Excellent Historic Excavated & ID'ed Mississippi "I" Infantryman's Coat Button

From Brig. Gen'l Jones' Mississippi Brigade Assault at Perryville, Kentucky (October 8th, 1862)

Came from One of the Three MS Regiments -- 27th MS, 30th MS, or 37th MS Infantry Regiments

From Their Attack to the "Bloody Sinkhole"

There are four battles that I cherish and adore above all others throughout the entire Civil War.  You guessed Champion Hill correctly as my #1 !  Followed closely by Port Gibson, Jonesboro, and Perryville.  I have been upon that hallowed ground dozens of times--almost always for reenactments, but otherwise to enjoy the serene and pristine nature and beauty of this most strategically important battle to a critical campaign early in the War for true control for Kentucky...and hopefully to alter the fortunes of War and pressure the North politically for peace.  While Lee struck-out of Virginia into Maryland in September 1862--also a move to embolden the South's stance politically and militarily--General Braxton Bragg lead the Army of Mississippi upon an arduous 1000+ mile invasion into Kentucky.  Leaving the northern Mississippi cantonments in the late summer/early fall of 1862, they would travel by both road and rail down to Mobile, Alabama, back up northward through Tennessee, and into Kentucky by several approaches, both eastern and western Kentucky.  The South attained quick and stunning victories at small engagements such as Munfordville and Richmond, and would even continue their march northward, threatening both Louisville and Cincinnati, Ohio!  Taking the capitol at Frankfort, they installed a quick CS state government, and prepared for what would become the true "battle for Kentucky".  US General Buell would strike-out from Louisville, and head his army in three prongs into the drought-stricken bluegrass middle region of Kentucky.  What occurred--by sheer accident--was the collision of Bragg and Buell in the most unexpected time and place.  While both armies were desperately searching for water at the Chaplin River running through a small farmland hamlet of Perryville, the armies would accidentally run smack into each other.  And in true Bragg and Confederate form, they would immediately spring an attack upon what they thought was only a portion/wing of Buell's army on October 8th, 1862

Though Buell would essentially have all three of his massive army corps available that day (or at least by the following), his ignorance as a field commander was quickly shown on the morning of the 8th, as Bragg's 16,000 some man force would slam into the Federal right flank and begin to roll it up, capturing Parson's 7-gun battery (where the CS cemetery is located today), and continuing to push the Federals a mile to the rear.  In the left/center of the Federal line, Cleburne's, Jones', and other Brigades under Buckner would strike at the Bottom house, across Doctor's Creek, also sending the Federals into a grinding retreat, until nightfall stopped the horrific fighting and bloodshed, and allow the Federal left to finally stabilize in the darkness.  At first during the day, Poor Don Carlos Buell heard the firing from his headquarters, and sent orderlies with strict admonishment to his men to STOP WASTING AMMUNITION firing at mere Confederate pickets and cavalry harassing the lines!  As the news of impending disaster finally came into a crescendo into his ears at his headquarters, the rest of his army was in motion to amass there at Perryville.  Despite the tactical ground victory of the Confederates that day, gaining much ground and capturing many men, material, and artillery, the yet again typical Bragg fashion of "fight like hell....then retreat" was repeated, and Bragg quickly ordered a withdraw.  Thus would end the South's only real hope of securing Kentucky for her own, and would never have the chance again of bringing the war out of the Deep South and close to the North's home.

During the fighting of the 8th, the three Mississippi regiments under Brig. Gen'l Tom Jones--the 27th, 30th, and 37th Mississippi Infantry regiments--would be ordered to join the fray in the afternoon around 2pm.  Given the initial success of the Confederate attacks, the Mississippians staged a grand assault, coming forward in parade-like fashion down a long hill, across Doctor's Creek, and start up the next ridge, where the Federals were desperately trying to "hold on".  Near the base of the Federal ridge position was the usual Kentucky "sinkhole" (geologically speaking, the area is one huge shelf of limestone, which allows for underground erosion, cave systems to be formed, and thus "sinkholes" appear were washouts underground from the soft limestone has eroded away and collapsed the ground above).  Jones' men would make it to the sinkhole...but not much further.  The withering artillery and musket fire was a storm of lead and iron too heavy for the men.  After returning and receiving several volleys of musket fire, the Mississippians had sustained "tremendous losses," making the sinkhole a shelter for wounded and dying men, until the sinkhole ran red with blood.  Seeing as they were being withered into shreds, the Mississippians withdrew quickly back over their original point of attack.  Across their attack, this beautiful coat-sized Mississippi "I" Infantryman's button was excavated decades ago by a local Kentucky legendary relic hunter (name to be given to the buyer).  The land was in private hands until eventually acquired by the state of Kentucky for the state battlefield park, so you won't be seeing any more of these being dug these days!  Indeed, the button shows the facial details beautifully, as the "MISSISSIPPI" and the "I" within the star are all clearly and crisply seen.  Minute gold gilt traces can be detected in hints around the star, lettering, and under the Perryville bloodied soil that still encrusts this button.  Though having a push in the face, minute hairline crack off to one edge, and missing the shank, one can certainly understand how this battle relic--off a poor Mississippi boy far from home and in the storm of battle that day in the Bluegrass--may not be "perfect", but it's the history WITH the great displaying face that makes this button so appealing.  And it won't cost you $500 like a perfect one would!  I'd rather have all this display beauty and killer history, and save my money...

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