✅ SOLVED Civil War Brass Eagle?

[EC.Mason]

A buddy and I went detecting at an old house foundation here in Eastern Kentucky. I found, what appears to be a brass eagle. I looked it up on the internet and it says its from the Civil War, but I wanted to get your alls opinion. I hope its Civil War! Below are front and back pictures. Thanks for any help or information on this.

 

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[kuger]

,just wait and you will see why I told ya t post it here....again stunning example....I just have never seen that rear attachment style so I am waiting to learn something too!

 

[EC.Mason]

I appreciate it Kuger. Im anxious as well to learn more about it. I seen one example of the back on the internet but it did not tell what it was exactly. The rest of the backs were made a little different.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your find is a Regulation 1826 US Army Enlisted-man's shoulder-belt plate (commonly known as an "eagle breastplate"). Because yours had three iron-wire hooks which are embedded in a lead-solder backfilling, it was manufactured sometime between 1831 and the 1850s. Being made long before the war began, and thus in much smaller quantity than the wartime version with two iron wire loops, your version is much more rare. For additional info (and photos of several varieties) see pages 274-285 in the book "American Military Belt Plates."

 

[EC.Mason]

Wow that is awesome! Thanks for the info Cannonball. I wonder if it was used in the Civil War or just owned by an earlier soldier.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Because you wondered if the 3-iron-hooks eagle breastplate you found could have seen service in the civil war or was just used by an earlier soldier, I did some additional research for you.

I super-magnified your photo of your breastplate's front, to try to find an EXACT match for it among the many variations of Model-1826 breastplates shown in the "American Military Belt Plates" book. After a lot of close squint-eyed examination, I succeeded. Your plate's exact match is shown in that book as plate #446, on page 282. The book says that particular version was made from 1836 to 1841, probably at the Allegheny Arsenal, and some have been found on civil war battlefields.

That information indicates it's at least possible that the one you found saw service in the civil war, rather than merely worn by an earlier (1840s-50s) soldier. You said you found it at an old house-site foundation in Kentucky. If there was any civil war activity at that house-site, there ought to be at least one or two 1861-1865 military relics there ...such as a civil war uniform button or a Minie-bullet. If you don't find any military relics there from that specific time-period, you've got the most-likely answer to your question.

 

[EC.Mason]

Wow thanks cannonball; that's some great information. I went back today and found three buttons, but I don't know if they are civil war or not. It's exciting that I finally found something decent!

 

[tennessee digger]

Post your button pictures. Tennessee digger

 

[EC.Mason]

OK digger give me a minute.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

CBG!

 

[EC.Mason]

Im trying to post the pictures but its not letting me for some reason. Ill keep trying. Bigcypresshunter, what does CBG mean? LOL sorry just not sure.

 

[EC.Mason]

 

[EC.Mason]

Heres the buttons I found today at the same site. For some reason it uploaded the picture twice. One says "BIG 3 Cincinnatti," and im sure is not extremely old. The other says "AJ Tower Co. Boston," from what I have read on here it says these buttons were made from the 1870's to about 1946. The third button, I am just not sure of.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Info (which you may have already seen) about the AJ Tower/Towers marked button:
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/147873-what.html

Also:
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/248456-button-fastener-id-date-help-needed.html

 

[EC.Mason]

Hey thanks Cannonball, that it interesting. I am still perplexed with the Big 3 Cincinnati button. Can't find anything on it except other people who have the same question that I do.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I could tell from the way your "Big 3 Cincinatti" button stands up in the photo that it is a rivet-button from overalls. (A rivet-button doesn't have a loop on its back, but instead is riveted to the cloth.) So, knowing it is from overalls, I did a websearch for "Big 3 overalls" - with the following results. Your "Big 3" overalls rivet-button dates from the 1920s, plus or minus a decade or so.
Union-Made: Circa 1926 Big 3 Overalls Memo Book

Also:
ITEM?? | Archive & Style??

Now that you know what the first two objects are, and their time-period, I need to see a photo of the 3rd object's back. From the way it too is "standing up" in the photo, it may be another variety of rivet-button.

 

[EC.Mason]

Cannonball, you ave answered my questions about everything I've found. You really know your stuff! That amazes me you knew those were from overalls. I have been searching the internet since I've been home for the Big 3 Cincinnati button. Ireally appreciate everything. It appears that the relics I have found at this site have all been from around 1936 down to possibly the 1830s. That amazes me.

 

[kuger]

Thanks for posting that plate and congrats again!!!Welcome aboard as well,stick around!!

 

[EC.Mason]

Hanks Kuger, I've been on the site for a few years. Just don't post a lot, I mostly like reading your alls posts. I was looking at your banner find, awesome coins. I have yet to find many coins aside from an Indian head nickeland modern change.

 

[kuger]

Hanks Kuger, I've been on the site for a few years. Just don't post a lot, I mostly like reading your alls posts. I was looking at your banner find, awesome coins. I have yet to find many coins aside from an Indian head nickeland modern change.

wise man!Keep after it.....there are more gold coins out there than people realize.....I promise you that