Beautiful Rare Gilted War of 1812 Button - Irish/American Militia - UNION GREENS

[Don in SJ]

On Friday the 13th I went on an exploring for new sites type of hunt, and did find on small homesite along the same dirt road I just found 4 others this past month or so.

There is a small depression and the iron hits were music to the ears. After about ten minutes I was rewarded with a somewhat high tone reading, but not quite in the Large Copper range. I dug and down about 6 inches a nice coin appeared. Rather crusty coming out of the ground and one side was full of caked on cement like dirt, so I knew it being in great shape was out of the question, but, I was able to tell that the coin was a LIBERTY CAP HALF CENT

Now that my adventure for the day was already a success, I enjoyed detecting a bit more around the depression and got two buttons. Nothing special about them noted at the time, I put the buttons into the No. 1 Coin Envelopes I carry with me and called it quits for the hunting portion and went back to exploring the area and ended up doing a 3 mile loop type walk.

When I got home and first looked at the coin, I saw that it was a 1797 HALF CENT, darn, I was hoping for the rare and valuable 1796, but maybe someday, that was my 4th 1797 HC and my 8th Liberty Cap Half Cent overall, I have been very lucky at getting the early years Half Cents. It cleaned up fairly good, although the corrosion and wear is evident.

Now thinking my find of the day was the Half Cent, oh, I was so wrong. As I looked at the two buttons I found, I noticed one had a bit of gilt showing thru, so I got the Naval Jelly out and WOW!!!! I was totally shocked to see the Eagle w/Shield on the button and the words UNION GREENS! Later on I noticed the HARP under the one wing.
I quickly started looking through my Albert's and Tice books and to no avail could not find a similar button or anything on UNION GREENS. I could tell by the back of the button, which has no backmark or cast mark, but does have a great date indicator, the rectangled shaped "foot" that was still on the back, minus the applied shaft. That style button put the age in the 1810-1820 range, along with the type of Eagle.

So, now I was googling War of 1812 buttons, and Irish/American militia units. I finally came across some references to Union Greens being a Militia unit in Baltimore, Md, founded in 1807.
I contacted Warren Tice and another big time button collector and both concurred on the age and it has been agreed upon that most likely based on a few references found on the Union Greens that it is indeed a button from an Irish American Militia unit most likely from Baltimore and War of 1812 era.

I'm attaching some data I found on the Union Greens and I did write to the Military Museum of Maryland in hopes of getting more information on the militia unit. Also will be calling the Baltimore Historical Society on Monday in hopes of more information.

This button overshadowed my 1797 Half Cent find by a quantum leap and not sure, but it is probably a rare find and one that I will not forget, and I have found a couple other great buttons in the past, but this is right up there with them.

My son and I went to this site this afternoon and only one button was found, and nothing else, the site is small, it is also next to 1960s dumped trash so not the easiest conditions in the area.

So the finds at this site total, only one coin, and three buttons, one was a nice heavy Tombac, the Union Greens and a no backmark flat button.

Don


Here is one excerpt from a War of 1812 article that first led me in the direction of Union Greens being a Baltimore milita:

Prior to their departure for Canada, the First Baltimore Volunteers assembled in Baltimore to receive a valedictory sermon from the Reverend John Hargrove (1750-1839) of the New Jerusalem Church, who said “that a defense of [a] country’s rights, is among the best proofs of our patriotism.” [12] On September 28, the company began its long and arduous march for Canada to rendezvous with Colonel Winder’s command of the 14 U.S. Infantry. The Baltimore Independent Blues, the Union Greens, and a patriotic band of music escorted the troops through the city.[13] On October 3, the men reached Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where they were praised for “every patriotic citizen wishes them a pleasant march, a successful campaign, a glorious victory.”

[Gypsy Heart]

Beautiful find and love all the history and info you found on it also! Congrats

[nc-joe]

Wow, supurb button and great research. Congrats on the half cent, too! All in all it was a most excellent hunt

[Robin]

Great find Don !
Keep digging ! Robin

[Iron Patch]

Sounding pretty good! Can't wait to here... the rest of the story!

[xlt nh]

WTG Don!!! What a hunt...great finds!! Hope to see more good stuff in the future...

HH, Hank 8)

[Nate in Ohio]

Love those liberty caps. Congrats on the neat stuff!

[nova treasure]

That is a Awesome button,I do hope that the Military Museum of Maryland and/or the Historical Society gives you more info on this button. This being of the Irish/American Militia unit of War of 1812 is a Rare find and in Beautiful Condition.
It may take alittle more persuasion for others,but I personally Vote for this as a Banner Find and hope that others consider it.

Nova Treasure

[Mainedigger]

Awesome button and it cleaned up beautifully. I hope it is a rare one, but is a great find regardless of its rarity!!! Great job on the research as well...congrats!!! Oh...and nice half cent too!!

[pigeonman]

that is a nice button and the half cent is nice also conpaired to the ones we find here in sj.

[HomesteadHunter]

Don, that union greens button is an absolute beauty, definitley a true nitro moment for me anyday. And it is in great shape, you couldn't ask for more!. Another great hunt, and a great group of finds.....well done.

James.
HomesteadHunter

[ModernMiner]

Wow Don, super find and very informative post. Looking forward to hearing more about this unique find.
I can already tell my CSN button in the banner will be moving over another notch to the right.
Great finds as usual.
-MM-

[cwdigger]

Beautiful button there buddy, great finds

Cw

[JerV3]

Those are some nice finds Don.

I love when a great old button like that comes up. Really gets the blood flowing. I'm after the same types of finds. Struck another LC today.

A 1839 with line under the cent. Also got a rare 66 indianhead and a general service eagle button. Nothing beats hunting those old homesteads.

HH Jer

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

The half cent rocks! You always have great posts, Don. Truly inspiring!

[barry61]

Great finds again Don,keep them coming!!
Barry

[BuckleBoy]

Don,

I have a hunch that your button is the Find of the hunt, and perhaps the best find of 2009 for you. Did Mr. Tice express interest in having the button photographed and added to his catalogue or publications?

I'll be excited to hear what you can turn up on the button, in terms of value, history, etc. I would imagine that it will prove to be a Very good find.


Best Wishes,



Buckleboy

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

That is one special gilted button there Don. And you know how I feel about Liberty Caps. An all over wonderful day and you deserve to be congratulated.
Chris

[Bartman]

Wow, you definitely have a good day when the 1797 half cent doesn't even make the title. That half cent is really nice! As for the button wow!

[Evolution]

Phenomenal find Don. I'm normally not much of a button guy but in this case I'm willing to make an exception. Awesome!!