Confederate Block “I” Infantry button, recovered at Fredericksburg

Here is another nice piece being offered, it is a dug Confederate coat-size Infantry Block “I” button. The face has a push, and it is a little out of round. no pushes. The Roman numeral “I” is still clear and distinct. The reverse doesn’t appear to have a backmark or it has just worn off. The stand-up shank remains on the reverse. This button was dug in Fredericksburg during the 1960s – 1970s.

On November 14, 1862, Union General Ambrose Burnside sent a corps to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Lee reacted by entrenching his army on the heights behind the town. On December 13, after pontoon bridges were laid, Union forces crossed the Rappahannock River under fire.

Burnside mounted a series of futile frontal assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye's Heights that resulted in staggering casualties. On December 15, Burnside called off the offensive and recrossed the river, ending the failed campaign.

This is really a decent looking button, just what you like to see in dug Confederate buttons – one that was in battle. No doubt some Confederate soldier lost this button during the heat of battle.