Alabama "Map on Tree" button

[AlabamaMetalDigger]

I dug this Sunday afternoon at the former home of a captain in the 33rd Regiment Alabama Infantry. I've gotten conflicting information on the possible year that it was made, and have not found another one like it in my online research. Anybody know what I've got here?

 

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[bonepicker]

Ridgeway Civil War Archive Buttons from Alabama

 

[fyrffytr1]

I am having a hard time trying to read your backmark. Can you tell us what it reads?

 

[AlabamaMetalDigger]

It reads Horstman Bros & Co. / Philad

 

[AlabamaMetalDigger]

Ridgeway Civil War Archive Buttons from Alabama

Thanks. I'd already gone through these and saw some similar ones but can't find this button with the same backmark.

 

[fyrffytr1]

From what I can gather your button would date between 1859 and 1868. That specific backmark was used from 1859 until 1893. However. the "Map on Tree" was replaced by an "Eagle on Shield" in 1868. The "Map on Shield" returned in 1939 but that was 46 years after your backmark went out of use. I would guess that your button was made between 1859 and 1861/62 because I don't think Horstmann supplied buttons to the Confederacy but I could be wrong about that. Also, if Horstmann resumed supplies it could date between 1865 and 1868.

 

[Isaac]

Awesome find!!

 

[RustyGold]

Very cool find AMD!

 

[gsxraddict]

From what I can gather your button would date between 1859 and 1868. That specific backmark was used from 1859 until 1893. However. the "Map on Tree" was replaced by an "Eagle on Shield" in 1868. The "Map on Shield" returned in 1939 but that was 46 years after your backmark went out of use. I would guess that your button was made between 1859 and 1861/62 because I don't think Horstmann supplied buttons to the Confederacy but I could be wrong about that. Also, if Horstmann resumed supplies it could date between 1865 and 1868.

Back when Alabama was in the United States before they joined the Confederacy they would have made the map button for them. So it's most likely made prewar and used in the war. I know nothing about this manufacturer though, but there were several confederate state buttons made by northern companies before the war.