Civil War button?

[A. F Medic]

I found this in 1985 with my metal detector. There is no shank or markers mark. This was found in my home town in a place that might have been a rally point for soldiers going South. It is about the size of a dime. Thanks.

Information

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[rayg]

Appears to be a 1902 pattern General Service button, Ray

[gsimmons]

Can we see the back?

[gew8805]

Appears to be a 1902 pattern General Service button, Ray

Rayg is absolutely correct, it is probably from a WW1 Doughboy's uniform.

[browningautorifle]

Those rally points didn't change much over the 60 odd years between the war between the States, Spanish, Mexican, great and second...matter of fact, if you look you'll find many are still in use. Not surprising to find neat stuff like that. Ft Lewis' fields were an example of that back in the '80s.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Jim is a great source for this stuff - He was probably there in person for all of these rallies!

(Just kidding Jim)

[browningautorifle]

Um.....

[gew8805]

Jim, you are not getting old. You are just getting better.

[browningautorifle]

Sometimes I think no, I'm just getting old...

[RT Ellis]

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.