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 24, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War Archive 
Federal Infantry two piece buttons
(GI82 to GI92), 1840's through 1860's generally 

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 Infantry buttons, Albert GI82 to GI92 series, listed by backmark groups, individual die variants shown as they are found:

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Dale.... (Thomas N Dale)

B4122    Federal Infantry eagle "I" button (23mm)
 
Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. Button is believed to have been made by D Evans, based on similarity to D. Evans die, GI215A8 die 4A, eagle with very thick neck.
Backmark: "THOMAS N. DALE & CO. / NEW - YORK." dm ca 1860 and transitional after the war (Dale02)
Two piece overcoat size button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A5

B5042   Federal Infantry eagle "I" button (23mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. Button is believed to have been made by D Evans, based on similarity to D. Evans die, GI215A8 die 4C, eagle with relatively thicker neck.
Backmark: "THOMAS N. DALE & CO / * NEW - YORK * " dm ca 1860 and transitional after the war (Dale01)
Two piece overcoat size button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A5

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Evans.... (D Evans...)

B5039     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm)
 
Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. D Evans die variant with relatively narrow neck.
Backmark: "D. EVANS & CO. / * ATTLEBORO MASS * " dm inner ring of hyphens, transitional use ca 1860 to post war. (Evans04)
Eagle Infantry two piece button, overcoat size.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A8, die 4-B

B5463     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm)
 
Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. D Evans die variant with relatively narrow neck.  
Backmark: "D. EVANS & CO. / * ATTLEBORO MASS * " dm inner ring of hyphens,  transitional use ca 1860 to post war. (Evans04)  
Eagle Infantry two piece button, overcoat size, back is silvered!
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A8, die 4-B

B5040  Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. D Evans die variant with relatively wider neck.
Backmark: "D. EVANS & CO. / * ATTLEBORO MASS * " dm inner ring of hyphens, transitional use ca 1860 to post war. (Evans04)
Eagle Infantry two piece button, overcoat size.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A8, die 4-C

B4800     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button nondug (23mm)
 
Backmark: "D EVANS & CO / ATTLEBORO MASS" dm transitional backmark
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215A9     Verify this one 

B4123     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm)
 
Backmark: "D Evans & Co/ Attleboro Mass" dm
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215A9

B5051     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (15.1mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.
Backmark: "D. EVANS & CO. / SUPERFINE" dm inner ring of short hyphens (square dots) transitional use ca 1860 to post war. (Evans26As)
Eagle Infantry two piece button, small size for sleeve or hat.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215As10

B5055     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (15.1mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.
Backmark: "D. EVANS & CO / * EXTRA * " dm inner solid ring, transitional use ca 1860 to post war. (Evans20As)
Eagle Infantry two piece button, small size for cuff or hat.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215As (not listed)

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Extra Quality...)

Note the following two buttons, B5094 and B4801 are given the same reference and backmark, but it seems like there are minor differences in the dies.  Alternately the differences could be the strength of the strike or wear on the die.  Both buttons as shown likely came from the same factory, probably Steele & Johnson, so are shown as variants of each other. 

B5094     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm) 
 
Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers, this is pattern with split moline.  
Backmark: "EXTRA / * QUALITY * "  dm, inner ring of vertical hyphens, a dot after Quality is not present but may have been obscured by die debris.  Likely a product of Steele & Johnson ca 1860's, and could be transitional.  (ExtraQ06)  
Eagle Infantry two piece button, overcoat size.  
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert GI89 not listed, Tice GI228A12 (overcoat)  

B4801     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm) 
 
Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers, this is pattern with split moline.
Backmark: "EXTRA / * QUALITY * "  dm, inner ring of vertical hyphens, a dot after Quality is not present but may have been obscured by die debris.  Likely a product of Steele & Johnson ca 1860's, and could be transitional.  (ExtraQ06)
Eagle Infantry two piece button, overcoat size.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI89 not listed, Tice GI228A12 (overcoat)    See comments with B5094.  

B4001     Federal Infantry, eagle "I", nondug overcoat  (22.3mm)
 
Backmark:  "Extra / Quality" rmdc (scarce backmark)
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button
Ref:  Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A101

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Horstmann...)

B4119     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (19mm)
   
Federal Infantry button, eagle facing right, silvered officer button. 
Backmark: "FINE PLATED / (dot) W.H.H. & CO. N.Y." rmdc, probably Steele & Johnson 1840's or 1850's custom backmark for W H Horstmann (Fine01) 
Two piece low convex coat button. 
Stand up shank intact, attractive silvered dug button. 
Recovered: not known 
Ref: Albert GI82, Tice GI206A1 

B5056     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (15.7mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.
Backmark: "HORSTMANN & CO / (dot) NY & PHI (dot) " dm inner ring of dashes, only made for sleeve size, ca 1860. (HorstmannWH35As)
Eagle Infantry two piece button, small size for cuff or hat.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215As24

B4593     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (20mm)
 
Backmark: "Horstmann's / NY & Phi" dm between rings
Stand up shank intact, nondug button appears to have been lacquered.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A27

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Horstmann & Allien..)

B5107     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22.8mm) 
 
Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.  
Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) NY (dot)" dm between two solid rings, inner ring of rays, Steele & Johnson produced ca 1860. (HorstmannA10)  
Two part convex overcoat size button.  
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88 not listed, Tice GI215A39 (overcoat)  

B4124     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (20.8mm)

Backmark: "Horstmann & Allien / NY" dm inner ring of rays
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A39

B5108     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22.7mm) 

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.  
Backmark: "HORSTMAN (sic) (dot) BROS (dot) & (dot) ALLIEN / (dot) N (dot) Y (dot) " dm between two rings of dots, probably Steele & Johnson ca 1860. (HotstmannA01)  
Two part convex overcoat size button.  
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert GI88A4, Tice GI215A42 (overcoat)  

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Macullar Williams...)

B4125     Federal Infantry eagle "I" button (23mm)
 
Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. Button is believed to have been made by D Evans, based on similarity to D. Evans die, GI215A8 die 4C, eagle with relatively thicker neck.
Backmark: "MACULLAR WILLIAMS & PARKER / * BOSTON * " dm with inner ring of dots, ca 1860 and transitional after the war (Macullar02)
Two piece overcoat size button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A51

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Mintzer...(WG Mintzer)

B4126     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22.2mm)
 
Backmark: "W G Mintzer / Phild" rmdc
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A54

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Robinson....(R&W Robinson)

B4135     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm)
   
Backmark: "R&W Robinson / Extra Rich" dm inner solid ring
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI82, Tice GI222A1

Federal Infantry,  GI85 / GI88,  two piece, Schuyler...

B4127     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22.5mm)
 
Backmark: "Schuyler H. & G. / New York" rmdc,
backmark is struck over an "H", a die cutting error
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A60 variant

B4137     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm)
 
Backmark: "Schuyler H. & G. / New York" rmdc,  backmark is struck over an "H", a die cutting error This is pattern with applied eagle, may be post war although this backmark is generally accepted as war period
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI92, Tice not listed

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Scovills....

B4724   Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (19.3mm)
 
Federal Infantry button, eagle facing right, silvered officer button. 
Backmark: "SCOVILLS / (dot) WATERBURY (dot) " dm between solid rings, outer ring of rays, flat back, ca 1830's (Scovill22var) 
Two piece low convex coat button, flat back. 
Stand up shank intact, silvered nondug button. 
Ref: Albert GI82, Tice GI206F4 

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Scovill Co...)

B5058     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (15.5mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.
Backmark: "SCOVILL CO / (dot) WATERBURY (dot) " dm between two rings of dots, ca 1840 - 1850 (ScovillC25As)
Two piece sleeve size button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215As70

B4673     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button, nondug (19.7mm)
 
Backmark: "SCOVILLS & CO / WATERBURY" rmdc
Shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button, tiny push.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215A71

B4128     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22.5mm)
 
Backmark: "Scovills & Co / Waterbury" rmdc
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215A71         check this two dies and two bkmk on A71

B4129     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (19.4mm)
 
Backmark: "Scovills & Co / Waterbury" rmdc
Stand up shank intact, attractive silvered nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215A73

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Scovill Mg...)

B4130     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (19.6mm)

Backmark: "Scovill MG Co / (three devices)" rmdc, this is low convex 1840's button, misclassified in my opinion
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215A75

Federal Infantry, two piece, Scovill Mfg..., (straight moline, GI82 to GI88)

B4120     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (19mm)
 
Backmark: "Scovills / Mfg Co" rmdc, low convex 1840's
Stand up shank intact, attractive silvered nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI, Tice GIUNCL19

B5046   Federal Infantry eagle "I" button (23mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.
Backmark: "SCOVILL MF'G CO, / (dot) WATERBURY. (dot) " dm between rings of dots ca 1860's (ScovillM27)
Two piece overcoat size button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A82

B4594     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (20.6mm)
 
Backmark: "Scovill Mf'g Co / Waterbury" dm between rings
Stand up shank intact, nondug button
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A84

B5057     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (15.5mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.
Backmark: " SCOVILL MF'G CO. / *** " dm between two rings of dots, made for sleeve button only, ca 1860 (ScovillM55)
Two piece sleeve size button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215As85

Federal Infantry, two piece, Scovill Mfg..., (split moline, GI89)

B5045   Federal Infantry eagle "I" button (23mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. Button is transitional, the "moline" or split serif was used during and after the war.  This is is Scovill die, eagle with a fat neck, spread wings.
Backmark: "SCOVILL MF'G CO, / (dot) WATERBURY. (dot) " dm between rings of dots ca 1860's (ScovillM27)
Two piece overcoat size button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI89, Tice GI228A6

B5044   Federal Infantry eagle "I" button (23mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. Button is transitional, the "moline" or split serif was used during and after the war.  This is is Scovill die variant, eagle with a fat neck, rounded wings.
Backmark: "SCOVILL MF'G CO, / (dot) WATERBURY. (dot) " dm between rings of dots ca 1860's (ScovillM27)
Two piece overcoat size button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI89, Tice GI228A7 variant with wartime backmark

B4046   Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm)
 
Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. Button is transitional, the "moline" or split serif was used during and after the war.  This is is Scovill die variant, eagle with a fat neck, rounded wings.
Backmark: "SCOVILL MF'G CO / * WATERBURY * " dm between rings of dots, 1860 to 1865 manufacture (ScovillM36)
Two part button, overcoat size.
Shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI89, Tice GI228A7 variant with wartime backmark

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Smith... (W H Smith)

B4121     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22mm)
 
Backmark: "Wm H Smith & Co / New York" rmdc,
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI, Tice GIUNCL24

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Steele & Johnson....

B4131     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22.3mm)

Backmark: "Steele & Johnson" dm
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215A93

B4132     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (21mm)

Backmark: "Steele & / Johnson" dm
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button, silvered!
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A94

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Superior Quality...)

B5041   Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (23mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers.
Backmark: "SUPERIOR / * QUALITY * " dm between two rings of dots, sloppy stamping, Steele & Johnson ca 1860 (Superior04)
Eagle Infantry two piece button, overcoat size.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215A95

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Treble....

B4117     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (19.3mm)
 
Backmark: "Treble Plated" dm, low convex 1840's button
Stand up shank intact, attractive silvered nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI82, Tice GI206E1

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Waterbury Button Co...)

B5050     Federal Infantry eagle "I" button (23mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. Button is transitional, the "moline" or split serif was used during and after the war.
Backmark: "WATERBURY BUTTON CO. / * */ WATERBURY / (graphic) CONN (graphic) " dm, two rings between layers top is solid ring, bottom is rope ring, faint inner ring of dots, transition backmark, 1860's to post war. (Waterbury08)
Two piece overcoat size button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI89, Tice GI228A10

B5059     Federal Infantry eagle "I" button (16.2mm)

Eagle facing right with "I" in the shield, generally for officers. Button is transitional, the "moline" or split serif was used during and after the war.
Backmark: "WATERBURY BUTTON CO. / * " dm, inner rope ring, backmark only used on sleeve, transition backmark, 1860's to post war. (Waterbury22As)
Two piece sleeve size button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI89, Tice GI228As10 not listed

Federal Infantry,  two piece, Young Smith....

B4118     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (19.3mm)
 
Backmark: "Young Smith & Co / New York" dm two inner rings of dots, low convex 1840's button
Stand up shank intact, attractive silvered nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI82, Tice GI206E2

Federal Infantry, two piece, blank back...(non lettered)

B4133     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (20mm)
 
Backmark: blank iron back with single ring
Shank intact but loose, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215

B4134     Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (19.2mm)
 
Backmark: blank back, two concentric rings.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215

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