Relic from Connecticut

[Tom Hughes]

This weekend I was fortunate enough to hunt a Union camp across the river from Vicksburg that was occupied by the Ninth Connecticut Regiment. It was there that I dug up this nice Connecticut state seal cuff button. It's special to find a relic that you can tie to a specific unit. This unit has a unique history. This regiment was the only one from Connecticut that served in the Vicksburg campaign. They were called "The Fighting Irish" because they were made up of Irish immigrants that had come to the U.S. from Ireland in the 1840s & 50s. They arrived at Desoto Point on the Mississippi River across from Vicksburg on June 25, 1862. They were specifically used to help construct Williams Canal (predecessor to Grant's Canal) in an attempt to divert the Mississippi River and render the city of Vicksburg useless. The Ninth suffered greatly from heat exhaustion and disease and lost 150 men before the Canal project was abandoned on July 24, 1862. This button is a stark reminder of the suffering and hardship these Connecticut soldiers endured during their attempt to take Vicksburg.

 

[R. Porter]

I like the way that one, almost insignificant, artifact can open a window on an intensely human story from history.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

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This weekend I was fortunate enough to hunt a Union camp across the river from Vicksburg that was occupied by the Ninth Connecticut Regiment. It was there that I dug up this nice Connecticut state seal cuff button. It's special to find a relic that you can tie to a specific unit. This unit has a unique history. This regiment was the only one from Connecticut that served in the Vicksburg campaign. They were called "The Fighting Irish" because they were made up of Irish immigrants that had come to the U.S. from Ireland in the 1840s & 50s. They arrived at Desoto Point on the Mississippi River across from Vicksburg on June 25, 1862. They were specifically used to help construct Williams Canal (predecessor to Grant's Canal) in an attempt to divert the Mississippi River and render the city of Vicksburg useless. The Ninth suffered greatly from heat exhaustion and disease and lost 150 men before the Canal project was abandoned on July 24, 1862. This button is a stark reminder of the suffering and hardship these Connecticut soldiers endured during their attempt to take Vicksburg.

Good find!

 

[bdtex]

This weekend I was fortunate enough to hunt a Union camp across the river from Vicksburg that was occupied by the Ninth Connecticut Regiment. It was there that I dug up this nice Connecticut state seal cuff button.

Fortunate indeed. What a great find. I'm sure nobody has to tell you about preserving the provenance of that find. What else did you find?

 

[Tom Hughes]

Fortunate indeed. What a great find. I'm sure nobody has to tell you about preserving the provenance of that find. What else did you find?

Mainly eagle buttons, some bullets (pistol and rifle balls), some lock pieces, leather rivets, knife pieces, melted lead and a few coins.