James Madison’s Montpelier

Ordnance Button

This Civil War-era ordnance button (featuring cross cannons and a flaming mortar shell) was found just over the stones of the foundation/pier base for the slave quarter. This and other Civil War artifacts (bullets and knapsack parts) provided clues that during the War this site might have been occupied by Civil War soldiers. Alternatively, the presence of these items also potentially suggests the site continued to be occupied by freed slaves after the War are these items were picked up from the camps. More excavations are necessary to determine the exact significance for the presence of these military items.