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This is one of the "Holy Grail" of Confederate Veteran badges. This wonderful badge was worn by members of the Association of Confederate Veterans, Tennessee Division. This Confederate veteran organization was established several years before the United Confederate Veterans organization. The badge is approximately 2 3/16 inches by 7 1/4 inches. The hanger has the seal of the State of Tennessee on it and a fantastic Confederate First national flag ribbon is attached. The drop has a Confederate battle flag in the center with "A C S T D" which stands for Associated Confederate Veterans, Tennessee Division. Also written around the flag is "Historical - Social - Benevolent". There are crossed sabers, a drum, and cannon barrels on the badge. The ribbon on this badge is fantastic!

In November 1885, members of Cheatham Bivouac (W. D. Gale, R. H. Dudley, Charles D. Elliott, the Reverend J. H. McNeilly, William H. Jackson, and Frank Porterfield) played a conspicuous role in revamping a statewide veterans' organization known as the Tennessee Confederate Memorial and Historical Association. The men expanded the original goal of funding a commemorative

monument to Confederate valor and included plans to care for Confederate graves and bring living veterans into closer fraternal relations through benevolent programs for ill comrades, indigent widows, and destitute orphans. They also hoped to encourage the preparation of historical accounts of the war that would honor and vindicate the Confederate cause. To meet these goals, they formed the

Association of Confederate Soldiers, Tennessee, which became the first chartered organization of its kind in the South. The association met in annual state reunions that rotated between host cities in each of the three Grand Divisions.