The Civil War Relicman,
Harry Ridgeway.

Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!).
 authentic Civil War relics.

relicman.com.

Ridgeway Reference Archive, Civil War relics.
Insignia, hatpins shako style.

This is the "Ridgeway Reference Archive", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader.   Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author.  None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale.  This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items.  I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me.
All items listed are believed to be original and authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.
Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.
Any artillery or ordnance relics have been disarmed and rendered safe.
Any weapons are pre 1898 antique weapons, and are exempt from Federal regulation, no licenses or permits are required.
This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

Rifleman enlisted waist plate and shako infantry hatpin issued to New York Excelsior Brigade, or Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts units.
The Federal government purchased a quantity of French "Chaussier" style uniforms from France that apparently included these large shako hats as well as cast white metal buttons (Albert PA48) and Regulation 1855 riflemen buckles.   These uniforms were issued to New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania units during the Brandy Station campaign.  The rifleman buckle is Regulation 1855 and probably was manufactured in the United States.  The large shako hatpin bears patriotic eagle, and infantry horn modeled after the French style and it, along with the uniform hat and buttons, likely originated in France.  The very large hatpin is stamped, attachment pins were stiff wire and soldered, pin was originally gilded and portions lacquered with blue and red paint of poor quality.  Many parts of these accoutrements were found at camps in the region of Brandy Station thought to be attributed to these units, apparently having been discarded.  Most of buckles, consisting of four parts are separated and most of these large flimsy hatpins were broken into pieces or badly bent.  Plate measures 74mm, (height only), keepers measure 80mm, hatpin is 105mm X 103mm. 
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, plate 903 (buckle),  Ref: Crouch Artifacts pg. 150 item 1 (hatpin).

M0977     Rifleman enlisted waist plate and shako infantry hatpin issued to New York Excelsior Brigade, or Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts units.
 
The Federal government purchased a quantity of French "Chaussier" style uniforms from France that apparently included these large shako hats as well as cast white metal buttons (Albert PA48) and Regulation 1855 riflemen buckles.   These uniforms were issued to New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania units during the Brandy Station campaign.  The rifleman buckle is Regulation 1855 and probably was manufactured in the United States.  The large shako hatpin bears patriotic eagle, and infantry horn modeled after the French style and it, along with the uniform hat and buttons, likely originated in France.  The very large hatpin is stamped, attachment pins were stiff wire and soldered, pin was originally gilded and portions lacquered with blue and red paint of poor quality.  Many parts of these accoutrements were found at camps in the region of Brandy Station thought to be attributed to these units, apparently having been discarded.  Most of buckles, consisting of four parts are separated and most of these large flimsy hatpins were broken into pieces or badly bent.  Plate measures 74mm, (height only), keepers measure 80mm, hatpin is 105mm X 103mm.  This rifleman buckle and hatpin were found by digger Paul Irvin at a camp believed to have been specifically used by the New York Excelsior Brigade, and included is all four parts of the buckle and pin, each with minor damage only, this is one of the better examples recovered.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, plate 903 (buckle),  Ref: Crouch Artifacts pg. 150 item 1 (hatpin).
Old Court House Civil War Museum collection.
MP1545     Rifleman enlisted waist plate and shako infantry hatpin issued to New York Excelsior Brigade, or Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts units.

The Federal government purchased a quantity of French "Chaussier" style uniforms from France that apparently included these large shako hats as well as cast white metal buttons (Albert PA48) and Regulation 1855 riflemen buckles.   These uniforms were issued to New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania units during the Brandy Station campaign.  The rifleman buckle is Regulation 1855 and probably was manufactured in the United States.  The large shako hatpin bears patriotic eagle, and infantry horn modeled after the French style and it, along with the uniform hat and buttons, likely originated in France.  The very large hatpin is stamped, attachment pins were stiff wire and soldered, pin was originally gilded and portions lacquered with blue and red paint of poor quality.  Many parts of these accoutrements were found at camps in the region of Brandy Station thought to be attributed to these units, apparently having been discarded.  Most of buckles, consisting of four parts are separated and most of these large flimsy hatpins were broken into pieces or badly bent.  Plate measures 74mm, (height only), keepers measure 80mm, hatpin is 105mm X 103mm.  This rifleman buckle and hatpin were found by digger Paul Irvin at a camp believed to have been specifically used by the New York Excelsior Brigade, and included is all four parts of the buckle and pin, each with minor damage only, this is one of the better examples recovered.   Digger is Dennis Irvin, both pieces found together, keeper bar is missing on one side of the buckle, hatpin was folded but is intact, most examples found were broken.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, plate 903 (buckle),  Ref: Crouch Artifacts pg. 150 item 1 (hatpin).

Shako infantry hatpin issued to New York Excelsior Brigade, or Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts units.
The Federal government purchased a quantity of French "Chaussier" style uniforms from France that apparently included these large shako hats as well as cast white metal buttons (Albert PA48) and Regulation 1855 riflemen buckles.   These uniforms were issued to New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania units during the Brandy Station campaign.  The large shako hatpin bears patriotic eagle, and infantry horn modeled after the French style and it, along with the uniform hat and buttons, likely originated in France.  The very large hatpin is stamped, attachment pins were stiff wire and soldered, pin was originally gilded and portions lacquered with blue and red paint of poor quality.  Many parts of these accoutrements were found at camps in the region of Brandy Station thought to be attributed to these units, apparently having been discarded.  Pin measures 105mm X 103mm. 
Ref: Crouch Artifacts pg. 150 item 1 (hatpin).

M0775     Shako infantry hatpin issued to New York Excelsior Brigade, or Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts units.
 The Federal government purchased a quantity of French "Chaussier" style uniforms from France that apparently included these large shako hats as well as cast white metal buttons (Albert PA48) and Regulation 1855 riflemen buckles.   These uniforms were issued to New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania units during the Brandy Station campaign.  The large shako hatpin bears patriotic eagle, and infantry horn modeled after the French style and it, along with the uniform hat and buttons, likely originated in France.  The very large hatpin is stamped, attachment pins were stiff wire and soldered, pin was originally gilded and portions lacquered with blue and red paint of poor quality.  Many parts of these accoutrements were found at camps in the region of Brandy Station thought to be attributed to these units, apparently having been discarded.  Pin measures 105mm X 103mm.  Digger is Dennis Irvin Hatpin is broken and made up from pieces (from several broken hatpins) most examples found were broken.
Ref: Crouch Artifacts pg. 150 item 1 (hatpin).
M0776     Shako infantry hatpin issued to New York Excelsior Brigade, or Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts units.
 The Federal government purchased a quantity of French "Chaussier" style uniforms from France that apparently included these large shako hats as well as cast white metal buttons (Albert PA48) and Regulation 1855 riflemen buckles.   These uniforms were issued to New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania units during the Brandy Station campaign.  The large shako hatpin bears patriotic eagle, and infantry horn modeled after the French style and it, along with the uniform hat and buttons, likely originated in France.  The very large hatpin is stamped, attachment pins were stiff wire and soldered, pin was originally gilded and portions lacquered with blue and red paint of poor quality.  Many parts of these accoutrements were found at camps in the region of Brandy Station thought to be attributed to these units, apparently having been discarded.  Pin measures 105mm X 103mm.  Digger is Dennis Irvin Hatpin is broken and made up from pieces (from several broken hatpins) most examples found were broken.
Ref: Crouch Artifacts pg. 150 item 1 (hatpin).
M0994     Shako infantry hatpin issued to New York Excelsior Brigade, or Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts units.
The Federal government purchased a quantity of French "Chaussier" style uniforms from France that apparently included these large shako hats as well as cast white metal buttons (Albert PA48) and Regulation 1855 riflemen buckles.   These uniforms were issued to New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania units during the Brandy Station campaign.  The large shako hatpin bears patriotic eagle, and infantry horn modeled after the French style and it, along with the uniform hat and buttons, likely originated in France.  The very large hatpin is stamped, attachment pins were stiff wire and soldered, pin was originally gilded and portions lacquered with blue and red paint of poor quality.  Many parts of these accoutrements were found at camps in the region of Brandy Station thought to be attributed to these units, apparently having been discarded.  Pin measures 105mm X 103mm. 
Ref: Crouch Artifacts pg. 150 item 1 (hatpin).