God Helps Those Who Help Themselves!

[Montana Jim]

Perfect weather and a great trip out today!

Wingman Tony and I spent a few hours relic hunting this morning and had a great day in the fields. Well - he had a GREAT day and I had a pretty good day... he kicked my button lovin' ass with two spectacular buttons that we covet more than the Army Eagle varieties! We have both found one each in the past... but today... it's the first thing he digs!

A late 1800s United States Indian Police Uniform button (2nd variety - circa 1890s)... Way to go Tony!

The button is surrounded by the Dept. of Indian Affairs mantra of the day; "God Helps Those Who Help Themselves".



Additional Info because I know you are SO interested!:

Indian police and judges helped to preserve law and order, and assisted with other principal agency tasks. In 1878 Congress authorized police units to fill the power vacuum created by the withdrawal of military troops from the West and the weakened authority of tribal chiefs. What began as an experiment blossomed within three years into a system that operated on forty-nine reservations and included eighty-four commissioned officers and 786 non-commissioned officers and privates. "The question has been asked whether these policemen can be depended upon," reported Commissioner of Indian Affairs Thomas J. Morgan in 1890:

To the Indian Office, a disciplined and well-trained police force also served as a "perpetual educator" for fellow Natives who would walk the white man’s road. Indeed, a button on the police uniform depicted an Indian plowing and surrounded by the words: "God helps those who help themselves." Another weapon in the federal government’s acculturation arsenal was the courts of Indian offenses established by the Interior Department in the early 1880s. In less than a decade, ninety-three Native judges staffed courts at twenty-eight agencies. They enforced Indian Office rules that forbid the sun dance, scalp and war dances, polygamy, and various practices of medicine men. The courts also heard cases against Indians charged with theft, destruction of property, drunkenness, and trafficking in intoxicating liquors.



After taking the pictures, and much knocking of fists and happiness, I wandered off in self pity wishing "I" had found the button...

A short time later, another Dept. of Indian Affairs Police button was found!!


By Tony... Grrrr...... Here is a pic of both of them. Truthfully, I was pretty damned excited to know more of them might be out there!



Soon though all my feelings of jealousy melted as I dug the first Eagle button for the day... an un-crushed beauty with 75%+ guit... yes!



Then Tony comes up with an Eagle button... cuff or slouch hat size...



Then Jim with another Eagle... coat size...



And not to be outdone with Eagles... FREAKIN' Tony finds another one!!



Well - he had to wait for me to come over and get a photo of his forth damned button... because I was busy digging the monstrous .58 Maxi, which I was pretty happy about!



Anyway... there are bunch more pics I'll throw in here...

* Tony's four awesome buttons with some harmonica reed board chunks.
* My buttons... some glass eyeball-finds and a work clothes button - sans my second Eagle button that I FREAKING LOST ON THE WAY back to the truck!
* Some 130 year old boot leather worn by the buffalo soldiers...
* .45-70 casings and two rounds
* The ring end of half a horse bit
* Complete pile-o-crappe I brought home









As always kids... thanks for looking!

[tymcmurray]

Button button who's got the button?
YA'LL got the buttons!!!
Ya'll got the stories.
Ya'll got the finds!!!
Thanks for sharing in detail.

[South Jersey Don]

Thosa are some neat finds, nice relics & buttons....

[teverly]

Sweet buttons!!!!

[Green1]

nice !!!!!!!! helluvva day there...

do the shells have a U on the bottom....

[Montana Jim]

nice !!!!!!!! helluvva day there...

do the shells have a U on the bottom....

Nope... they are center-fire and blank... no primer or anything. Prolly springfield trap-door... ?? One of fifty shells I find are primered... reused... the rest are original.

[mtbiker]

Wonderful finds!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[River Rat]

I think you guys did greaaaat!!!!!!!!!! Awesome finds!

RR

[ModernMiner]

Wow Guys, fantastic job. Tony is the Button Boss for sure. Those Indian buttons are very neat. Thanks for the info Jim. Tell Tony "congrats" for me.
Your eagle button with gilt is in excellent shape too. I'd be proud as hell finding that one.
You guys done well today.
Thanks for the CSI quality photos too.
You guys rock!!!
-MM-

[EBCIII]

That is some great finds! Congrats on a very good day digging, Beale.

[ivan salis]

nice buttons--- the lost one just give you a reason to go back ---like you need a excuse to go back there --- Ivan

[Copperhead]

Wow...cool buttons and stuff....nice going... to you and Wingman.....and thanks for the history lesson...never knew anything about the United States Indian Police...anymore info about this program? did it continue until the reservations were granted sovereign nation status?(I think that's it's called)...'course if I really knew, I wouldn't be asking all these questions. Great pics too...

[Montana Jim]

Wow...cool buttons and stuff....nice going... to you and Wingman.....and thanks for the history lesson...never knew anything about the United States Indian Police...anymore info about this program? did it continue until the reservations were granted sovereign nation status?(I think that's it's called)...'course if I really knew, I wouldn't be asking all these questions. Great pics too...

Here's a little more information...

http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/content...npolicyhhj.htm

[vision quest]

Very nice finds. Thanks for all the info. Its the education that is shared here that makes this site one of the best. thanks again!

[txkickergirl]

you know old buttons are some of the most unique items found, who would think that something that just part of clothes would be so detailed or interesting.

[Montana Jim]

you know old buttons are some of the most unique items found, who would think that something that just part of clothes would be so detailed or interesting.

I agree with ya' txkicker... seems like a lot more went into everything during that era... nobody cares about the details anymore...

Wow Guys, fantastic job. Tony is the Button Boss for sure. Those Indian buttons are very neat. Thanks for the info Jim. Tell Tony "congrats" for me.
Your eagle button with gilt is in excellent shape too. I'd be proud as hell finding that one.
You guys done well today.
Thanks for the CSI quality photos too.
You guys rock!!!
-MM-

Tony should read this sometime himself... he said he would check it out anyway.

Thanks for looking, you know I love them buttons... wouldn't mind finding more coins out here though... I'm thinking I need a Tosoro...

[DANGLANGLEY]

Congrats on the great finds. Those are just awesome

DANGLANGLEY

[aa battery]

Great finds AA

[panzermeyer]

Wow !!! Those are some schweeeet lookin' buttons..God Bless and HH...Panz

[solaryellow]

Interesting finds...

I was getting ready to toss this shell casing I found, and it looks similar to what you have..
just a little shorter..
Found at an old schoolhouse.

Also that Eagle button, I have found a few of them at a Revolutionary encampment site in CT, Washington and his troops stayed here for a short time, but was used for awhile by other troops.
Are those Eagle buttons common for both Revolutionary and civil war era?

I donated my buttons to a local historian, otherwise I would post a pic.
I think mine had stars around the perimeter.
I agree buttons are neat finds too............