Confederate Cast “I” Infantry button, recovered at Dalton, Georgia

Being offered is an excavated Confederate button, measuring 23mm. It is made of cast pewter and having the letter “I” on the face to indicate infantry. The back has a broken shank – why it was lost by the soldier. It was recovered from the Dalton, Georgia Battlefield many years ago.

Union General George H. Thomas decided to probe General Joseph E. Johnston's strength to determine if the loss of two full divisions to reinforce Confederate forces elsewhere had made the Confederate Army of Tennessee vulnerable to Union attack.

On February 22, 1864, Thomas began the reconnaissance movement, which consisted of three columns of Union troops. After several days of intense skirmishing, Thomas's army retreated, since it was obvious that Johnston was still capable of repelling a major Union assault. Thomas's force had lost 300 officers and men killed or wounded, against 140 men for the Confederates.

No doubt this button was off the coat of a Confederate soldier who fought there. It is in very nice condition and comes in the glass top display case pictured.