General Staff Buttons

Button Galleries

Bullet Buttons 1813-1832

An early attempt to designate Regular Army dress from militia and state units, "ball" or "bullet" buttons were called for by an Army uniform order issued in May of 1813. This order directed that General officers and all others of the General Staff wear "gilt bullet buttons." These buttons, a vestige of Napoleonic Europe, are found in abundant forms for both military and civilian usage. This in itself makes it difficult to determine and date their use by the Army. Careful attention to their backmarks and construction can assist with age and makers, and their presence on surviving uniforms of the era can tell us actual use by the Army. For the most part, they have remained an overlooked area of collectability and are still reasonably priced. This gallery is intended to list and illustrate age-appropriate examples that could possibly have been used in military service.

Pre-War & Civil War Buttons 1832-1865

In the early 1830's, a major effort by the Army to reorganize and standardize was undertaken. Coinciding with the country's expansion into new territories, the need for bigger, better equipped, professional Army became evident.

New General Orders of 1832 and 1836 called for more standardized uniforms and insignia to denote branch and rank of service. For officers of the General Staff and above, a new 3-piece design: "U.S., with spread eagle and stars," held together by an annular ring. The Staff Button. This style began use from the late Seminole War through the Indian Wars and was phased out in 1902 with the adoption of the Great Seal Button.

These buttons went to Mexico in the 1840's , and were used by both sides during the Civil War. These early examples were often highly detailed in die work and heavily gilted in gold. Beautiful in appearance, they stand with Diplomatic buttons as the pinnacle of American uniform buttons.

Post-War Buttons 1866-1902

After the Civil War, the staff button continued to be in use through the Indian Wars to the Spanish American War. Although still designated a "General Staff" button, they became a button of choice for regular officers as well.

As the need for a large standing Army decreased, so did the need for mass manufacturing of military buttons. War time stocks were used up and new methods and materials came into use with the button makers. To maintain profitability in the absence of Gov't contracts, a decrease in quality of materials and construction is seen with these buttons. Less gold gilt and intricate die work became a standard. Manufacturers also began to seek out new markets in civilian areas. Staff buttons are found on school blazers, band uniforms, and ROTC and National Guard uniforms. Sears Roebuck even listed them in their catalogs for personal use. Their back marks reflect use by tailors, clothiers, jewelers, and outfitters, some, such as Brooks Brother's and Ames remain in business today.

These examples are not as highly regarded by collectors as the earlier buttons are , so they are both affordable and plentiful.