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Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center / Past Cultures

Artifacts

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Buttons – Military

Military buttons MVAC found these military buttons at Second Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in 1999.

Left – Symmetrical Spread Eagle button – circa 1847-1872 or 1880. By 1854, this button became the standard issue for all enlisted men.

Center – Ordnance Officer’s button – circa 1816-1821. This button has an eagle on crossed cannons, surrounded by the letter “O.”

Right – Great Coat button – circa 1820-1850. These buttons were worn on great coats, fatigue clothing, overalls, and infantry soldiers’ coats.

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MVAC Educational Programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This project was supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.