I never expected to recover a 'Southern' button up here in NH, but as we all know, unexpected items often show themselves. So far I've recovered two of these scarce pre Civil War 'Western Military Institute' buttons from the same property. They both have an 1850s backmark. The school was founded in 1847 at Drennon Springs KY, and in 1855 moved to Nashville TN.
Confederate General Bushrod Johnson became a professor, and later served as headmaster. Sam Davis, "Boy Hero of the Confederacy", attended from 1860 to 1861. I'm currently searching the period KY and TN census records for a NH resident, these two buttons are not likely a chance find.
My Safari pulled these from deep in the iron patch of a site occupied since first settlement.
Thanks for looking, & HH All.
Herbie - Alabama, USA
