Brass Army Engineers Button, 1861/1865

Scope and content:

One Brass Button, Lustrous Gold in color with some blackening on the raised image. The button features a castle, a rising sun, a flying eagle, and the words "Essayons" on a banner in the center. The phrase "Essayons" demonstrates that it belonged to an Army Engineer uniform, to which this design and motto are unique. Essayons means, "Let Us Try" in French, demonstrating the Army Corps of Engineer's ingenuity and tenacity regarding all problems they might face in the field. The Button is made of brass which indictates it dates from before WWII and most likely dates to the Civil War, as evidenced by the Manufacturer's marking on the reverse, which reads, "Scoville MFG Co * Waterbury*". Image available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/scrc/5445522701/. Located in Textiles S1, SS1, Box 3. Mss 1926.072.A16

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Parent restrictions:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Parent terms of access:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.