What is this? What is this Button?

[J.H. Moose]

Bought this button in a lot, purported to come from the area around Smithfield, NC (presumably in one of Johnston's 1865 encampments)
I think the design is a deer, I figured Vermont at first but couldn't find a match online. I'm presuming it's just a common civilian style. What do y'all think?

 

[UCVRelics]

Its a civilian button as these type button with animals were popular. Vermont uses the Stag Head in their state seal below are a few examples.

 

[R. Porter]

It's a livery button. Thr stag head is a family crest. The line along the bottom of the stag's head would look like twisted cloth if you could see it better. These were buttons worn on the uniforms of the servants of large estates in Britain and the continent. I don't know how much of that carried over to the plantations of the south. Google, "livery buttons" and see if you can find the right family for that crest. Then see if anyone by that name was living near where the button was found. I suppose it could also have been purchased as part of a lot meant for a particular unit's uniforms. Or it could have gotten there some other way.