Youll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

[john37115]

You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

I found this star at a known Confederate Camp this past January even posted a short Youtube video of it when it was dug. I have yet to get it positively ID'ed
I have had one friend tell me it was a very rare Texas Star worn by the Texas Rangers during the Civil war. I've heard the 3D on the star stands for 3rd Company Dragoons, 3rd Division Calvary. I was told this little piece was very valuable. I would love to get a positive ID. I have searched books, old pictures and relic dealers websites and cannot find anything just like it. I will include what data I have been able to find in this post. Are you up for the challenge?
Notice the Star on the hats of the Texas Rangers I've attached. Could this be it?

I've emailed pictures to Butch and Charlie over at American Digger Magazine. They tell me I have found a good one. They contacted Howard Crouch and in Howard's email response says he has seen these with different #'s and letters and this is an extremely rare 3rd Dragoons piece.
I am anxiously awaiting further contact with more information.

John

 

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[DCMatt]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is !

My first impression is your star is NOT a Texas ranger stars like the picture.

In the picture, the stars on all the hats are all right-side-up. Your star is up-side-down. If your star was on those hats, the letters would all be upside down.

Cool piece, though. There has been a number of "star" relics posted here over the last couple years. They always generate controversy.

DCMatt

 

[jeff of pa]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is !

odd the Star is Upside Down

the stars on the Republican elephant are upside down

Possably Political

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is !

My first impression is your star is NOT a Texas ranger stars like the picture.

In the picture, the stars on all the hats are all right-side-up. Your star is up-side-down. If your star was on those hats, the letters would all be upside down.

Cool piece, though. There has been a number of "star" relics posted here over the last couple years. They always generate controversy.

DCMatt

My first impression is your star is NOT a Texas ranger stars like the picture.

In the picture, the stars on all the hats are all right-side-up. Your star is up-side-down. If your star was on those hats, the letters would all be upside down.

Cool piece, though. There has been a number of "star" relics posted here over the last couple years. They always generate controversy.

DCMatt

Good eye Matt!

 

[john37115]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is !

I believe according to the pins on the back that the 3D would have been purposely written at an angle. This would make the Star right side up. Hmmm

 

[DCMatt]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is !

Perhaps a version of this?

Union Army, VII Corps, 3rd Division Badge

Camps sites were often used by both armies...

DCMatt

 

[johnnyi]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is !

It may be 3rd cav, 3rd, inf, etc, company "D". I know some infantry insignia had both the number and the letter; the letter standing for what company.

 

[john37115]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is !

I have also located this picture of Stars in the Crouch book. They are similar but not quite.
I do know by the OR's that JNO. A. Wharton's Calvary Division of Texas Rangers where in this Camp.

 

[72cheyenne]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is !

tag

 

[KirkTN]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

I'd say Crouch can and will fill you in when he has the data gathered. It sounds like this piece has excited him! That is Super News! When you're featured in his next book will you still detect with little brother?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

Didnt you dig a star 4H?

 

[rjw4law]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

This is a very very nice find....not sure what unit....CW for sure..... Many units liked the star on their hats....For instance the 9th Virginia Calvary had a a plain brass star....

 

[john37115]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

I got this email from Charles Harris with American Digger Magazine. I thought I would share this with you guys.
I am pasting his response.

> Hi John & Butch,


No, this is not from a "3D" movie but from the 3rd Dragoons. The Dragoons were the predecessor of the Civil War era Cavalry. To my knowledge, the only items similar to this beautiful star have come from the True West of the era, mostly from Texas sites where the dragoons were highly active in the 1830-40's era. This is also where the Colt Patterson revolvers, the Colt Walker revolvers & of course, the famous Colt Dragoon revolvers really made their name in history. The Colt Dragoon revolvers were a scaled down version of the humongous Colt Walkers, but I guess that I'm getting off of the subject here.

This nice little star luckily has all the 3 attachment brackets on the back side, which appear to be small loops soldered to the back side. I'm not really sure if this item would have been attached to the hat or the coat, maybe one of our other readers can help out on this fascet. I'm not finding it in Campbell & O'Donnells , American Military Headgear Insignia book, but I strongly suspect that it is used on one of the tall hats of the period & that it would have been mounted in the center of one of those large, but generic background plates. The "3D" probably stands for the 3rd Dragoons, Troop "D".

Oh, I just noticed that Butch forwarded a couple of Howard Crouch's comments about this plate to me. Here are Howard's comments: "Yes I have, very rare one, but with a different number and or letter. Third dragoons." & "The dragoons served almost entirely in the west. a lot of the rare stuff they had is scattered across thousands of miles of desert and woods."

A Great find.

Keep your powder dry,
Charlie Harris

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

Way to go John. That's a great dig indeed... HHHH

 

[Rasputin]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

Has anyone suggested banner yet? I will---Banner!

 

[Joe(TX)]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

.......I saw a similar one about 2005....found by Van Fossen of Houston Fame......he found it at a house construction site in the Heights....... although not exactly the same ....he said that his was a Republic of Texas Dragoons badge.......so it could be Republic of Texas or Texas Confederate.....also not sure if it was worn on the hat or the vest??...............Don't sell .......if you trade you better get at least a Babe Ruth rookie baseball card.........LOL........Joe

 

[Joe(TX)]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

...............This is a comment about the Texas Ranger Pic with the Ranger's posed with the Star on their caps..................there is a good possibility that this Star predates the invention of Photography.........Photography was in its infancy during the Civil War.....although the Star could be Texas Confederate....it could also be from the active period of the Republic of Texas which would date it from the 1830's to 1840's.............GREAT FIND ...........Joe

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

Didnt you dig a star 4H?

Yes Dale. I was just looking at the book. (above)#8 Very interesting. That looks very similar to mine that is thought to be cut from a button.. Looks just like it

 

[Joe(TX)]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

........BANNER........This is a very rare Relic either Texas Confederate or Republic of Texas......it is worth over $2000.00 or more Dollars........also the Pic of the Texas Rangers with the Star on their hats is Not this one.....that Pic is probably more like the 1870's or 1880's or so!!........(WTG......John)........HH......Joe

 

[haybudden2]

Re: You'll be a Star if you can tell me what this Star is ! UPDATE!!!

The picture posted near the beginning of this thread
Is of Company C, Terry's Texas Rangers. They served
four years attached to the Tennessee Army during
Confederate war. 1861-1864. Star very similar.
Peter L. Kendall, unidentified, Felix Grundy Kennedy, William A Lynch, and Thomas Burney.
All Texans from the Central Coastal area of Texas.

just a historical footnote.

Hay2