Civil War Relics - Part 1

[Phantom Captain]

This thread discusses the Content article: Civil War Relics - Part 1

Wow!!

Very cool stuff and great finds!

I'm gonna do some research for you on a few of those items and I'll browse through some of my books and maps and see if I can pinpoint some unit locations for where those items were found.

The 13 star button I would say is obviously Confederate just for the fact that it does have 13 stars although I guess it could be some kind of state militia or issue button as well. I'm no expert on buttons but there should be a bunch of information out there. I will certainly look through some of my books and see what info I can dig out. No pun intended. The button with the A in the shield is an Artillery man's button. U.S but could also be Confederate. The eagle with the shield in front was the standard issue US uniform button.

The trigger and trigger guard is most certainly from a Springfield model or Springfield pattern rifle. Either an 1842, 1855, 1861 or 63. One of the locks (the second) is an Enfield pattern. The long tear drop one I'm not so sure of offhand but I should be able to figure that one out quite easily with a tiny bit of research.

Just very very cool all around and thanks for sharing this stuff with us!!

[Phantom Captain]

Hey again,

After further comparing and looking through some of my stuff the tear drop shaped lock is definitely from a French or Belgian copy Liege Musket! Very commonly imported during the war and most likely it was used by the Rebels although honestly either side could have had them.

[chantilly]

Louie, when I first saw the 13 star buttons, I figured \"13 stars = the CSA right ?\" But I couldn't find a match in my books, after searching the web, I found that they are known as the standard HBT (herringbone twill) tack buttons of WWII uniforms. The next large pictured button has the same pattern in the wreath above the eagle - so I think that is a WWII era button also. The 3rd picture down has the back of a Scovill Mfg Co. button - out of Waturbury Conn. = very popular button maker during the war. In the 4th picture down, the button with the letter A inside the crest is a that of a Union Artillery officer. The letters designated their service, A=artillery, C=cavalry, D=dragoon, I=infantry (looks like a few of those worn ones are US infantry), R=rifles, V=voltigeurs, the staff officers had a crest of their own.

In part II, the first cartridge is from a Remington Express 12 gauge, made long after the war. the other is a UMC PB22170. The Union Metallic Cartridge company started selling unloaded brass shot shells in 1868, so I think this one just missed the war too.