Possible military button find?

[Superdup]

Hi all,

Took a walk across a recently cleared lot in a historic area near Baton Rouge, LA and happened upon this guy lying on the surface.

It is hard to see in the pics, but the eagle has a shield on the breast with an "I" on the shield. There is some gold gild remaining, best se

en on the backside edges.

Online research suggested infantry of some kind but very difficult to pin down dates. I will say the eagle seems very rudimentary to me, and there is no writing on the back.

Any insight is very much appreciated!

 

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[Silvermonkey]

That sure looks like a military button to me. Hopefully someone will be able to help you nail down the exact type.

 

[GaRebel1861]

You need to return to that site with a metal detector before someone else does! If that was laying on the surface, there's no telling what else could be there. JMO - Good luck!

 

[Fredneck]

Civil War Infantry cuff... nice !

 

[oldmxrat]

Nice eyeball find, congrats!

 

[Gene Mean]

Very nice button! He was riding or walking that field when it fell off.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Unless it was an officer's button it would date from about 1840 to 1854. But, it could very well have seen service in the Civil War.

 

[Superdup]

Unless it was an officer's button it would date from about 1840 to 1854. But, it could very well have seen service in the Civil War.

Does the gold or goldsish gild help here?

 

[Superdup]

Does the gold or goldsish gild help here?

Found in an area that would have been involved in the battle of Baton Rouge (last dance of the CSS Arkansas)

 

[Bamasteve]

Very cool find, congrats!

 

[ColonelDan]

That is a military button and the "I "stands for Infantry. I've found several of these same buttons at a Second Seminole Indian War site circa 1837-1838
Congratulations!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice military relic.

 

[Superdup]

Very nice military relic.

Thanks everyone for the input!! Very excited...

Any suggestions on how to clean/preserve/protect, and a good display box dealer?

 

[Trezurehunter]

As far as display cases go, I have run the course. I have over 40 display cases and at first I was buying them from stores. Some of the best cases that I have, are the ones from garage sales and Estate sales. They are always reasonably priced as they are second hand. I also try to stick with the older vintage looking cases that enhance the item(s) inside and sticks with the theme of our hobby. You can go to home good stores or order online, they are literally everywhere. It just depends on what you want. My wife purchased a huge Lawyers bookcase for $50 at an estate sale, cleaned it up, did a little refinish on it, and it is by far my favorite case. It now houses some of my best (larger) relics.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Does the gold or goldsish gild help here?

No. Theses buttons with different letters in the shield were made from around 1840 to 1854. In 1854 the letter designations on all enlisted men's buttons were deleted. After 1854 only officer's buttons retained the letter in the shield.
As far as cleaning it, I would do as little as possible. It looks to be fragile and cleaning may actually hurt it.

 

[smokeythecat]

The "I" in the middle of the shield indicates it was for an officer. Nice job.

 

[Superdup]

The "I" in the middle of the shield indicates it was for an officer. Nice job.

Thanks ! All suggestions and information appreciated. I will leave it alone as is

 

[fyrffytr1]

The "I" in the middle of the shield indicates it was for an officer. Nice job.

Smokey,
Can you give me a link to the information you posted. I am confused, because I thought all buttons had the letter insignia in them until 1854.

 

[Fredneck]

General Order No. 31 in 1851. Pic is out of Alberts button book

 

[fyrffytr1]

General Order No. 31 in 1851. Pic is out of Alberts button book

I am more confused. Are you saying that the enlisted man's button didn't have a letter in it after 1851?