I just re-read a National Archives record last night where 144 gross of large brass eagle buttons were received in ONE SHIPMENT at Richmond in 1863. That was in addition to a large quantity of other brass buttons which included small eagle buttons. At first I thought they may have been CS staff buttons but I have reasons for doubting that. One reason is that period photographic evidence clearly shows eagle buttons in use on some of the dead CS soldiers whose pictures were taken at Ft. Mahone and Alsop's farm, both 1864/65 sites. I have one of these pictures on this page:
http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/j_mayo/csequip.html

Another reason is the number of eagle buttons found in late war CS sites. For a long time I rationlized that these were buttons from captured Union soldiers. After doing a more research I am of the opinion that these buttons were most likely lost from Confederate uniforms.

It is interesting to note that some of the Gettysburg photos show CS soldiers with wooden buttons. I believe these pictures were of Georgia troops.