1 Attachment(s)
U.S. Army buttons Civil War to modern identification
Attachment 56122
I thought you wouldn’t mind if I provided a primer on U.S. Army buttons for identification. These were handy and hastily assembled but I think the display useful. All the buttons in this image are coat size. There was larger (overcoat) and smaller (cuff, pocket, and mounted shell jackets) versions of these buttons. The Corps of Engineers was authorized a special design that featured the motto “ESSAYONS” on a ribbon, that are easy to identify.
1. Adopted in the 1850s and regulation until about 1872. Officers assigned to the line - artillery, cavalry, dragoons, infantry wore this same button with the appropriate letter of their branch in the center: i.e. “C” for cavalry and etc.
2. Staff and general officer button, contemporary with #1.
3. Adopted circa 1872, this button sometimes referred to as the “chicken eagle button” because of the goofy look of the head, long neck and short wings.
4. Staff officer button contemporary with #3.
5. Post 1902 bronzed version of #3.
6. Model 1902 bronzed button, that was the first to feature the national emblem still in use. There was also a gilt version of this button used on the dress uniform.
7. Model 1912 (1912-1926) bronzed button design that added a rim, and horizontal lines into the back ground.
8. Model 1912 dress uniform button, and starting in 1926 service uniform button, still in use.