Confederate Infantry Button

Confederate Infantry Button. Click photo and "Detailed Description".

Confederate Infantry "I" Button. It is a coat-size two piece tin back, commonly referred to as a “Confederate Local”. The shank on the back still remains, although somewhat flattened. This button was recovered on private property, along with several other artifacts, in the area of Confederate Fort Harrison, Virginia (see period pictures).

 

On September 29, 1864, 2,500 Union forces over ran and captured Fort Harrison. At that time it was the strongest Confederate Fort on the Richmond-Petersburg line. The next day Confederate General Robert E. Lee personally organized a major effort to retake the fort, but failed.

 

Fort Harrison consisted of a semi-circle of earthen works facing the Union lines. After it was captured by Union forces, they built earthen works facing the opposite direction, thus completing a circle. They also renamed it to “Fort Burnham”, after the Union General killed in the September 29 attack.

 

Although this button has seen some ground action, it still remains solid and very displayable. I obtained it directly from the digger along with a few other items which I will be listing in the near future. I just washed some of the heavier dirt off it, but it can be cleaned better if desired.