My first Confed buttons

[DirtDigler]

So after a couple years of walking and digging, I finally scored my first two Confederate buttons. Both within 20 minutes of each other. The first I thought it was another typical eagle cuff button. Didn't clean it in the field, just stuck it in my pocket and kept beeping. Then, in a bulldozed pile of dirt, I came across the Block "I". Rang out as a 55 on my T2, so I thought, surely another shotgun shell, right? Nope, a nice Block "I" with one problem... no back. But it's still a nice example.

Once at home I headed for the sink and running water. Cleaning the eagle cuff I saw a letter in that shield. Always a good thing. Not an "I", not an "R", not a "C", not a "D". This was definitely a "V". Not used to seeing that, I consulted my online sources and found it to be a unit formed prior to the war known as the Voltigeurs. More research led me to find that the Voltigeurs were disbanded before the war and Virginia militia units bought the "V" marked equipment. So now I have a fairly rare Confederate button. Shank good, three stars on the back and the front detail? Well, see for yourself.

 

[DirtDigler]

As long as no offense was given, none was taken.

As far as an 1812 buttons being in a Civil War camp, I'd make no assumption at all, unless several very good sources stipulated that these buttons were likely from a specific source. Then, I'd mention it, as I did here.