Confederate Adjutant General button

The Civil War Relicman,
Harry Ridgeway

Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!)
I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics

This page updated   August 23, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War Archive 
Federal Officer buttons (GS...) 

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years.  This archive record is for educational purposes only.  Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author.  None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.

All  items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.   Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.    This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

Federal officer buttons, Albert GS series, listed by backmark groups, each die variant shown as I find them:

Federal officer button, "Evans... (D Evans)":

B4110     Federal officer staff button (22mm)
 
Backmark: "D Evans & Co / Attleboro Mass" dm inner ring of dots, this is one of only very few staff buttons with wide rim that is considered to be Civil War period.
Motif depicts 22 stars, 3 arrows in left talon
Stand up shank intact, fully gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS7, Tice GS212A2

B4106     Federal officer staff button (15mm)
 
Backmark: "D Evans & Co / Extra" dm
Motif depicts 24 stars, 3 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice unlisted  

Federal officer button, "Extra Quality.....":

B5018     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) (22mm) 
B5018.jpg (30041 bytes) B5018B.jpg (35163 bytes)
Federal officer button depicts the seal of the United States. Button was worn by officers of both sides. Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon. 
Backmark: "EXTRA / * QUALITY * " dm small letters between rings of dots, no well for shank, Scovill produced ca 1860. (ExtraQ02) 
Three part officer or "staff" coat button. 
Stand up shank intact, top grade gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS5. Tice GS

B4615     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) nondug (23mm)
 
Backmark: "Extra Quality" dm between rings
Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS226A24

B4095     Federal officer staff button,  (22.2mm)
 
Backmark: "Extra / Quality" dm between two rings of dots
Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice unlisted

B4507     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) nondug (23mm)
 
Backmark: "Extra Quality" dm between rings. Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS226A24

B4115     Federal officer staff button, (22.2mm) silvered
 
Backmark: "Extra / Quality" dm between two rings of dots
Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful silvered nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice unlisted

B4097     Federal officer staff button, (21.9mm)
 
Backmark: "Extra / Quality" rmdc
Motif depicts 27 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice unlisted

B4508     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) (23mm)
   
Backmark: "Extra Quality" floral design on each side dm. Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS226A24

B4509     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) (23mm)
 
Backmark: "Extra Quality" dm between rings (rare version of Extra Quality). Motif depicts 23 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS228B5

Federal officer button, "Horstmann Allien...":

B4725     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) (23mm)
 
Backmark: "Horstmann Bro & Allien / NY" rmdc
Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS11, Tice GS220A1

B5344     Federal officer staff button (22.7mm)   
 
Eagle facing right, 28 stars, 4 arrows in right talon.  
Backmark:  "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / N.Y. " , dm no rings, probably Steele & Johnson ca 1860. (HorstmannA12)  
Three part officer style button, coat size.  
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert GS17 not listed, Tice GS226A10  

Federal officer button, "Horstmann Bro...":

B4099     Federal officer staff button, (22.5mm)
 
Backmark: "Horstmann Bro & Co / PhilA" rmdc 1860 mark
Motif depicts 21 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS218A2

B5346     Federal officer staff button (22.7mm) 
 
Eagle facing right, 30 stars, 4 arrows in right talon.
Backmark:  "HORSTMANN BROTHERS & CO / (dot) PHIL (dot) " dm between two rings of dots. Ca 1860, probably manufactured by Steele & Johnson for Horstmann. (HorstmannB03)
Three part officer style button, coat size.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS18A, Tice GS series unlisted   

Federal officer button, "Horstmann...  (WH Horstmann)":

Federal officer button, "JML.... (JML Scovill)":

B4103     Federal officer staff button (22.2mm)
 
Backmark: "JML & WH Scovill / Waterbury / Extra Superfine" dm Motif depicts 24 stars, 5 arrows in right talon, unusual look for eagle is 1830's style, low convex two piece button, rare button!
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS21, Tice GSD240A7

Federal officer button, "Mintzer.... (WG Mintzer)":

B4112     Federal officer staff button (22.5mm)
 
Backmark: "W G Mintzer / PhilD" dm two rings of dots,
Motif depicts 25 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, fully gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS226A12

Federal officer button, "Robinson.... (R & W Robinson)":

B4108     Federal officer staff button (21.7mm)
 
Backmark: "R & W Robinson / Makers / Attleboro Mass" back is silvered, this is scarce pattern
Motif depicts 24 stars, 3 arrows in left talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS8, Tice GS214A1

B4109     Federal officer staff button (22mm)
 
Backmark: "R & W Robinson / Makers / Attleboro Mass" back is silvered, this is scarce pattern
Motif depicts 24 stars, 3 arrows in left talon
Stand up shank intact, fully gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS8, Tice GS214B1

B4561     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) nondug (14.5mm)
 
Backmark: "Robinsons / Makers" dm
Motif depicts 24 stars, 3 arrows in left talon
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS214 not listed

Federal officer button, "Schuyler.....":

B4111     Federal officer staff button, (22.3mm)
 
Backmark: "Schuyler H & G / New York" dm two rings of dots,
Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, fully gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS226A15

B5021     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) (22.2mm) 
B5021.jpg (30160 bytes) B5021B.jpg (41158 bytes)
Federal officer button depicts the seal of the United States. Button was worn by officers of both sides. Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon 
Backmark: "SCHUYLER. HARTLEY. / * & GRAHAM * / NEW - YORK. ****** " dm with two rings of dashes, producer not known, ca 1850's (Schuyler22) 
Three part officer or "staff" coat button. 
Stand up shank intact, top grade gilded nondug button. 
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS

B4102     Federal officer staff button (15mm)
 
Backmark: "Schuyler H & G / N York" dm, mark crowds the rim
Motif depicts 19 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice unlisted

Federal officer button, "Scovill MG....":

B5019     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) (22.2mm)
B5019.jpg (30548 bytes) B5019B.jpg (37717 bytes)
Federal officer button depicts the seal of the United States. Button was worn by officers of both sides. Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon 
Backmark: "SCOVILL MG CO / WATERBURY " dm small letters, inner solid ring, lettering crowds the rim, ca early 1850's. (ScovillM01)
Three part officer or "staff" coat button. 
Stand up shank intact, top grade gilded nondug button. 
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS 

Federal officer button, "Scovill MFG....":

B4114     Federal officer staff button (22.2mm)
 
Backmark: "Scovill Mf'g Co / Waterbury" dm between two rings of dots
Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, fully gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS226A19

B4510     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) (23mm)
 
Backmark: "Scovill Mf'g Co / Waterbury." dm between rings. Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS226A18

B4096     Federal officer staff button, (15mm)
 
Backmark: "Scovill Mf'g Co / Waterbury" dm inner ring of dots
Motif depicts 19 stars, 3 arrows in left talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice unlisted

Federal officer button, "Smith.... (W H Smith)":

B5020     Federal officer staff button, (24 stars) (22.2mm)
B5020.jpg (32905 bytes) B5020B.jpg (39858 bytes)
Federal officer button depicts the seal of the United States. Button was worn by officers of both sides. Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon 
Backmark: "WM. H. SMITH & CO / * NEW - YORK * " dm between one outer solid ring, and two inner rings, Scovill produced ca 1840's to 1850's. (SmithWH03) 
Three part officer or "staff" coat button. 
Stand up shank intact, top grade gilded nondug button. 
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS

Federal officer button, "Steele & Johnson....":

B4098     Federal officer staff button,  (21.9mm)
 
Backmark: "Steele & Johnson" dm between two rings of dots
Motif depicts 24 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice GS226A21  

Federal officer button, "Superior Quality....":

B4093     Federal officer staff button, (23mm)
 
Backmark: "Superior / Quality" dm between two rings of dots
Motif depicts 29 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice unlisted

B4092     Federal officer staff button,  (15mm)
 
Backmark: "Superior / Quality" dm inner ring of dots
Motif depicts 20 stars, 3 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, Tice unlisted

Federal officer button, "Warranted....":

B4107     Federal officer staff button (21.7mm)
 
Backmark: "Warranted (italics) / Rich Treble/" dm inner ring of stars
Motif depicts 24 stars, 3 arrows in left talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS8, Tice GS214A2

Federal officer button, "Waterbury Button Co....":

B4101     Federal officer staff button (22.2mm)
 
Backmark: "Superfine Gold plated / WBCo" dm backmark is 1870 to 1890, postwar button.
Motif depicts 23 stars, 4 arrows in right talon
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS, post war button

Federal officer button, "Young Smith....":

B4104     Federal officer staff button (22.3mm)
 
Backmark: "Young Smith & Co / New York" dm outer ring, two inner rings Motif depicts 24 stars, 6 arrows in right talon, unusual look for eagle is 1830's style, low convex two piece button, rare button!
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert GS22, Tice GSD242A2

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