Union Army Uniforms and Insignia of the Civil War

Officers' Buttons

Cavalry Officer's Button	Original Cavalry Officer's Button

The information regarding cavalry officers' buttons is similar to that given under infantry officers, except that cavalry as a branch did not exist until March 3, 1855. No cavalry eagle buttons were made prior to that date. Two other mounted branches, dragoons and mounted riflemen, were established in 1833 and 1846 respectively. These branches wore "D" and "R" eagle buttons until they were merged with cavalry in 1861. Their buttons still turn up in Civil War sites. The backmark on the original cavalry button pictured above is "W. G. MINTZER * PHILD *."