Uniforms Confederate cast Block I button

[ACobra289]

Hi all.

New member here from NC. I metal detect and have found a few CW buttons over the years, but they are a rare find for me. I found this recently in some woods where a small 1800's home once stood. My buddy also found a couple of Union general service buttons there.

It's 24mm with the wire shank. From what I can tell, I think it's the Albert CS185, Tice CSI281A variant.

My question is about the type of metal it's made of. I see references to "white" metal and pewter. I don't think it's brass, but I could be wrong. Is there a way to find out what it's made of? Any additional information would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Bill

 

[UCVRelics]

That's a nice one. It is indeed a pewter cast I. I have found many of the cast I in brass the pewters are rare. If you clean the back up a little more there should be a seam line as this was part of the pewter casting process. Here are some from my personnel collection.

 

[major bill]

A very nice find and a fairly rare button.ot is in nice shape as well.

 

[captaindrew]

Nice!

 

[A. Roy]

New member here from NC. I metal detect and have found a few CW buttons over the years, but they are a rare find for me. I found this recently in some woods where a small 1800's home once stood. My buddy also found a couple of Union general service buttons there.

Bill -- Thanks for showing us this great find! Where are you in NC? I'm in Raleigh -- interested in knowing where others are.

Roy B.

 

[Package4]

Hi all.

New member here from NC. I metal detect and have found a few CW buttons over the years, but they are a rare find for me. I found this recently in some woods where a small 1800's home once stood. My buddy also found a couple of Union general service buttons there.

It's 24mm with the wire shank. From what I can tell, I think it's the Albert CS185, Tice CSI281A variant.

My question is about the type of metal it's made of. I see references to "white" metal and pewter. I don't think it's brass, but I could be wrong. Is there a way to find out what it's made of? Any additional information would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Bill

View attachment 350591

View attachment 350592

View attachment 350593

Great find, congratulations and welcome from Maryland!

 

[ACobra289]

Thanks everyone! I was going to try to quote several of you, but had some issues getting that to work right.

I live in Winston-Salem, which is about 1.5 hours west of Raleigh. I have a buddy that lives near Raleigh and sometimes we go there to dig and sometimes he'll come here.

I have only brushed the front with a soft bristle toothbrush. I did try to clean the back with one of Andre's pencils, but didn't want to get too aggressive with it. Should I just leave it as is or try to do any additional cleaning?

ucvrelics, that is a nice collection of buttons! I can only dream of finding that many. If you look at the last pic I posted, you can sort of make out the seam at about 12 o'clock. I would like to get the back a little cleaner but don't want to do any harm to it.

Thanks again!
Bill

 

[UCVRelics]

Thanks everyone! I was going to try to quote several of you, but had some issues getting that to work right.

I live in Winston-Salem, which is about 1.5 hours west of Raleigh. I have a buddy that lives near Raleigh and sometimes we go there to dig and sometimes he'll come here.

I have only brushed the front with a soft bristle toothbrush. I did try to clean the back with one of Andre's pencils, but didn't want to get too aggressive with it. Should I just leave it as is or try to do any additional cleaning?

ucvrelics, that is a nice collection of buttons! I can only dream of finding that many. If you look at the last pic I posted, you can sort of make out the seam at about 12 o'clock. I would like to get the back a little cleaner but don't want to do any harm to it.

Thanks again!
Bill

Just leave it as is.

 

[Tom Hughes]

Hi all.

New member here from NC. I metal detect and have found a few CW buttons over the years, but they are a rare find for me. I found this recently in some woods where a small 1800's home once stood. My buddy also found a couple of Union general service buttons there.

It's 24mm with the wire shank. From what I can tell, I think it's the Albert CS185, Tice CSI281A variant.

My question is about the type of metal it's made of. I see references to "white" metal and pewter. I don't think it's brass, but I could be wrong. Is there a way to find out what it's made of? Any additional information would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Bill

View attachment 350591

View attachment 350592

View attachment 350593

Congrats on your button. That's a nice relic. Some of the best civil war relics are found around home sites!

 

[PrivateBrooke]

Nice button! I wasn't aware they came in pewter, but can't say I'm surprised...

 

[rebracer]

@ACobra289, were these found within or in the immediate vicinity of the home-site footprint?

I ask as we own property where there had been a farm/home site dating back to pre-war, we have located the remains of the house and it appears based on what we have dug, that when it either burned or was demolished they pushed all debris down hill. We are also working on determining where their trash pit was.

I am curious on what you found at your site based on location relative to where the home was.

 

[ACobra289]

@ACobra289, were these found within or in the immediate vicinity of the home-site footprint?

I ask as we own property where there had been a farm/home site dating back to pre-war, we have located the remains of the house and it appears based on what we have dug, that when it either burned or was demolished they pushed all debris down hill. We are also working on determining where their trash pit was.

I am curious on what you found at your site based on location relative to where the home was.

Hi Rebracer,

Where we are hunting is a very small ridge line. Maybe 30 or 40 yards across with slopes on either side. I thought that was an odd place to build homes even if they were sharecroppers or slaves. But the owner said that someone told him there were several small houses there at some point. The only indication now is iron in the ground. The few good finds we had were found on the slopes around where we assume the house sat. We did find a few flat buttons within the likely footprint of the house. We're also looking for their trash pit but haven't had any luck yet.

Good luck with your search!

 

[UCVRelics]

Nice button! I wasn't aware they came in pewter, but can't say I'm surprised...

Yes as late in the war the CS needed brass for other thinks like percussion caps and cannon friction primers.

We're also looking for their trash pit but haven't had any luck yet.

Look for the privies. You will need a rod to locate but the depressions of it should be no more than 100 feet behind the house. The are a GOLD MINE.