SUPERB NAMED CIVIL WAR ID BADGE 54th MASSACHUSETTS WOUNDED AT BATTERY WAGNER

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SUPERB NAMED CIVIL WAR ID BADGE 54th MASSACHUSETTS WOUNDED AT BATTERY WAGNER:
$787.77

Presented for thecollector of Civil War badges and insignia or one specializing in ephemera related to the 54th Massachusetts Infantry is this wonderful little medal and badge group. The centerpiece of this assemblage is a superb identification badge to a white officer of the 54th Massachusetts who was wounded in the storied assault on Battery Wagner on July 18, 1863. As far as compelling personal history and regimental association goes few badges can rise to this level. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteers need no introduction as it is perhaps the most well known African-American military unit of the American Civil War. Black soldiers made up the rank and file while the officers were white. The original owner of this group was the commander of Company B in that organization. I would invite you to conduct further research of this famed regiment and the assault on Battery Wagner if the details are not already familiar to you. This group surfaced at Brimfield a few years ago and I acquired it from the dealer who obtained it from a Massachusetts estate. That is a story in and of itself and the outcome materially hinged on who this badge belonged to. Regardless, the medals and badge are in untouched, uncleaned, as-found condition with a wonderful patina. Variously termed \"ID shields,\" \"identification badges,\" or \"company pins,\" the vast majority of this genre of badge included the company, regiment, and name of the individual wearing it. While worn during the war as an emblem of pride with regard to regimental affiliation, a more practical yet morose purpose was served by the visible wear of badges such as this. In the event the wearer fell in the chaos of battle his body could be readily identified even in a disfigured state. Burial parties did not typically reach the fallen until several days after large scale engagements and the dead were often unrecognizable even to friends. A survey of any of the Alexander Gardner photos of Civil War dead will reveal what I am talking about. This badge is of one of the known patterns and is constructed of a thin silver shield on which is engraved \"CAPT. SAML. WILLARD CO. B 54th MASS. VOL.\" The reverse features the expected hinged pin or \"t-bar\" pin and open loop catch. It measures 1 inch high by 7/8 inches wide. Samuel Willard was the company commander of Company B, 54th Massachusetts Volunteers and he was wounded in action at Fort Wagner, South Carolina on July 18, 1863. I don\'t need to elaborate on the history of the action, but I would invite you to conduct further research if you are not familiar with it. If you aren\'t a reader, an afternoon spent watching \"Glory\" will give you an impression of the action itself. The \"catch\" with this badge lies in the very name inscribed upon it. Samuel Willard was the commander of Company B, but that was not his full name. On many occasions and for diverse reasons individuals would enlist under a name other than their real one. This was especially true among white officers serving with \"colored troops.\" Samuel Willard was actually Samuel Willard Mann. Finding references to Samuel Willard when using the standard research tools will often lead to a dead end. However, under the name Samuel W. Mann of Massachusetts you will find the following capsule history:

Samuel W. MannResidence Westborough MA; a 24 year-old Currier.Enlisted on 7/18/1861 as a Sergeant.On 7/18/1861 he mustered into \"D\" Co. MA 20th Infantry He was discharged for promotion on 3/21/1863 (As: Samuel Willard)On 5/25/1863 he was commissioned into \"B\" Co. MA 54th Infantry He Resigned on 10/6/1863 (As: Samuel Willard)On 8/12/1864 he was commissioned into \"E\" Co. MA 4th Heavy Artillery He was discharged for disability on 3/27/1865He was listed as:* Wounded 7/18/1863 Fort Wagner, SCPromotions:* Sergt 7/18/1861 (As of Co. D 20th MA Inf)* 2nd Lieut 10/1/1862 (As of Co. D 20th MA Inf)* Capt 4/14/1863 (As of Co. B 54th Inf)* 1st Sergt 8/9/1864 (As of Co. E 4th HA)* 1st Lieut 8/17/1864 (As of Co. E 4th HA)Intra Regimental Company Transfers:* from company E to company F (As of 4th MA HA)Other Information:born in Langdon, VTMember of GAR Post # 63 (General Wadsworth) in Natick, MAHeld GAR Offices:* Post Commander # 63died 5/11/1923(Name: Samuel W. Mann or Samuel Willard) - Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War - Massachusetts GAR: Journal of the Annual Encampment - Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS - GAR Dept of Massachusetts 1866-1947 (Sargent)

The individual elements of the group are congruent with Samuel Willard Mann\'s wartime service and postwar association with the Grand Army of the Republic. In addition to the wartime identification badge the group contains a very nice specimen of a GAR Post Commander\'s badge. The planchet is numbered on the upper edge of the right point \"B 25586.\" Thus, based upon the design elements in the planchet this medal can be accurately dated to 1883. The rim number on numbered GAR medals is preceded by the initial of the last name of the national commander during the year in which they were struck. In this case the National Commander for 1883 (before the design change on the reverse of the planchet) was Robert Burns Beath. The brooch is the standard Post Commander\'s insignia which coopted the design of the staff colonel\'s shoulder strap. This specimen is quite nice and dates from the same vintage as the planchet. Additionally, it featuresa nice hinged pin or \"t-bar\" pin and open loop catch. The Post Commander\'s badge is further enhanced with the addition of a shield shaped drop featuring elements of the Massachusetts state seal which are highlighted with white enamel. This badge was worn by Samuel Willard Mann as the Post Commander of GAR Post 63 in Natick, Massachusetts. The final medal of the group is a rather scarce one about which little information exists. My research indicates that it was an adjunct of the GAR in Massachusetts and was an organization for former officers. This would be entirely in accordance with Samuel Willard Mann\'s service history. The gilt bronze brooch reads \"GRAND ARMY CLUB\" and is highlighted with white enamel. The planchet, also of gilt bronze, is highlighted with cobalt blue enamel. The ribbons on both medals are firm and stable. This wonderful group would be the centerpiece of most collections of Civil War badges and ephemera and would be a welcome addition to your collection. ! Please see my other listings for items which may interest you. Good luck!

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