what is this decoration?

[on again]

I came across a union chaplain photograph at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11938540/william-abbott#view-photo=4524619
The one thing that puzzles me is the decoration that he is wearing..it is not a GAR Badge and it is not a Union Army Corps insignia.

Any idea what it is?

 

[RedRover]

Hello. He is wearing a Grand Army of the Republic officer's badge. Somewhat different from the common GAR one.

It denotes that at the time of the photograph, Rev. Abbott was a serving officer with the GAR. Below at left is the officer's badge with its rank bar pin. If he was a past officer, he would have worn the past officer's badge (at center below), which had the officer's ribbon, and the past office rank bar now mounted on it, but the common member's badge eagle pin.

Here's an example of the GAR officer's badge...

YankeeRebelAntiques...


The GAR rank on his medal ribbon bar is not clear in Rev. Abbott's photograph... perhaps chaplain...

 

[Rhea Cole]

Hello. He is wearing a Grand Army of the Republic officer's badge. Somewhat different from the common GAR one.

View attachment 517762

It denotes that at the time of the photograph, Rev. Abbott was a serving officer with the GAR. Below at left is the officer's badge with its rank bar pin. If he was a past officer, he would have worn the past officer's badge (at center below), which had the officer's ribbon, and the past office rank bar now mounted on it, but the common member's badge eagle pin.

View attachment 517770View attachment 517771




Here's an example of the GAR officer's badge...

View attachment 517766

YankeeRebelAntiques...


The GAR rank on his medal ribbon bar is not clear in Rev. Abbott's photograph... perhaps chaplain...

View attachment 517767View attachment 517768

This post is right on the money.

 

[JOHN42768]

I believe also there were different color side edges to indicate local, state and national ranking

 

[Rhea Cole]

These are links to a very large number of GAR badges from sales:

https://historical.ha.com/itm/military-and-patriotic/civil-war/grand-army-of-the-republic-sixteen-medals-and-badges-total-17-items-/a/6013-48761.s

Collection of San Francisco Convention Badges of the Grand Army of the Republic, plus a few others

The collection includes 18 badges, with pendants, from the 20th Convention held in San Francisco in 1886; 17 badges and pins and 1 sterling silver souvenir spoon from the 37th Convention held in San Francisco in 1903; 4 badges from the Native Sons of the Golden West, 1890, 1912, and 1925 (2)...

pbagalleries.com

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