Investment Grade Civil War 2nd Corps Badge 2nd Division 19th Maine or Mass

Original 2nd Corps Badge, 2nd Division, Officer grade. A very desirable large size, 2" height and width, trimmed with brass wire, and bearing original, authentic, period brass numerals "19 in its center, with original period filled mesh backing. This is period high-grade construction, acquired from an extensive collection of very high grade museum-quality Corps Badges.

It is extremely rare to find original, authentic, sewn Corps Badges. Although they were the most common at the time of the Civil War, their deterioration rate was extreme, and their consequential survival rate is minimal. There were two 19th Regiment's in the 2nd Corps, 2nd Division (as this is designated by its white color): the 19th Maine, which was in the 1st Brigade, and the 19th Massachusetts, which served in the 3rd Brigade of the same 2nd Division.

The most famous, desirable, and known as the fighting-est Corps in the Union Army, the 2nd Corps was prominent by reason of its longer and continuous service, larger organization, hardest fighting, and greatest number of casualties. Within its ranks was the regiment which sustained the largest percentage of loss in any one action; also, the regiment which sustained the greatest numerical loss in any one action; also, the regiment which sustained the greatest numerical loss during its term of service; while, of the one hundred regiments in the Union Army which lost the most men in battle, thirty-five of them belonged to the 2nd Corps. " (Fox's "Regimental Losses chapter VIII; by way of CivilWarHome dot com/2ndCorps). At the time of Gettysburg, the 2nd Corps was commanded by arguably the best General in the Union Army, General Winfield Scott Hancock, and held the Union center which received and repelled the onslaught of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.

Other prominent Generals who commanded the 2nd Corps during the Civil War include Edwin Sumner, John Sedgewick, Darius Couch, Oliver Howard, John Gibbon, Gouverneur Warren, John Caldwell, David Birney, Andrew Humphreys, and Francis Barlow. The 2nd Corps fought in every major engagement of the Army of the Potomac. Battle of Seven Pines, Seven Days Battles, 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Spotslyvania Courthouse, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Ream's Station, Boydton Plank Road, Farmville. Recent scholarship notes the quality not just of II Corps' leadership but its individual soldiers, addressing both individual bravery and deep commitment to the Union as depicted in letters and diaries. In spite of homesickness and coming from Democratic homes and ethnic communities which did not favor expanding war aims to.

Soldiers of II Corps saw the fighting through, re-enlisting in 1863-4 and voting overwhelmingly for Abraham Lincoln. Pride in unit featured prominently in post-war reunions, and on the 50th anniversary of Gettysburg Speaker of the House.

From Missouri referred to soldiers of II Corps as "those unconquerable boys in blue". Unit cohesion ultimately overcame racial antipathies, frustrations and hatreds according to this analysis.

Corps Badges were the traditionally believed to have been introduce in concept by General Joseph Hooker, as an organization assistance and morale booster in the Army of the Potomac. They quickly caught on throughout all the Union Armies. Corps Badges were made by many manufacturers, some in high quantities, some in lower quantities, and were also made of various material and levels of quality.

Most enlisted men wore a basic fabric patch in the shape of their Corps symbol, sewn on to the crown of their Kepi. Most officers wore embellished embroidered fabric versions of significantly higher quality and appeal. Still others ordered engraved Corps Badges, which command a significant premium. Please view my other listings for additional Investment Grade Military Collectibles. I frequently travel to specialized and general trade shows, conventions, auctions, and private sales and viewings all over the country, and maintain a network of the most reputable collectors and dealers in the community, and limit all my acquisitions to this network.

My objective is to both collect for myself, and to bring to you only truly authentic, historic investment grade military collectables. My pricing is very competitive, and I my customers include dealers and collectors. My aim is ultimately to make quality investment grade items available to those who like investing in interesting items that steadily appreciate, and have the added value of being displayable and of historic significance.

The item "Investment Grade Civil War 2nd Corps Badge 2nd Division 19th Maine or Mass" is in sale since Monday, July 5, 2021. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Other Civil War Original Items". The seller is "rogercillo" and is located in Wilmington, Delaware.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Theme: Militaria
Original/Reproduction: Original
Conflict: Civil War (1861-65)