The CW era uniform buttons that have an "ACC" on the front are considered a mystery by CW button collectors. It is unresolved as to whether these were used by the "Alabama Corps of Cadets" or by the "Albany [NY] Corps of Cadets" of Albany Academy. It is not known whether these were postwar or prewar buttons. However, at least one exists that bears a backmark of the maker that is a mark known to have only been used pre-CW. Others bear marks that are indeterminate as to age.

I believe that these were exclusively used by the Alabama Corps of Cadets, and I am attempted to prove that.
These buttons have been dug in Alabama. One was recently dug about 30 miles north of Birmingham, for instance. They have also been dug in the entrenchments around Mobile. If any have been recovered from Union encampments, I have not heard of it.

The Albany Academy, as far as I have found so far, never used the phrase "Albany Corps of Cadets" nor "Albany Cadet Corps" in reference to their cadets. The Albany Academy is a prep school (pre-college age boys). Their cadets were/are known as the "Albany Academy Cadet Battalion", with no reference that I have found to a "corps". It would be a stretch to get "ACC" as their acronym designation. More likely the designation would be "AAC" or even more likely "AACB".

What's more, an acquaintance of mine recently wrote to Scovill Mfg. Co., who made the buttons, and received a reply that these were ordered by the University of Alabama prior to the CW. I have not yet seen this letter, but I hope to get a copy of it within the next few days.

I further suspect, from what I have been told of the content of the letter, that only one order was placed for these buttons, and no postwar purchases were made for use on University of Alabama cadet uniforms.

If anyone has any information on this that could offer a clue on this subject, or knows of an Alabama Corps of Cadets or Albany Academy Cadet Battalion uniform that has these buttons on it, please reply.