Cavalry finds and a mysterious button

[sms28]

Hunted a cavalry outpost today that I have hunted in the past. Heavy rains the last few days brought out some more treasures. Found a 3 ringer, a few of what I assume are cleaner bullets, some f.v.v & co shells a Calalry button and some general service buttons. What really has me curious is a gold gilded button I found with an anchor on the front and PMSSG raised lettering and the back mark is p.w.g pat jany 19th 1864. Now this outpost is in the middle of the desert so the anchor is really throwing me off. I found the maker Philip W. Gengembre. But I can't find any other info on the button so any help IDing would be awesome!

thanks y'all

 

[Tnmountains]

Great hunt. I am not seeing your button on Harry Ridgeways page but from what I saw in other forums it is rare but that was on and infantry I & A buttons. I am sure some more experienced people will chime in. Thanks for sharing and if you do not get an I.D here post it by itself in the " What is it" forum. They are great!
Merry Christmas!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Well now that's one I've never seen posted on TreasureNet before!

 

[BTV Digger]

Great finds and congrats on a successful late year hunt!

john

 

[CRUSADER]

Some lemon juice will bring that button up real nice.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on some nice stuff

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the relic hunt and beautiful button!

 

[villagenut]

I am pretty sure that those letters are PMSSC which stand for Pacific Mail SteamShip Company. Here is a few links to some additional info, cool button with lots of history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Mail_Steamship_Company

Latest digs including historic Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company button.

 

[sms28]

Thank you everyone! I have no idea how to tag people I thought no I figured it out, but thank you for IDing the button! I wish I knew the story behind how the button got here. I do know the camp it was found at was established to protect a stagecoach route coming from California.

I am pretty sure that those letters are PMSSC which stand for Pacific Mail SteamShip Company. Here is a few links to some additional info, cool button with lots of history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Mail_Steamship_Company

Latest digs including historic Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company button.

 

[sms28]

Lemon on juice will clean the gilded button without any damage?

Some lemon juice will bring that button up real nice.

 

[CRUSADER]

Lemon on juice will clean the gilded button without any damage?

Yes (I do it all the time, so does IP & others in the know), do it only 5 minutes at a time, then rinse & use a nail brush. It will not harm the gilt, but it may dis-colour the back brass a little, goes a reddish colour. So to stop this you could stand in up-side-down in the juice without completely covering it. You will love the results & please post after shots.

 

[mirage83]

Interesting button you recovered. And those are ring-tailed Sharps bullets rather than a variety of cleaners. Good hunting area you've found, keep at it.

 

[sms28]

Thank you you for the advise it worked great!

Yes (I do it all the time, so does IP & others in the know), do it only 5 minutes at a time, then rinse & use a nail brush. It will not harm the gilt, but it may dis-colour the back brass a little, goes a reddish colour. So to stop this you could stand in up-side-down in the juice without completely covering it. You will love the results & please post after shots.

 

[sms28]

Thanks for the correction! It's an awesome site to hunt full of old tins and nails but I still seem to pull some great stuff out of the ground! Do you know if ringtail sharps were generally union or confederate? Or just a universal bullet?

Interesting button you recovered. And those are ring-tailed Sharps bullets rather than a variety of cleaners. Good hunting area you've found, keep at it.

 

[Appalachianman76]

Congrats on the nice finds. Really like the button. I agree with mirage83. Those are Sharps bullets. Nice site. Can't wait to see what else you find there!

 

[mirage83]

To my knowledge they were more common among Union troops. That button cleaned up really well, Cru was right on the money on the cleaning method for it. And I can't recall seeing one on here previously, so it seems to be pretty uncommon. Great find in great condition.

 

[CRUSADER]

Thank you you for the advise it worked great!
View attachment 1394403

Yeap, I would never suggest anything that might harm an object & I wouldn't do myself. I could tell that was the right button to do this on, its not the same for everyone.

As you say, looks much better!

 

[sms28]

Thanks! You don't find a whole lot of dropped bullets in az so my knowledge on them isn't too extensive! And yes from what I've read buttons from the maker are rare enough as it is but the only other reference I found was one someone posted on this thread!

To my knowledge they were more common among Union troops. That button cleaned up really well, Cru was right on the money on the cleaning method for it. And I can't recall seeing one on here previously, so it seems to be pretty uncommon. Great find in great condition.

 

[sms28]

Well I definitely appreciate the tip! I looked through some of your finds and you got some good stuff over there I hope I can hunt England some day!

Yeap, I would never suggest anything that might harm an object & I wouldn't do myself. I could tell that was the right button to do this on, its not the same for everyone.

As you say, looks much better!