Post War UCV Medal

[Woods-walker]

Hidden treasures still exist. I found this medal at a local auction near Fredericksburg Virginia.
I was rummaging through some boxes at the auction. Most of the boxes were filled with the sort of insignificant items that generally will not sell separately. In this particular box was a few old magazines, one or two small kitchen items, some small toys, and this medal. I was the high bid at $2.

It states Commander in Chief, General W. B. Freeman; 1926; 36th​ Annual Reunion, Birmingham, ALA; UCV.

General Freeman was from Lynchburg Virginia. As an officer with Company E, 34fh Virginia Infantry Regiment he served in Ewell's 2nd​ Corps.
He was wounded three times during the Seven Days fighting and returned home to recover. There he stayed through December 1862 recuperating. In January 63 he rejoined the army as an aid to Colonel Goode where he remained until the end of the war, being paroled on April 9, 1865.

In 1892, the Freeman family moved to Richmond, where he remained until he died in 1925. He was the father of famed writer and biographer Douglas Southall Freeman.

I believe the medal to be authentic and I placed it in a small frame, where it now hangs under a Mort Kunstler print. I would appreciate suggestions on a proper place to donate the medal including descendants that can prove their family linkage.

 

[Viper21]

If you intend on donating it, I would recommend the Sons of Confederate Veterans HQ's in Tennessee. They are the successor to the UCV. Presently, they are nearing completion on a museum, & would possibly be interested in this item.

 

[Woods-walker]

Thank you Viper.
I do want to donate it. Your suggestion is a good one that I will keep in mind.
Since the post is new I will hold off a few months to see if I get more recommendations. But I like yours very much.
Regards Dennis

 

[UCVRelics]

Nice Piece but could you check the dates again as if he died in 1925 and the Bham reunion was in 1926 he was already dead. Look on the back and see if it was made by either Whitehead & Hoag or Schwabb & Co. Birmingham had more UCV reunions than any other city with 6 of them being held here. I will do some checking to see if there was a UCV camp named after him which might explain the date issue.

 

[lelliott19]

could you check the dates again as if he died in 1925 and the Bham reunion was in 1926 he was already dead.

According to his FindAGrave memorial, Walker Burford Freeman died 9 Feb 1935.

 

[John Winn]

According to his FindAGrave memorial, Walker Burford Freeman died 9 Feb 1935.

Correct. A little Googling confirmed that date. From the FindAGrave memorial there's this:

"Walker Burford Freeman was elected Commander in Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, serving from 1925-1926. After his term he was bestowed the title of "Honorary" Commander in Chief until his death.
Death: 9 Feb 1935 (aged 91) Richmond City, ...
Burial: Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond"

Edit: spelling and punctuation corrections made by me.

 

[UCVRelics]

Prior to that he was the Virginia Division commander, a camp commander.

 

[Paul Yancey]

What a great find. So glad you saved it from possibly being lost for all time. I really don't know how much information is out there on Walker Freeman. I do recall that there is a biography on Douglas Southall Freeman written by David E. Johnson that I saw on Amazon. I would think that book would have some information on the Father.

 

[UCVRelics]

In 1914 he was the 1st Brigade Commander of the Va Division and I will have to dig a little deeper in mu UCV date to find which UCV Camp he was commander of prior to this.

 

[James N.]

I'll add the observation that the design on the face of the medal depicting l. to r. Davis, Lee, and Jackson is the same as that on Stone Mountain, Ga.

 

[Woods-walker]

Nice Piece but could you check the dates again as if he died in 1925 and the Bham reunion was in 1926 he was already dead. Look on the back and see if it was made by either Whitehead & Hoag or Schwabb & Co. Birmingham had more UCV reunions than any other city with 6 of them being held here. I will do some checking to see if there was a UCV camp named after him which might explain the date issue.

The date on the front is 1926.
Each of the three pieces (joined together with a chain link) is marked Whitehead and Hoag Newark NJ on the back.
The second piece, with Freeman's name, has the makers mark upside down. I assume the ingraver has it upside down when he ingraved "General W. F. Freeman"
Dennis

 

[Woods-walker]

Nice Piece but could you check the dates again as if he died in 1925 and the Bham reunion was in 1926 he was already dead. Look on the back and see if it was made by either Whitehead & Hoag or Schwabb & Co. Birmingham had more UCV reunions than any other city with 6 of them being held here. I will do some checking to see if there was a UCV camp named after him which might explain the date issue.

I got his death date on line. I am not sure it's correct

 

[John Winn]

I got his death date on line. I am not sure it's correct

See posts 5 and 6.

 

[Woods-walker]

I'll add the observation that the design on the face of the medal depicting l. to r. Davis, Lee, and Jackson is the same as that on Stone Mountain, Ga.

I have been to Stone Mt and agree. That was the first thing that struck me when I saw it at the auction

 

[James N.]

I have been to Stone Mt and agree. That was the first thing that struck me when I saw it at the auction

The design differs from the one on the U.S. Currency Stone Mountain Commemorative Quarter. I forget the year that came out, but it used Gutzon Borglum's original design as its basis, featuring only Lee and Jackson. When Borglum gave up the project the beginnings of his design were blasted from the face of Stone Mountain and the newer one begun - unfortunately I forget the new sculptor, but this is his design which replaced Borglum's. (There have been previous threads here in the forums about the carving.)

 

[major bill]

This is a nice find and does make a great display item. Is there a book that documents these UCV items?

 

[Woods-walker]

The date on the front is 1926.
Each of the three pieces (joined together with a chain link) is marked Whitehead and Hoag Newark NJ on the back.
The second piece, with Freeman's name, has the makers mark upside down. I assume the ingraver has it upside down when he ingraved "General W. F. Freeman"
Dennis

This is a nice find and does make a great display item. Is there a book that documents these UCV items?

Thanks Major Bill.
I have very little knowledge of UVC items. My limited knowledge only goes to what I ve found on line. My understanding is that the SCV is planning a relatively large display of UCV memorabilia at the soon to open museum in Tennessee.
I haven't given much research to this sort of post war activities unfortunately.

 

[UCVRelics]

This is a nice find and does make a great display item. Is there a book that documents these UCV items?

There is a small book that was done back in the 60's but doesn't come anywhere close to documenting the 1000's of different National, State and local medals, ribbons and badges of the UCV. I have over 400 in my collection as I started out trying to get one from each of the nationals reunions and then it got out of hand.

 

[James N.]

There is a small book that was done back in the 60's but doesn't come anywhere close to documenting the 1000's of different National, State and local medals, ribbons and badges of the UCV. I have over 400 in my collection as I started out trying to get one from each of the nationals reunions and then it got out of hand.
View attachment 350305

Sounds like a good subject for a future thread - or series of them!