General William T Sherman or Just a Sherm

This little sucker just over 1mm across is dislodged from its original home as part of a pin or coin or some other small object. It’s in a little coin holder labeled “Gen. Sherman campaign button”. Gen Sherman famously disdained even being considered as a politician. From wiki: Proposed as a Republican candidate for the presidential election of 1884, Sherman declined as emphatically as possible, saying, "I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected."[261] Such a categorical rejection of a candidacy is now referred to as a "Shermanesque statement".[262]

So either this isn’t The Sherman or it’s not from a political button. Looks like The Sherman to me so must just be a button/pin celebrating him? It’s in the style of civil war era and just after campaign buttons. So questions, is it him, any idea exactly what it may be from? Can’t find one similar.

 

I think it is Thomas West Sherman actually. Not sure he ran for political office either but looks like him.

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Currier_&_Ives_-_The_champions_of_the_Union_1861.jpg

 

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/tintype-button-general-thomas-sherman-894776450 $22.50 (2014)

 

damn-$22.50 w/ the original gutta percha enclosure seems cheap ! These buttons go way back in the US.May have been a commorative & not campaign.This one's for G. Washington.

 

GW surrounded by the 13 states ... nice.

 

Picture looks to reversed. In the other images, his hair is parted on the other side.

 

It looks like a tintype photo. Tintypes are usually one offs, although multiples could be produced with a multi-lens camera. I doubt that any candidate would sit for the many exposures needed to make lots of campaign buttons. They may have photographed an existing cartes-de-visite, a process which would reverse the orientation of the original source image.

https://www.pinterest.com/creativecockade/tintype-buttons/

 

Great find!