✅ SOLVED Need help identifying button and bullet

[jbettevy]

Found this metal detecting. The bullet is strange in that it is a 3 ringer, but it was surrounded with what appeared to be a corroded cartridge. It split apart when I pulled it from the bullet.

The button is strange in that the eagle's head faces to his left. I've only found 1 during research that happened to be a confederate button, except it had stars around it.

 

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[BosnMate]

Without any size it's virtually impossible to identify your bullet. It needs to be measured in 1/1000 of an inch. In other words, a .457 bullet is 45 caliber. That said, the fact that there is a partial case, and the shape of the bullet suggests it might be a 45 colt long, and those date to 1873. Your bullet shape and the rotted case suggest pre 1800. That said, I have no idea if the 45 long colt has three grease grooves, so I might be all wet on that guess. Here are a couple of Colt cartridges. The one on the left is the 45 long Colt, on the right is a short. The exposed bullet shape is what I'm going on.

 

[DCMatt]

Interesting droop winged eagle button. May we see the back please?

DCMatt

 

[DigIron2]

I would say your button is a local Confederate staff officers button. Which is a rare valuable find.very very nice! I am no expert, but I am sure one will be along to shed more light on it.

 

[DCMatt]

I would say your button is a local Confederate staff officers button. Which is a rare valuable find.very very nice! I am no expert, but I am sure one will be along to shed more light on it.

I was suspecting the same but I want to see the back before making any determination.

It is in pretty good shape and I've been seeing more and more "re-enactor" items showing up at my club club meetings.

It would be a great find if it is the real deal.

DCMatt

 

[jbettevy]

The back was gone except for the hoop.

 

[jbettevy]

Sorry, posted reply below. I'm still new at this. Thanks

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Unfortunately, your starless eagle-with-drooped-wings button is not a Confederate button. An EXACT match for it is shown on page 201, button 19, in the book "Uniform Buttons Of The United States 1776-1865" by Warren K. Tice. Mr. Tice identifies it as a French Army button from the 1860s reign of Napoleon III. See info on page 203 under "French Manufacturers."

About your 3-groove bullet with partial metallic casing:
As BosnMate said, we need super-precise measurement of its diameter in order to ID it with certainty. Please borrow a digital caliper to measure it across the middle, avoiding any concretion.

Does your bullet have a large cavity in its base, or is it a flat solid base?

While we wait for the body-diameter and base information... I'll make a guess based just on what can be seen in the photo. I notice that your bullet's three body-grooves are slanted like on a typical yankee 3-groove Minie-bullet. My tentative guess is that you MIGHT have found the very-slightly-postwar (late-1865) .58 cartridge for the Model-1865 "First Allin Conversion" Springfield Rifle... which was used by yankee Occupation troops during the Reconstruction era.

 

[jbettevy]

I'll have to get back to on the diameter, but the bullet is solid based with a smal dimple in the center, aft. I've dug a few like this that has been shot, as seen it the picture. Thanks for the help.