Collection Highlights
Parure
ca. 1820
1920.11-17
Cut steel
Support the New-York Historical Society
Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nation's history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually.
Museum Collections
Luce Center
American military buttons (16) excavated at Fort George
Object name
American military buttons (16) excavated at Fort George
Date
1808-1812
Medium
Lead
Dimensions
Overall: 3/4 in. ( 1.9 cm )
Description
Lead military buttons; one button has an eagle grasping an oval border which encloses a regiment number; fourteen have a foliate inscription in the center above a small oval, two of the buttons have a regiment number inside the oval and eight have a star inside.
Object Number
INV.6195.15-30
Marks
stamped: (15), front of button: "US" (General service button used by regular army and militia; c. 1808-1812)
stamped: (16-17), front: "I/9" (9th Infantry Regiment; 1812; foliate script)
stamped: (18), front: "...RT" (U.S. Infantry Regiment; eagle; 1811)
stamped: (19-26), front: "I" (General service button used by army and militia; 1812; foliate script and star)
stamped: (27-30), front: "I" (foliate script; general service or infantry; 1812)
Gallery Label
These buttons were excavated by the Field Exploration Committee at Fort George, a British fort at Niagara-on-the-Lake on the Niagara River in Ontario, Canada. Built in 1795, the fort was captured by American forces on May 27, 1813, and occupied by them until December. The large buttons (Nos. 15-19, 27, 29-30) were worn on privates' coats.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
