been awhile since I started the thread. The owner of the button had a sudden death in the family and he was not able to discuss buttons for some time. Yesterday I ran into him and showed him the pictures posted above and we compared them to his buttons. His buttons are a less distinct star...they look more like a gear than a star and they have a distinct C in the middle. Still trying to convince him to let me post a picture...but he is a product of the Great Depression Era and is very careful with his valuables.Luke Gilly
Breckinridge Greys
Lodge 661 F&AM
"May the grass grow long on the road to hell." --an Irish toastComment
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Re: Button Identification
Luke-
Could they be North Carolina starburst buttons?
Louis Zenti
Pvt. Albert R. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-W.I.A. February 15, 1862)
Pvt. William H. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-K.I.A. February 15, 1862 Ft. Donelson)
Pvt. Simon Sams (Co. C, 18th Iowa Inf.-K.I.A. January 8, 1863 Springfield, MO)
Pvt. Elisha Cox (Co. C, 26th North Carolina Inf.-W.I.A. July 3, 1863 Gettysburg)
"...in the hottest of the fight, some of the rebs yelled out...them must be Iowa boys". Charles O. Musser 29th Iowa InfantryComment
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