Collection Highlights
Receipted bill, John Vernon to Benjamin White
Date:
1794
Object Number:
MSS.3
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Framed set of American military buttons and sleeve-links (36) excavated at Fort
Object Number:
INV.5925.439-474
Date:
1775-1783
Medium:
Pewter, brass, bone, wood, bronze, silver
Dimensions:
largest: 1 in. ( 2.5 cm )
Marks:
stamped: (446-457), on front of buttons: "USA" (Continental Army)
stamped: (464), on front of button: "MASS/X/REGT" (10th Massachusetts Regiment; silver-plated officer's button)
stamped: (465), on front of button: "16" (probably Continental Army; coat b
Description:
Pewter, brass, bone, wood, bronze, or silver buttons or sleeve-links; military buttons have the number, emblem, or symbol of their regiment on front: two military buttons have a thin brass face with a cannon, and a flying flag with a Union Jack in the upper left corner; another button has a thin brass face with a mortar; one button has a wood back covered by a thin silver face; all other military buttons are of solid pewter; nineteen other buttons have no regiment numbers or symbols: two buttons are decorated with floral designs and one with beading; one button has a thin brass face; one is bronze; three are bone; all other buttons are pewter; sleeve-links: one pewter pair has a foliate design on front; one is octagon-shaped; one brass link is oval with a decorative design on front; another oval link is silver.
Gallery Label:
These buttons were excavated in 1923 by the Field Exploration Committee from a refuse deposit at Fort Wyllis, a fort built in Orange County, New York by the Continental Army as part of West Point. The military buttons were worn on the uniforms of soldiers who garrisoned the fort; the pewter buttons were worn by privates, and the silver button was worn by an officer. The buttons with a cannon or mortar were worn by artillerymen. The sleeve-links were probably worn by officers.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
