These buttons include five large Massachusetts Volunteer Militia buttons backmarked J.M.L. & W.H. SCOVILL * WATERTOWN * in an outer ring and [wreath] EXTRA SUPERFINE. These come with eight smaller Mass militia buttons with varied backmarks, all preserved in a small cardboard box labeled on the cover “Militia Buttons” and preserved by John M. Deane, 3^rd Mass Volunteer Militia and 29^th Massachusetts Volunteers. The box and contents come from a significant trove of artifacts preserved by Deane and his family that we are offering in separate sales. The ink inscription is very clear and legible.

A 29-year old teacher when the war broke out, Deane had been in the Massachusetts militia and was one of the “Massachusetts Minutemen of 1861,” joining the 3^rd MVM in going to Washington on news of Fort Sumter. They served three months, evacuating and firing the Gosport Navy Yard and garrisoning Fortress Monroe. The title on the box certainly implies these date to this early service.

Deane mustered out with regiment 22 July 1861 and in June 1862 rejoined the army, being commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant in the 29^th Massachusetts, making 1^st Lt. 12/29/62; Adjutant 11/1/63; Captain 6/8/64, and Major 5/15/65 with a later brevet to Major of U.S. Volunteers to date 3/25/65. He was mustered out 8/8/1865 and in later years lived in Freetown, Mass., where he was a member of Richard Borden G.A.R. Post #46, and died 9/2/1914.

The 29^th Mass. served in the Irish Brigade in the Peninsula Campaign and at Antietam, fighting at the Sunken Road. Transferred to the 9^th Corps, they served in Mississippi and Tennessee in 1863, returned east and were briefly in the 5^th Corps before rejoining the 9^th again for Grant’s overland and Petersburg campaigns. Seeing action at Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, and Fort Stedman, where Deane was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for helping to man an artillery piece under heavy fire and aiding in the repulse of the Confederate attack. The regiment lost 4 officers and 53 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded during their service. Deane penned several of the regiment’s official reports for 1864 and 1865, and his letters have been published. He was credited with participation in twenty battles.

These are nicely preserved and a great keepsake by the soldier and his family. The backmark of the large buttons dates them 1827-1840.  [sr] [ph:L]

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