Original Civil War New Jersey First Defenders Medal 1861 James Springstein

Original Civil War New Jersey First Defenders. New Jersey First Defenders Civil War Veterans Medal awarded to a James Springsteen. Medal is in original as found collection. Medal is complete although ribbon is very frayed and tattered.

I was able to find James Springsteen in the New jersey roles of men serving in the first defenders units. Below is some information about the New jersey First Defenders. The State of New Jersey first honored its Civil War veterans with a commemorative medal in 1901, when the state legislature authorized the governor to issue the First Defenders' Medal. This award was given to honorably discharged officers and men from the first, second, third, and fourth regiments of the "New Jersey brigade-militia" who mustered in at Trenton on 1 May 1861...

I have included photos from NJ military archives referencing James Springstein and a Leonard Springstein. I searched but could not find a connection between Bruce Springsteens Great Great grandfather Alexander who fought for New jersey in the Union Army during the civil war but my intuition tells me they must have in some way been related. If you collect civil War or new jersey historical material this medal will make a wonderful cross collectible.

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