Insignia (General)ly speaking

[Salterr]

Well it finally happened and within one week of each other. I now have a brigadier shoulder board and a major general board. Unfortunately singles but no complaints here,10 years of board collecting and I've finally got them

 

[gjpratt]

Please tell us how and where you found them. For me, the pursuit is almost as fulfilling as the actual acquisition.

 

[Library Lady]

I'm kind of surprised that the brigadier boards aren't easier to find because, as I recall, there was a day in March of 1865 where the brevet brigadier rank was handed out like a participation trophy. Both the colonel and the lieutenant colonel of the 105th Illinois were awarded that rank on the same day. I understand the colonel getting it because, I believe, he had actually acted as brigadier at some point (kind of like Colonel Chamberlain and Colonel Vincent at different times), but the lieutenant colonel, not so much. Anyway, I'm thrilled that you finally found one! There's little so satisfying as finally finding something you've been looking for for what seems like forever.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Well it finally happened and within one week of each other. I now have a brigadier shoulder board and a major general board. Unfortunately singles but no complaints here,10 years of board collecting and I've finally got them

View attachment 585362

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Wow! Congratulations.

 

[FrankN]

Great pieces!

Frank

 

[JOHN42768]

Very nice

 

[Salterr]

Please tell us how and where you found them. For me, the pursuit is almost as fulfilling as the actual acquisition.

These came from eBay, while it can be dangerous with so many fakes, usually eBay has boards that people don't know what they are. I've gotten some outrageously cheap pieces that way that are actually very expensive.
The brigadier was cased with a button and a cdv of Robert Anderson. The case claimed it was his but I'll never know for sure. The second one, the major general was mislabeled as a reproduction and came with two inkwells and a pen with its case. I told the seller but she did not seem to care. I even offered her way more at first but she refused and so I got it for less than 1/3 of my original offer

 

[Salterr]

Please tell us how and where you found them. For me, the pursuit is almost as fulfilling as the actual acquisition.

If you are looking for a brigadier set for yourself I know of one that's identified and for sale

 

[infomanpa]

You get a gold star for your efforts! Maybe 2.

 

[gjpratt]

If you are looking for a brigadier set for yourself I know of one that's identified and for sale

Not what I collect but……

PM me

 

[Salterr]

I'm kind of surprised that the brigadier boards aren't easier to find because, as I recall, there was a day in March of 1865 where the brevet brigadier rank was handed out like a participation trophy. Both the colonel and the lieutenant colonel of the 105th Illinois were awarded that rank on the same day. I understand the colonel getting it because, I believe, he had actually acted as brigadier at some point (kind of like Colonel Chamberlain and Colonel Vincent at different times), but the lieutenant colonel, not so much. Anyway, I'm thrilled that you finally found one! There's little so satisfying as finally finding something you've been looking for for what seems like forever.

I have found that it's a bit mixed when finding boards. I had read at some
Point there were about 600 generals in the war and so naturally not all the boards survived and that's such a small number to begin with in comparison to the thousands of lower ranks which are pretty plentiful. I find majors boards the most but don't know why. I know some officers tend to have multiple sets for different uniforms like Fatigue and parade so maybe some were saved. The same happens with chevrons too. The biggest surplus are corporals and sergeants and I don't know why. Anything higher ranking than that is extremely rare