Irish Jasper Greens CSA: Button

[Legion Para]

Extremely rare button of the Irish Jasper Greens.



http://savannahnow.com/accent/2012-03-18/jasper-greens-officially-recognized-georgia-1842

Irish Jasper Greens officially recognized by Georgia in 1843

Before the Civil War, there was a growing population of Irish immigrants coming to Savannah in search of work. To help them feel more a part of their new home, many of these young Irish men got together, and in 1842 they formed their own military unit.

The Irish Jasper Greens, named for Sgt. William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero during the Siege of Savannah, were officially recognized by the state in February 1843. Soon after, they were chosen to represent Georgia during the Mexican-American War in 1846. With no army existing in the South, once Georgia seceded from the Union, these battle-tested veterans promptly volunteered for duty.

During the early months of 1861, the two companies that made up the Irish Jasper Greens helped garrison the river batteries including Fort Pulaski. Fortunately for these men, they were not at Fort Pulaski when it fell under heavy siege in April 1862.

With the fall of Fort Pulaski, the defense of Savannah now moved closer to the city and centered on Fort Jackson. The unit was now stationed at Battery Lee, a large earthen fort built next to Fort Jackson along the Savannah River. Life at Battery Lee, where the Greens served until 1864, was no picnic. Because of the fort's location and poor conditions, illness took more of a toll on the men than did war.

In May 1864, about 200 remaining members of the Irish Jasper Greens were called to Join Gen. Joseph E. Johnson's Army of Tennessee in his attempt to defend Atlanta. The First Georgia Volunteers, which the Greens were a part of, suffered loses during battles at Kennesaw Mountain and Smyrna Church.

Perhaps some of the men killed during this campaign are a part of the reported 28 members of the Greens killed in action and buried at the Catholic Cemetery in Savannah. Two separate monuments stand in the cemetery in honor of these men. The first was dedicated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1904. The second, a statue dedicated in 1910, is believed to stand on the ground where the men killed in action are buried. While there are more than 800 Confederate soldiers buried in Catholic Cemetery, many of which were Irish Jasper Greens, the majority of them were veterans when they died.

 

[major bill]

I find it interesting that some of these militia took the trouble to have buttons made for them.

 

[UCVRelics]

Many Southern as well as Northern States had pre-war militia and these units were decked out with the finest that their states could provide. Here are 2 more examples of Georgia militia buttons Lamar Mounted Rifles and the Republican Blues and an AVC button from my personnel collection.

 

[Pat Young]

Using the harp, a symbol of Ireland since the 13th Century.

 

[donna]

Beautiful buttons. I have a button collection but none like these. I do like to collect animal buttons. Have several of Scotty Dogs. I have an extensive collection of Scottish Terriers. I had these dogs for years.

Also have some old brass buttons and pearl ones. Also have more exotic animals like lions, and camel buttons. They were hard to find but I am always looking.