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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.