Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated   April 22, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War Archive 
Confederate Infantry Buttons (CS171 to CS190)

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years.  This archive record is for educational purposes only.  Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author.  None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.

All  items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.   Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.    This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

B4624     Confederate Infantry stippled "I" English imported button (24mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is stippled on a plain background.  
Backmark:  "H T & B / * MANCHESTER * " dm on a very flat back, outer ring of dots, English manufacture. (Hammond01)  
Two part convex coat size button, flat brass back has tendency to work loose.
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button  
Ref: Albert CS171A, Tice CSI200A1  

B4311     Confederate Infantry stippled "I" English imported button (18mm)  
 
Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is stippled on a plain background, back is tinned.  
Backmark:  "H T & B / * MANCHESTER * " dm on a flat tinned back, no ring of dots, English manufacture, vest size only. (Hammond03Am)
Two part convex medium size button, probably intended for a hat.  
Stand up shank intact, top grade gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert CS171Av, Tice CSI200Am1 (tinned back)

B4610     Confederate Infantry Lined "I" English imported button (22.5mm)  
 
Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is lined on a plain background.  
Backmark: "SUPERIOR QUALITY / (dot) " dm, outer ring of dots, inner solid ring, English manufacture, probably Smith Kemp Wright. (Superior01)
Two part convex coat size button, well made button with generic mark.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert CS172A1, TiceCSI203A3  

B5214     Confederate Infantry Lined "I" English imported button (19.5mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is lined on a plain background.  
Backmark: "P. TAIT & Co / (dot) LIMERICK (dot) " dm outer ring of dots, floating shank, English manufacture. (Tait01Am)  
Low convex two part medium or vest size button, only made in this size.  Floating shank design was intended to enable the button to lay flatter on the garment, but the shank was not durable.  
Stand up shank intact, clean smooth patina, very small ding.  
Recovered Wilmington NC  
Ref: Albert CS173A, Tice CSI206Am1

B5392     Confederate Infantry Manuscript "I" English imported button (22.5mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy manuscript style on plain background.  
Backmark:  "HALFMANN & TAYLOR / (dot) MONTGOMERY (dot) / ALABAMD"  dm  two rings of dots, outer ring is crudely formed.   "Alabama" is not actually misspelled, this was English convention of the time.  English manufacture smuggled through the blockade. (HalfmannT02)
Low convex two part coat size button, well made button.  
Standup shank intact, top grade gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert CS175A1, Tice CSI212A1

B4611     Confederate Infantry manuscript "I" English imported button (22.5mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy manuscript style on plain background.  
Backmark:  "HALFMANN & TAYLOR / (dot) MONTGOMERY (dot)" dm  two rings of dots, outer ring is crudely formed.  English manufacture smuggled through the blockade. (HalfmannT01)  
Low convex two part coat size button, well made button.  
Standup shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert CS175A2, Tice CSI212A2  

B4915     Confederate Infantry manuscript "I" English imported button (22.5mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy manuscript style on plain background.  
Backmark:  blank, recessed well, has P Tait type floating shank, unmarked back was probably intended to disguise its origin. (BlankEng04)  
Low convex two part coat size button, floating shank design was intended to enable the button to lay flatter on the garment, but the shank was not durable.
Standup shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button with some wear.
Ref: Albert CS175 not listed, Tice CSI212A6  

B5221     Confederate Infantry manuscript "I" English imported button (18.2mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy manuscript style on plain background.  
Backmark: "P. TAIT & Co / (dot) LIMERICK (dot) " dm outer ring of dots, floating shank, English manufacture. (Tait01Am)  
Low convex two part coat size button, floating shank design was intended to enable the button to lay flatter on the garment, but the shank was not durable.
Shank intact, slick brown patina  
Recovered: Central Virginia  
Ref: Albert CS175Av, Tice CSI212Am1

B4619     Confederate Infantry  script "I" English imported button (22.5mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy script style on plain background.  
Backmark:  "S. ISAACS CAMPBELL & CO. / (dot) LONDON (dot) / 71. JERMYN. ST." dm  outer ring of dots, inner solid ring, English import, probably made by Smith Kemp Wright. (Isaacs02)  
Convex two part coat size button, well made button.  
Standup shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert CS177A, Tice CSI215A2  

B5401     Confederate Infantry  script "I" English imported button (22.5mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy script style on plain background.  
Backmark:  "S. ISAACS CAMPBELL & CO. / (dot) LONDON (dot) / 71. JERMYN. ST." dm  outer ring of dots, inner solid ring, English import, probably made by Smith Kemp Wright. (Isaacs02)  
Convex two part coat size button, well made button.  
Stand up shank intact, outstanding example with traces of gilding.  
Recovered: Stafford County, Virginia  
Ref: Albert CS177A, Tice CSI215A2   

B5393     Confederate Infantry  script "I" English imported button (22.5mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy script style on plain background.  This version of Superior Quality backmark is rarely seen variant.  
Backmark: "SUPERIOR  / (dot) QUALITY (dot) " dm, outer ring of dots, inner solid ring.  English manufacture, probably Smith Kemp Wright. (Superior06)  
Convex two part coat size button, well made button.  
Standup shank intact, top grade gilded nondug button.  
Ref: Albert CS177 not listed, Tice CSI215B1

B5196     Confederate Infantry  script "I" English imported button (22.5mm)

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy script style on plain background.  Blank back is rare for this button.
Backmark: blank with no contours, this is English manufacture, blank to disguise the origin, probably Smith Kemp Wright (BlankEng03)
Convex two part coat size button, well made button.
Shank intact, attractive patina 
Recovered: Petersburg, Va
Ref: Albert CS177A2,  Tice CSI215B3 (brass back)

B5403     Confederate Infantry  script "I" English imported button (13mm)  

Button imported through the blockade, intended for the Confederate Infantry, "I" is fancy script style on plain background.  
Backmark: "TREBLE RICH / (dot) STANDd (dot)" dm inner solid  ring. English manufacture, probably Smith Kemp Wright. (Treble02As)
Convex two part small size button, probably intended for hat or officer cuff, the small size is rare.  
Stand up shank intact, clean example of rare dug button.  
Recovered: Stafford County, Virginia  
Ref: Albert CS177Av, Tice CSI215As1

B3823     Confederate Infantry  block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, copper back.
Backmark: "E. M. L & C. / RICHMOND. VA. " rmdc, southern wartime manufacture (Lewis02)
Two part convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with copper back, copper wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Stand up shank intact, top grade nondug button.
Ref: Albert CS181A, Tice CSI240A1 

B5233     Confederate Infantry  block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, copper back.  
Backmark: "E. M. L & C. / RICHMOND. VA. " rmdc, southern wartime manufacture. (Lewis02)  
Two part convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with copper back, copper wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Stand up shank intact, top grade dug button.  
Recovered: Central Virginia  
Ref: Albert CS181A, Tice CSI240A1  

B5412     Confederate Infantry  block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, copper back.  This version of the Lewis backmark is scarce.
Backmark: "E. M. LEWIS & CO / RICHM'D. VA. " rmdc, letters are very sloppy, southern wartime manufacture. (Lewis03)  
Two part convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with copper back, copper wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Stand up shank intact, top grade dug button.  
Recovered: Stafford County, Virginia  
Ref: Albert CS181A1, Tice CSI240A2  

B5125     Confederate Infantry block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm) 

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, brass back.
Backmark: blank brass back, wide channel, often with stamping flaws probably caused by debris during stamping, crude manufacture by unknown southern maker. (BlankLocal35)
Two part convex coat size button, brass face with brass back, brass shank, crude southern "local" manufacture, pattern is infrequently found.
Stand up shank intact, attractive dug button.
Recovered: Spotsylvania Va
Ref: Albert CS182 not listed, Tice CSI243A2   

B5106     Confederate Infantry block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, thin style of "I" is distinct, iron back.  
Backmark: blank iron back, rounded channel, crude manufacture by unknown southern maker. (BlankLocal36)  
Two part convex coat size button, copper face with iron back, iron shank, crude southern "local" manufacture, pattern is infrequently found.  
Shank missing, back has a hole.  
Recovered not known  
Ref: Albert CS182 - 183 not listed, Tice CSI243A3  

B5414     Confederate Infantry  block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, copper back.  
Backmark: blank copper back, ring of dots loosely spaced, two inner solid rings, no marks, back is crudely crimped. (BlankLocal23)  
Two part convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with copper back, copper wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Shank intact, top grade nondug button.  
Ref: Albert CS182A (copper back), Tice CSI243B1

B4649     Confederate Infantry  block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  
 
Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, copper back.  
Backmark: blank copper back, ring of dots loosely spaced, two inner solid rings, no marks, back is crudely crimped. (BlankLocal23)  
Two part convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with copper back, copper wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Shank intact, attractive dug button, small cut in rim is from field use.  
Recovered: not known.  
Ref: Albert CS182A (copper back), Tice CSI243B1  

B5395     Confederate Infantry block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, iron back.  
Backmark: blank iron back, ring of dots loosely spaced, two inner solid rings, no marks, back is crudely crimped. (BlankLocal22)  
Two part convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with sheet iron back, copper wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Stand up shank intact, top grade nondug button.  
Ref:  Albert CS182A (iron back), Tice CSI243B2  

B5138     Confederate Infantry block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, iron back.  
Backmark: blank iron back, ring of dots loosely spaced, two inner solid rings, no marks, back is crudely crimped. (BlankLocal22)  
Two part convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with sheet iron back, copper wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Stand up shank intact, clean button   
Recovered: Richmond Va  
Ref:  Albert CS182A (iron back), Tice CSI243B2

B5497     Confederate Infantry "western theater"  block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (23mm) 

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple block "I" on plain field, pronounced rim gives impression of a fat button, iron back, generally supplied to western troops.  
Backmark: blank iron back, deep rounded channel results in a back that seems more convex than most and sometimes referred to as "puffback", iron shank, unknown southern manufacture. (BlankLocal34)  
Two part low convex coat size button, brass face with iron back, iron shank, crude southern "local" manufacture, pattern is infrequently found.  
Stand up shank intact, back is rusted but whole and better than most.
Recovered: Shelbyville TN  
Ref: Albert CS182 - 183 not listed, Tice CSI244A1 Plate E5-12  

B5394     Confederate Infantry cast Block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22mm)  

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple and sturdy cast block "I" button.   
Backmark: button is one piece sand cast, back is deep well concave, post under shank, no marks, probably Georgia manufacture. (BlankLocal24)
Convex cast brass coat size button with integral shank, "local" manufacture, button was hand finished, many were lathe turned.  
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.  
Ref: Albert CS184A, Tice CSI275A1  

B5183     Confederate Infantry white metal cast Block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm) 

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple cast block "I" button using white metal. The "I" is relatively wide in this pattern.
Backmark: blank back one piece white metal casting, integral shank with mold seam running through the back and the shank, back is concave with flat area around the shank, southern maker unknown. (BlankLocal33)  
Convex cast white metal (pewter or derivative) coat size button with integral shank, "local" manufacture, often with casting flaws.  
Stand up shank intact, superb example.  
Recovered: Central Virginia  
Ref: Albert CS185A, Tice CSI278A1

B5277     Confederate Infantry white metal cast Block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm) 

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, simple cast block "I" button using white metal.   
Backmark: blank back one piece white metal casting, integral shank with mold seam running through the back and the shank, relatively shallow concave back, probably Georgia manufacture. (BlankLocal02)  
Convex cast white metal (pewter or derivative) coat size button with integral shank, "local" manufacture, often with casting flaws.  
Stand up shank intact, attractive dug button.  
Recovered: north Georgia 1864 campaign.  
Ref: Albert CS185B, Tice CSI278B1  

B5234     Confederate Infantry white metal cast Block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (24mm) 

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, cast block "I" button using white metal.   
Backmark: blank back one piece white metal casting, brass wire shank imbedded in the casting, mold seam running through the back, relatively shallow concave back, unknown southern manufacture. (BlankLocal32)
Convex cast white metal (pewter or derivative) coat size button with brass wire shank, "local" manufacture.  
Stand up shank intact, attractive dug button.  
Recovered: central Virginia  
Ref: Albert CS185 not listed, Tice CSI281A1

B4626     Confederate Infantry block "I"  with stars, southern manufactured "local" button (23.5mm)  

Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, stars encircle the "I" and typically are weakly stamped.  
Backmark: iron back, weak ring around the shank, no other markings, backs 
are always crudely crimped. (BlankLocal08)  
Two part convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with sheet iron back, copper wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Stand up shank intact, stars are unusually strong, rare to find this button nondug.  
Ref: Albert CS186A, Tice CSI255A1  

B5452     Confederate Infantry script "I", "CS", southern manufactured "local" button, (22.5mm)  
 
Confederate wartime manufacture for Infantry troops, bears script "I" which was inspired from English design, surrounded by "CS".  
Backmark: blank depressed wide channel with star, made by Wildt. (BlankLocal30)  
Two part high convex coat size button, crude southern "local" manufacture, brass face with copper back, iron wire shank, back is very crudely crimped.
Stand up iron shank intact, small pushes are typical of this button, this is much better than most examples.  
Recovered:  not known.  
Ref: Albert CS189A, Tice CSI261A1 (iron shank)  

[Back to Ridgeway archive main page]

[Reference to backmarks]

[Back to relicman.com Home Page]