ID tags

[JH1961]

3+ years later, I am still sorting through my late dad's (Dr. Gerald Hovater) Civil War collection. In his collection, aming other things, are what some call 'dog tags'.

 

[UCVRelics]

Very Nice. Thanks for sharing them with us.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I couldn't resist trying to look them up. I couldn't find Cpl. Ted Cobbs, 4th Tenn Regt, Co B (?) CSA, but a possible W. Ham popped up….

Hamm, William
Battle Unit: 1st Alabama Infantry
Side: Confederate
Company: F
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Private
Alternate Names:
Note(s):

1ST ALABAMA INFANTRY

1st Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Pensacola, Florida, in March, 1861. The men were from the counties of Tallapoosa, Pike, Lowndes, Wilcox, Talladega, Barbour, and Macon. For a year it manned the batteries at Pensacola, then with 1,000 men moved to Missouri where all but a detachment were captured at Island No. 10. The prisoners were exchanged during September, 1862, and it was soon ordered to Port Hudson. Here the unit endured many hardships, and nearly 500 were captured on July 9, 1863. Exchanged and reorganized with 610 effectives the 1st joined the Army of Tennessee and served in General Quarles" and Shelley"s Brigade. It took an active part in the Atlanta and Tennessee Campaigns, and ended the war in North Carolina. Its casualties were high at Peach Tree Creek and were again heavy at Franklin and Nashville. Less than 100 surrendered in April, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Henry D. Clayton and I.G.W. Steedman, Lieutenant Colonel Michael B. Locke, and Majors S.L. Knox and Jere N. Williams.

Source : Crute, Joseph H., Jr., "Units of the Confederate States Army" (Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987), 2nd Edition.

Edited to add
Source:

Better Soldiers & Sailors - brought to you by Gopher Records

bettersoldiersandsailors.com

 

[JH1961]

Thanks. There are others that I will post later.

 

[gary]

Neat. The first one was poorly stamped (but that doesn't detract from its value as an object). Contact the historical society of the county or state he came from. Mebbe they have an image? Be neat to have the image and the man together.

 

[redbob]

Your dad was quite the collector and he certainly seemed to enjoy helping others get into hobby.

 

[R. Porter]

That first dog tag reminds me of the zinc dog tags used by Germany in WW1 and WW2, except the German ones were stamped instead of engraved free hand. Is that jagged piece in the hole for the string something we should expect to have broken off with wear or something we should expect the maker to have removed before use? Does the hole show wear from use or was this never used with a string through the hole or was it lost by the owner almost as soon as it was made? Is it made of zinc or something else? Zinc was used on cleaner bullets so there must have been some around somewhere.

 

[JH1961]

Your dad was quite the collector and he certainly seemed to enjoy helping others get into hobby.

Yes, he most certainly did.

 

[JH1961]

That first dog tag reminds me of the zinc dog tags used by Germany in WW1 and WW2, except the German ones were stamped instead of engraved free hand. Is that jagged piece in the hole for the string something we should expect to have broken off with wear or something we should expect the maker to have removed before use? Does the hole show wear from use or was this never used with a string through the hole or was it lost by the owner almost as soon as it was made? Is it made of zinc or something else? Zinc was used on cleaner bullets so there must have been some around somewhere.

I've not looked that closely,, but I wouldn't be surprised if a WWII German or Italian POW camp ended up on more than one Civil War site.

 

[R. Porter]

I've not looked that closely,, but I wouldn't be surprised if a WWII German or Italian POW camp ended up on more than one Civil War site.

You didn't address any of the questions I suggested. Is the disc zinc, lead or something else? Does it have evidence of wear? I would also be curious if other similar badges have been found and what that might suggest. Also, I would be curious if any type of dog tags/ID badge were used by veterans of either side after the war. Is there a source on Civil War dog tags/ID badges? Your badge opens up so many questions about how Civil War soldiers saw themselves and each other.

 

[JH1961]

You didn't address any of the questions I suggested. Is the disc zinc, lead or something else? Does it have evidence of wear? I would also be curious if other similar badges have been found and what that might suggest. Also, I would be curious if any type of dog tags/ID badge were used by veterans of either side after the war. Is there a source on Civil War dog tags/ID badges? Your badge opens up so many questions about how Civil War soldiers saw themselves and each other.

It doesn't appear to be heavy enough fir lead, but is heavily oxidized. There doesn't appear to be any wear evident in the hole.

 

[JH1961]

More. Pics of both sides. Perhaps some more of you sharp-eyed individuals will see something that stands out, or otherwise rings a bell.

 

[R. Porter]

You certainly have a variety of items there!

 

[JH1961]

Yeah...and know little about them. I never developed my dad's fascination for the Civil War, much preferring WWII history. That's why I must rely on the 'experts' here.