Help ID'ing an award/medal

[NFB22]

Does anyone happen to know what the medal this man is wearing signifies.

The man pictured served with the 35th Indiana from Dec. 1861-Dec. 1862 before being mustered out.

 

[AndyHall]

That's a Grand Army of the Republic medal -- a veteran's organization medal, rather than a government-issued decoration. The Medal of Honor was similar in appearance, but with the eagle below the ribbon, rather than above it. The brass buttons on his coast and vest suggest this is his GAR uniform.

GAR Medal:

 

[NFB22]

That's a Grand Army of the Republic medal -- a veteran's organization medal, rather than a government-issued decoration. The Medal of Honor was similar in appearance, but with the eagle below the ribbon, rather than above it. The brass buttons on his coast and vest suggest this is his GAR uniform.

Thanks Andy

 

[DHPatrick]

That's a Grand Army of the Republic medal -- a veteran's organization medal, rather than a government-issued decoration. The Medal of Honor was similar in appearance, but with the eagle below the ribbon, rather than above it. The brass buttons on his coast and vest suggest this is his GAR uniform.

Andy is absolutely correct. In This case GAR refers to the veteran association of former Union Soldiers. When the association membership passed on, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War continued on the traditions. The association is always looking for new membership. You have to prove your ancestry to become a member.

This medal was issued by the association around 1900. It is one of the few veteran association medals ever to be authorized for wear on the uniforms of active duty soldiers - those that earned it. At the time it was presented, there were still soldiers on active duty eligible to wear it.

Andy's photo copy of it appears to be in mint condition. Fairly rare today.

 

[NFB22]

Andy is absolutely correct. In This case GAR refers to the veteran association of former Union Soldiers. When the association membership passed on, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War continued on the traditions. The association is always looking for new membership. You have to prove your ancestry to become a member.

This medal was issued by the association around 1900. It is one of the few veteran association medals ever to be authorized for wear on the uniforms of active duty soldiers - those that earned it. At the time it was presented, there were still soldiers on active duty eligible to wear it.

Andy's photo copy of it appears to be in mint condition. Fairly rare today.

Thanks for the extra info, I'm not very educated in terms of veterans organizations pertaining to ACW vets.

I'm currently researching the gentleman as he is somewhere along the lines of my 3rd great-grandfather on my mothers side. All I know so far was he was with the 35th Indiana from December of 61 to December of 62. I would assume he was at the Battle of Perryville but can't be certain. I'm trying to figure out if that was just the term of his enlistment or perhaps he was injured and that would explain the crutch.

 

[DHPatrick]

. I'm trying to figure out if that was just the term of his enlistment or perhaps he was injured and that would explain the crutch.

May have been his term. At the beginning of the war, neither side though it would last much longer than a year. Some commanders were able to talk their soldiers into staying on past this first year term - Duty, honor, country. Check his NARA record, it should say.

 

[E_just_E]

Thanks for the extra info, I'm not very educated in terms of veterans organizations pertaining to ACW vets.

I'm currently researching the gentleman as he is somewhere along the lines of my 3rd great-grandfather on my mothers side. All I know so far was he was with the 35th Indiana from December of 61 to December of 62. I would assume he was at the Battle of Perryville but can't be certain. I'm trying to figure out if that was just the term of his enlistment or perhaps he was injured and that would explain the crutch.

Do you have his name? The records should be there, if so...

 

[AndyHall]

Andy's photo copy of it appears to be in mint condition. Fairly rare today.

I prolly should've posted a different image -- I think the ribbon on that is a graphic representation, not the real thing.

 

[sflickinger]

Andy is absolutely correct. In This case GAR refers to the veteran association of former Union Soldiers. When the association membership passed on, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War continued on the traditions. The association is always looking for new membership. You have to prove your ancestry to become a member.

This medal was issued by the association around 1900. It is one of the few veteran association medals ever to be authorized for wear on the uniforms of active duty soldiers - those that earned it. At the time it was presented, there were still soldiers on active duty eligible to wear it.

Andy's photo copy of it appears to be in mint condition. Fairly rare today.

I will second your invitation to join the SUVCW. I'm a member of William T. Sherman Camp #93 in Dayton, Ohio. We indeed have carried on the mission of the GAR. We are the only legal descendant organization of the GAR and spend our time as living historians who educate people about the CW, take care of grave sites, cannons, and other activities. We are all descendants of CW veterans and it's a great organization for CW history buffs. Thanks for acknowledging it.

 

[DHPatrick]

Good to meet you sflickinger - Lt Cmdr Edward Lea USN, Camp 2 out of Houston, Texas. http://www.camplea.org/

 

[E_just_E]

Welcome

Henry Edwin (Fitzgerald) Brown was a Civil War Veteran and later artist of both portraits and landscapes who lived and worked in my neck of the woods until he died in 1911. Might be him. Pictures will definitelyhelp.

I prolly should've posted a different image -- I think the ribbon on that is a graphic representation, not the real thing.

There you go (both sides)

 

[sflickinger]

Good to meet you sflickinger - Lt Cmdr Edward Lea USN, Camp 2 out of Houston, Texas. http://www.camplea.org/

Glad to meet you, I'm Junior Vice Commander of my camp. I love recruiting. We have 37 members and we're getting on social media to get ourselves on some people's radar. It's a good organization. I'll get on your site. Thanks.

 

[Patrick H]

Thank you, Andy and others. When I first saw this, I thought to myself: "This will probably be GAR",... just because a Medal of Honor would be such a rare thing. But the MOH and the GAR medals of the era are SOOOO similar. It is often difficult to pick them out in a photo. ...at least for a fairly ignorant person like me.

 

[E_just_E]

Thank you, Andy and others. When I first saw this, I thought to myself: "This will probably be GAR",... just because a Medal of Honor would be such a rare thing. But the MOH and the GAR medals of the era are SOOOO similar. It is often difficult to pick them out in a photo. ...at least for a fairly ignorant person like me.

Here is a Civil War era MOH. Similar eagle, different location and different scene on the medal.

And when you look at them in real life, the back is always engraved (ignore the ribbon here, it is a replacement) GAR medals are double sided (as above) :

 

[Patrick H]

YES! Thank you for this response. It is so obvious, once it is pointed out in this way! I appreciate it!

 

[sflickinger]

Good to meet you sflickinger - Lt Cmdr Edward Lea USN, Camp 2 out of Houston, Texas. http://www.camplea.org/

Impressive site. My email is [email protected] Enough off subject communication. Sorry.

 

[DHPatrick]

The similarity did create some degree of controversy back then and yet Congress did turn around and allow soldiers to wear the GAR medal on their uniforms. This in consideration that the other medal was the 'Congressional' Medal of Honor. GAR was a powerful political influence in the US in the late 1800s and 1900s.

If you come across this GAR Medal with blue borders and Army Officer Insignia of Grade at the top, that was the medal of a GAR Officer. A full colonel's insignia mean he was a post commander. These are very rare. They can be found with various other officer's insignia of grade.

I have ancestors who were members and others who were members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW). SUVCW did not happen after the GAR's demise, it began almost immediately after the formation of GAR. It was like an associate association back then. Anyone interested, let me know ([email protected]). Equal opportunity - I can help with Sons of Confederate Veterans as well.

 

[E_just_E]

If you come across this GAR Medal with blue borders and Army Officer Insignia of Grade at the top, that was the medal of a GAR Officer. A full colonel's insignia mean he was a post commander. These are very rare. They can be found with various other officer's insignia of grade.

Indeed, but those do not have the Eagle:

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