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   July 18, 2008

Catalog of button backmarks
Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury Connecticut

Scovill was by far the most dominant of the Civil War era button manufacturers.  The firm was formed in approximately 1850, as a combination of the already substantial "Scovill" partnerships in business preceding that date and continued until  the 1970's.  They changed backmark styles frequently, and we are able to generally date the buttons by these changes.  Scovill also produced many "custom" contracts for other outfitters, supplying buttons stamped with the outfitters name, or in other cases with blank backs.  Of the buttons produced using the Scovill name, the use of "Scovill MG." dates to the early 1850's, it then evolved into "Scovill MF'G" sometime in the mid 1850's.  Backmarks with rmdc date to the 1850's, and dm backmarks after that.  Dates are approximate at best, and some late 1860's marks could be transitional.  Further, it does appear that Scovill did on occasion use old backs or old dies to fill a more recent contract, probably due to lax inspection or as a means of cutting costs or increasing production.

Scovill produced for both the North and the South until hostilities began.  It appears that they may have completed some buttons for the South for at least a short period of time after the conflict began, although the extent of that has not been proven and is subject to considerable debate and speculation amongst collectors.

Most information on this page is from Tice's book, Dating Buttons..., the pictures are generally from buttons that I have handled.  

ScovillM01 (22mm) 
BmScovillM01.jpg (35419 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MG CO / WATERBURY " dm small letters, inner solid ring, lettering crowds the rim, ca early 1850's
Tice page 71, item count # 1 [B5-14]   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from MO2, Missouri staff (B4970)

ScovillM04 (22mm) 
BmScovillM04.jpg (31957 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL. MG. CO / : WATERBURY : " rmdc on a stippled field, ca 1850's
Tice page 71, item count # 4 [B5-16]   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from AY78 / 79, Federal Artillery, eagle "A" button (B4148)

ScovillM12 (22mm) 
BmScovillM71.jpg (25749 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL. MFG. CO. / * WATERBURY. * " rmdc on stippled background, ca 1850's
Tice page 71,  item count # 124 [B5-18] (with modification)   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from VA7, Virginia state seal high convex button (B4431)

ScovillM13 (23mm) 
B4792B.jpg (43236 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO. / * WATERBURY. * " rmdc on stippled background, ca 1850's
Tice page 71, item count # 13 [B5-19]   

Examples with this backmark: 
 B4792     New Hampshire button (23mm) 
B4792.jpg (50860 bytes) B4792B.jpg (43236 bytes)
Ref: Albert NH6 not listed, Tice NH200A3 

 
To come VT9, Vermont state seal button(B5004)

Note that there are variations on how much the area around the shank is depressed, the more depressed the more pronounced the inner edge of the rmdc channel.  Also the periods after Co and Waterbury will sometimes be weak.  This is due to debris filling the void in the die when struck.

ScovillM14 (23mm) 
BmScovillM14.jpg (34085 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF.G. CO. / (dot) WATERBURY. (dot)" rmdc on a stippled field, ca 1850's
Tice page 71, item count # 14 [B5-20] with modification   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from RF17/19, Federal Rifleman, eagle "R" button (B4161)

ScovillM16 (22mm) 
BmScovillM16.jpg (42266 bytes) 
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO. / WATERBURY CT.. "rmdc, ca 1850's
Tice page 71, item count # 16 [B6-2]   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back is from SC13, South Carolina state seal (B4997).

ScovillM17 (23mm) 
B4940B.jpg (30788 bytes) 
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO, / WATERBURY. " dm between one outer ring and two inner rings of dots, ca 1860.
This backmark and its use on Kentucky buttons is explained in the NST Vol XXV No 5. pg. 34 Figure 2. 
Tice page 71, item count # 17   

Examples with this backmark: 
B4940     Kentucky state seal, officer staff button (22.8mm) 
B4940.jpg (27509 bytes) B4940B.jpg (30788 bytes)
Ref: Albert KY1A, Tice KY200A3 

 MG4, Michigan staff (B4960).  I believe the two marks are identical, the Michigan is very sharp.  This double inner ring probably dates to earlier than 1860 (late 1850's) but these dm Scovill marks are generally dated to the 1860's.

ScovillM18 (20mm) 
BmScovillM18.jpg (28329 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MFG CO / (dot) WATERBURY (dot)" rmdc ca 1850's
Tice page 71, item count # 18 [B6-3]    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured on left is from Albert GI94, Federal general service button  (B4181)

Back pictured on right is from Albert SU55, Tice NCS280A1,Charlotte Military Institute button (B5434).  Note double stamping, the die probably bounced during striking. 

ScovillM21 (23mm) 

Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G. CO. / (dot) WATERBURY. (dot)" rmdc on a plain field, ca 1850's, 
Tice page 71, item count # 21 [B6-4]    

Examples with this backmark: 

B4674     New Hampshire button (23mm) 

Ref: Albert NH6 not listed, Tice NH200A2 

ScovillM22 (23mm) 
BmScovillM22.jpg (30549 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO. / * WATERBURY. * " dm small letters inner ring of dots ca 1860's (transitional backmark) 
Tice page 71, item count # 22 [B6-5]    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from RI8, Rhode Island state seal button (B4720)

ScovillM23 (22mm) 
BmScovillM23.jpg (35670 bytes) 
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO, / WATERBURY. " dm between two rings of dots, ca 1860's.
Tice page 71, item count # 23 [B6-6] with modification   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from WC1, Wisconsin staff (B5013).

ScovillM24 (22mm) 
B4843B.jpg (43724 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL, MF'G. CO. / * WATERBURY. *" dm between rings of dots, ca 1860's.
Tice page 71, item count # 24 [B6-7] with modification   

Note:  Punctuation can seem to vary, period versus commas, or be missing entirely.  This is not a difference in the dies but is believed to be manufacturing variance due to pressure differences in the stamping process, wear in the die, or debris build up during stamping.  

Examples with this backmark: 
B4336     Louisiana state seal button (21.8mm) 

Ref: Albert LA2A1, Tice LA203A1 

B4947     Louisiana state seal button (22.2mm) 
B4947.jpg (28994 bytes) B4947B.jpg (30672 bytes) 
Ref: Albert LA6 - LA7 not listed, Tice LA220A6 

B4843     Louisiana state seal button (22.5mm) 
B4843.jpg (42754 bytes) B4843B.jpg (43724 bytes) 
Ref: Albert LA6A2, TiceLA221A1 

ScovillM25 (23mm) 
BmScovillM25.jpg (36485 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO, / * WATERBURY * " dm between two solid rings, ca 1860
Tice page 71, item count # 25 [B6-20]    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from NA112, Federal Navy button (B4212)

ScovillM27 (23mm) 
BmScovillM27.jpg (36042 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO, / (dot) WATERBURY. (dot) " dm between rings of dots ca 1860's
Tice page 71, item count # 27 [B6-19]    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from EG6, Federal Engineer button (B4368).

ScovillM28 (22mm) 
BmScovillM28.jpg (32673 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G. CO, / (shield) WATERBURY. (shield) " dm between two rings of dots, ca 1855 - 1860.
Tice page 71, item count # 28 [B6-8]    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from SU85, Collegiate & Commercial Institute button (B4386).

ScovillM29 (20mm) 
BmScovillM29.jpg (35040 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO. / * WATERBURY. * " dm medium letters inner ring of dashes, outer ring of dots, solid ring around the shank, 1865 and transitional after the war.
Tice page 71, item count # 29 [B6-14]    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from CV1, Federal Cavalry, eagle "C" button (B4170).

ScovillM35 (23mm) 
BmScovillM35.jpg (38163 bytes) 
Backmark:  "SCOVILL. MFG. CO. / WATERBURY. " dm between rings of dots, ca 1860's
Tice page 71, item count # 35 [B6-16]   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from RI8, Rhode Island state seal (B4990)

ScovillM36 (23mm) 
BmScovillM36.jpg (36778 bytes) B4046B.jpg (44044 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G CO / * WATERBURY * " dm between rings of dots, 1860 to 1865 manufacture
Tice page 71, item count # 36 [B6-17] (Note Tice indicated there could be commas.  These are a clear examples, there are no commas.)   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back at left is from AY78 / 79, Federal Artillery, eagle "A" button (B4147) (Block A in eagle)
Back at right is from GI89 Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (B4046) (Split moline I in eagle)

ScovillM46 (19mm) 
BmScovillM46.jpg (28323 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILLS / * MFG. CO. * " rmdc, low convex 1850's
Tice page 71, item count # 46    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from GI84, Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (B4120)

ScovillM53As (14.4mm) 
BmScovillM53As.JPG (35029 bytes)
Backmark: "SCOVILL. / MFG. CO. " dm ca 1860 small button only.
Tice page 71, item count # 53 [with modification]    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from TX236, Texas state seal button (B5323)

ScovillM54As (14mm) 

Backmark:  "SCOVILL /  * MFG. CO. * " dm ca 1860 small button only.
Tice page 71, item count # 54 [with modification]    

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from Albert SU272, Tice NCS277As1, North Carolina Military Institute button (B5436)

ScovillM55As (16mm) 
BmScovill55As.JPG (32852 bytes)
Backmark: " SCOVILL MF'G CO. / *** " dm between two rings of dots, made for sleeve button only, ca 1860
Tice page 71, item count # 55 [B6-15] (Note Tice removed the inner and outer ring of dots in the computer enhanced photo, this is a clear example, there are rings.)   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from GI85 / 88, Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (B5057)

ScovillM71 (22mm) 
BmScovillM71.jpg (34867 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MFG. CO / (dot) WATERBURY (dot) " rmdc on stippled background, ca 1850's.
Tice page 71, not listed   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from NA112, Federal Navy button (B4213)

ScovillM72 (20mm) 
BmScovillM72.jpg (34810 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G. CO. / WATERBURY." rmdc on a stippled field, ca 1850's
Tice page 71, not listed   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from SU189, Kings Mountain Military School (B3010)

ScovillM73As (15mm) 
BmScovillM73As.jpg (24785 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL MF'G. CO. / WATERBURY. " dm inner ring of dots, small letters, made in small size only, this is abbreviated version of Scovill series of dm early 1860's buttons.
Tice page 71, not listed   

Examples with this backmark: 
Note punctuation and style of this button is exactly like ScovillM35, and very similar to ScovillM23, both are believed to be early 1860's buttons, the outer ring was removed and the letters made smaller in order to fit the size of a small button.  No other cuff size buttons match the coat  buttons indicated, and this cuff does not exist in coat size.  I believe this was intended to be the sleeve or hat size button to go along with the 1860 uniforms supplied to a number of the southern states as well as units in the north.  This should not be confused with the single ring Scovill buttons produced after the war.
Back pictured is from MD11, Maryland staff officer button (B4748)

ScovillM74 (20mm) 
BmScovillM74.jpg (38699 bytes)
Backmark:  "SCOVILL. MG. CO / ( 3 dots) ( 3 dots) ( 3 dots) " rmdc, manufacture 1850's 
Tice page 71, not listed   

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from GI85/88, Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (B4130)

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