Civil War “soft-tissue strike bullet” and NY button, recovered Richmond

Being offered is an excavated Civil War NY coat button (front only) and a Minie ball. The button is the typical button worn by many New York troops during the Civil War. The bullet is what is commonly referred to as a “soft-tissue strike”. They are called this because of the shape it is in. When surgeons removed bullets from soldiers who were struck, they have this rounded shape. It was recovered in the early 1980s in the Richmond, Virginia area.

Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America for almost the entire Civil War. It was a vital source of weapons and supplies for the war effort, and the terminus of five railroads. Richmond was just one mile from the James River. Including inactive reserves, more than fifty thousand soldiers from each side took part in the fighting around Richmond.

The Union made many attempts to invade Richmond. In the Peninsula Campaign of 1862, General George McClellan moved up the James River, almost to the suburbs of the city, but was beaten back by Robert E. Lee in the Seven Days Battles. By April 1865, the Confederate government realized the siege of Petersburg was almost over and abandoned Richmond lest they be captured.

The retreating Confederates chose to burn military supplies rather than let them fall into Union hands; the resulting fire destroyed much of central Richmond. They come in the glass top display case pictured.