Well, it isn't a U.S. medal and I couldn't find where Rhode Island issued anything medal or badge during the war that resembled it. So best guess is that it is a 6th Corps, 2nd Division badge as the cross looks to be white.
Corp Badge... private purchase... These were common especially with higher ranking officers. These typically crafted of silver, and frequently found inscribed with name & command etc.... ribbon if present, sometimes the division color... sometimes not...
Some other officers in the VI Corp sporting similar badges...
The ribbon color was probably that of whichever division Wheaton commanded or his brigade belonged to. Red = 1st Div.; white = 2nd Div.; blue = 3rd Div.; green or orange = 4th Div. (There were only 3 divisions in the VI Corps though.)
The ribbon color was probably that of whichever division Wheaton commanded or his brigade belonged to. Red = 1st Div.; white = 2nd Div.; blue = 3rd Div.
Wiki says he came up through the Third Division of the VI Corps, and was temporarily in command of the Third Division at Gettysburg. He was later promoted to the regular command of the First Division. So that ribbon could either be red (First) or a medium blue (Third).
Thanks. I colored the ribbon red. I wasn't sure if it was red or blue, but red seems likely now considering the picture is at the end of the war by the time he is commanding 1st Division. Is the medal silver or gold in your opinion?