Confederate Button From KIA Soldier's Jacket

Wood button with original cloth taken from the jacket of Lt. Omar R. Weaver, after he was killed at the "Battle of Wilson's Creek" (or "Battle of Oak Hills") in 1861. The button is accompanied by two early letters attesting to its provenance.

The button was ostensibly sent to "JEB Stuart" camp after the United Confederate Veteran's (UCV) post solicited Arkansas Confederate relics for inclusion in a display. The first letter included in this lot, dated March 15th, 1894, reads in part "Charlie Weaver just handed me the inclosed[sic] button that was cut from the coat sleeve of Lt. Omar R. Weaver…on the battlefield of Oak Hills just after he was killed. The author closes by stating "It is quite a relic with the family and highly prized."

The second letter, dated March 16th, 1894 and written on official UCV stationary, details the history of Lt. Omar R. Weaver 's service and the young officer's background.

The "Battle of Wilson's Creek" or the "Battle of Oak Hills" was the first major battle in the Trans-Mississippi theatre of the war.

[Grand Army of the Republic, GAR, Civil War, Union, Confederate, UCV]