Posted 11 years ago
ButtonBlazer
(1 item)
These two buttons were found in my mother's button box. I know the Louisiana button was made by Waterbury Button Company in Connecticut. I emailed the company and received no reply. It is a 3/4 inch domed button with a soldered loop shank. The Eagle? button I do not have any information except that it is 1 to 1 1/4 inch flat button with a loose loop shank held in place by a hole in the button back. Can anyone tell me when the buttons were used or where?
Here's a URL that will shed some light on your "ES DEVS SPES NOSTRA" (God is our hope) button:
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/15409-esx-devs-spes-nostra-what.html
And as for the Louisiana Pelican State Seal button – of course this one wouldn't have been made from 1861-1865, when Louisiana and Waterbury Connecticut were on less than friendly terms ;) I don’t know for sure, but I think this might be a post-civil-war, pre-national guard, state militia button.
http://www.vintagebuttons.net/uniform3.html
Agree with Chris-- post Civil War LA State seal button.
Of note, there are many PRE- War Southern buttons made in the North that are considered to be Confederate buttons by use.
In fact there are some 1870s buttons that are often mistaken as CS by those not familiar/ without references on backmarks (to get precise dating).
scott
Of course there were Waterbury buttons used by the confederates, but you can always tell these because the confederates would scratch off the offending state name with the tips of their bayonets.
Ok, not really, but there’s so much silly stuff going on here that I thought I’d add to the confusion ;)
Don't get me started on Civil War myths.....
The most annoying that I find is the "Confederate soldier" wearing an upside down US belt plate!
scott
I agree Scott. Myths are simply myths & only fools & the uninformed believe them.
It can be hard for new collectors-- online searches will often turn up the "myth" as fact.
Collector sites are important and help to separate the bs from truth.
scott
Agreed again, Scott.
Thank you all so much for your info. All this is very interesting to a beginner button saver/collector.