First Civil War Relic For Me

[Chase Goldman]

2 hours ago, GB_Amateur said:

I found one and figured it was pre-CW.  Now I'm less sure.  But I guess the soldier who wore it was enlisted prior to the time they changed the designation, so in that sense it may be.  Mine is by a different maker -- Bradbury(?) -- that company in Connecticut. 

The context of the site/theater of war usually helps determine when it was lost.  BTW - If you find a button with a “service branch” letter that is post 1854 vintage, that typically designates an officer’s button.  Also, early in the war, Cavalry Officers often also used Eagle “R” (Rifleman) buttons until the Eagle “C” (Cavalry) became commonplace during the CW.  Finally, according to some references, even though the Dragoon units were subsumed into the Cavalry, Eagle D buttons (as well as the other branch buttons, I, A, R, and C) continued to be worn by officers until conversion to the Great Seal style Army uniform button in 1902.  FWIW.