General Service Eagle Buttons used in both armies?

[Drumfish420]

Can anyone provide some insight on the use of the General Service Eagle buttons during the war? I know they were primarily used by Union troops but I have seen several depictions of Confederate uniforms with the same buttons. Is there anyway to tell if one was used by one side or the other? I have several here and wondering if I can differentiate between US and CS. Thanks!

 

[UCVRelics]

There are only a few ways to tell if US or CS as all of them were made up north. Being dug in a CS camp or ones that are on an original CS uniform. As far as just loose buttons there is no way to tell where they came from.

 

[Frederick14Va]

General service Eagle buttons were of course Federal make and use. Yes Confederates also made use of them when obtained, captured. Hence you can notice them on CS uniforms both Western & Eastern theater from time to time. Regardless who may have made use of one its still a Federal made button. CS didnt make these GS Eagles themselves.

One observation looking at the dead in Petersburg trenches after the breakthrough. Souvenir hunters had removed the buttons off the CS dead... except those who were wearing jackets that had Eagle buttons on them.

 

[Bentonville]

General service Eagle buttons were of course Federal make and use. Yes Confederates also made use of them when obtained, captured. Hence you can notice them on CS uniforms both Western & Eastern theater from time to time. Regardless who may have made use of one its still a Federal made button. CS didnt make these GS Eagles themselves.

One observation looking at the dead in Petersburg trenches after the breakthrough. Souvenir hunters had removed the buttons off the CS dead... except those who were wearing jackets that had Eagle buttons on them.

That is true, generally. Richmond did have some Federal copies or close to. The south didn't have the sufficient capacity to turn out that much brass for buttons to any great extent.

States did. Louisiana is a great example. The government was rather busy making myriad of buckles, using it on artillery pieces.

I have seen some buttons are strange and not reproduction. Possibly single run. CSMC officer's buttons leap to mind. But even they would take what was around. Infantry 'I' buttons were de rigure.

Mind you that is from what I gather.

Waterbury, CT was Brass City and they had buttons buy the ton most likely. In states where there were already militia units it was easier to just buy them than have them made up in state. When arsenals were seized uniforms were taken aling with what ever arms (no matter the condition) and I bet my last buck that buttons were taken too.

As shoes were being taken from dead or dying it wouldn't surprise me that losing a button in combat someone wouldn't have cut a few off the deceased.

 

[Drumfish420]

Thanks guys!

 

[VaFredneck]

Thanks guys!

The Eagle buttons I've pulled out of Confederate camps were all Eagle "I" overcoat, and for whatever reason with D Evans backmarks.

 

[Bentonville]

The Eagle buttons I've pulled out of Confederate camps were all Eagle "I" overcoat, and for whatever reason with D Evans backmarks.

I'll find out about D Evans.

 

[R. Porter]

American Military Button Makers and Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates by William McGuinn and Bruce Bazelon, page 26:

Daniel Evans was originally the bookkeeper for R. & W. Robinson; a button company in Attleboro, MA. Evens' company began around 1848 when he took over the Robinson's uniform button factory. Evens died in 1892 but the company contiued until 1945.