Union button found near Confederate hospital?...

[itzyoboyandrew]

Found my first civil war button (i think), its a "Horstmann & Bros Co Phil'. Unfortunately its only the back of it (for now). Now for the weird part, found this down the street from a confederate hospital... So I think i know WHAT it is, but i want to know WHY its here... Also this is assuming the Phil stands for Philadelphia.

 

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[smokeythecat]

It is extremely common to find Confederate items in Union areas and vice versa. My first confederate frame buckle was found on a Union 6th Corps camp. The troops of both sides would salvage what they could from the other side, it was a common practice, and if you remember at the 1st battle of Bull Run, some on each side wore grey and blue, adding to confusion as to whose side they were on. They didn't throw out the buttons.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice find!

 

[CRUSADER]

Can someone explain why this is military related, instead of civvy, like it looks to me?

 

[itzyoboyandrew]

Can someone explain why this is military related, instead of civvy, like it looks to me?

Ridgeway Civil War Archive Buttons from Federal Infantry 2 piece buttons, page one....DRAFT....

It would originally have an eagle with an I in the middle of it on the other side.

 

[smokeythecat]

And boys and girls of all ages, remember a lot of southern state buttons had northern backmarks at the beginning of the war, so it could be a pre war southern militia button.

 

[itzyoboyandrew]

And boys and girls of all ages, remember a lot of southern state buttons had northern backmarks at the beginning of the war, so it could be a pre war southern militia button.

Button Back Marks according to this website, that particular name, was only used from 1859 to 1863

 

[smokeythecat]

Precisely. Most of my Virginia buttons have northern backmarks on them. Reason being, the later ones with southern backmarks are way expensive.

 

[Truth]

Way cool congratulations

 

[trdking]

Ima learning sumthin nu Thanks!

 

[CRUSADER]

Ridgeway Civil War Archive Buttons from Federal Infantry 2 piece buttons, page one....DRAFT....

It would originally have an eagle with an I in the middle of it on the other side.

lol...if I'll seen the front! No brainer. I thought it was a smooth flat button!

 

[itzyoboyandrew]

lol...if I'll seen the front! No brainer. I thought it was a smooth flat button!

Yeaaaa, the front is kinda missing...

 

[itzyoboyandrew]

I think it might be a Calvary button instead of infantry. THe infantry buttons have a large star and the calvary have a small dot next to PHIL.