SOLD!!! Another great Ohio state encampment badge. This one is from the 1915 Ohio state encampment at Mansfield, Ohio. The badge has three pieces. The top hanger has the GAR logo, "Representative" and "49th Department Encampment Ohio" on it. A red, whie, and blue ribbon attaches the hanger to the drop. The bottom drop is large and very heavy. That is why you find so many of the drops but few of the complete badges. On the drop it says "Major McLaughlin's Squadron O.V.C. Sept. 28, 1861 - Wm. McLaughlin - Capt. Co.A, 3rd Ohio Vol. Inf. Mexican War, Capt. Co. I, 1st Ohio Inf., April 17, 1861". On the back of the drop it says "Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, Mansfield, Ohio".

SOLD!!! This is one of the most interesting state badges they made for Ohio. This badge is copied from some of the GAR national encampment badges. The top hanger is an eagle sitting on crossed cannons. The second piece has "Delegate - GAR - Mt. Vernon, 1925" written on it with a GAR membership badge. The third piece looks like the state flower, and the drop has the "Memorial Building, Mt. Vernon, Ohio" on it. On the back of the drop is the state seal of Ohio. Wonderful badge!!

SOLD!!! A wonderful badge from the 1905 Ohio State encampment at Washington Courthouse. The badge has four pieces. The top hanger has a bust of George Washington, a courthouse, a pair of balances, and "Washington Courthouse - Souvenir". A Civil War hat is hanging from the top hannger. Also attached to the top hanger is a red, white, and blue ribbon. On the bottom drop it says "39th Annual Encampment G.A.R. 1905" and has rifles, cannon, drum, horse, and the state seal in the middle of the badge. On the back of the badge it says "39th Annual Encampment Department of Ohio, G.A.R., Washington,C.H. Ohio, June 6,7,8,9, 1905."

SOLD!!! Here is a staff badge from the 1895 Louisville GAR National Encampment. The badge is attached to an old collectors card with the date 1943 on the back.

SOLD!!! Here is a great GAR Post Commander's badge. The ribbon has blue on each side of the US flag ribbon. The hanger has an eagle on it. Great badge.

SOLD!!! At 9:00p.m. on April 24, 1865, the steamboat "Sultana" left Vicksburg headed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. Aboard the "Sultana" were over 2000 Union prisoners of war recently freed from Andersonville and Cahaba prisons and approximately 200 additional passengers and crew. The "Sultana" was 260 feet long, 42 feet wide, and three to four stories tall from the bottom of her keel to the top of her chimneys. The incredible overcrowding was caused by greedy Union officers trying to personally profit from the ending war. The Union prisoners of war were packed like cord wood on the decks of the "Sultana". On April 26 the "Sultana" reached Memphis and discharged several passengers and Union supplies. At 10:00p.m. the "Sultana" left Memphis headed north on the Mississippi River. Seven miles north of Memphis, at 2:00a.m. on April 27, 1865, the boilers on the "Sultana" exploded sending boiling water and fire all over the boat. Most of the Union prisoners of war were still weak from their time in Confederate prisons. Panic ensued and many of the soldiers jumped into the Mississippi River. Most did not know how to swim or had their water logged heavy woolen uniforms drag them under the water to drown. The Mississippi River was in flood stage and the banks of the river were miles away. The water was very cold. When help finally arrived only 786 of the 2200+ passengers were rescued. Of the 786 people rescued, over 200 died in the next few weeks from injuries and exposure. Of the Union paroled prisoners 652 were from Ohio, 463 from Tennessee, 407 from Indiana, 274 from Michigan, 185 from Kentucky, 18 from West Virginia, and the rest from Illinois, Alabama, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and U.S. Colored Troop. Unfortunately the news of the "Sultana" sinking was eclipsed by the news of Robert E. Lee surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. By the time of the tragedy, the nation had become pretty calloused to death and disaster. Due to geography the survivors split into two camps. The Northern camp consisted of survivors from Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. The Southern camp consisted of survivors from Tennessee and Kentucky. The first reunion of the Northern camp was in December, 1885 on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. At this reunion the survivors voted to call themselves the National Sultana Survivor Association. By 1889 the reunion had been moved to dates in April closer to the date of the tragedy. The first meeting of the Southern camp was in 1889. The goal of both camps was to get a special $50.00 pension for survivors and a monument to those that died on the "Sultana". By 1910, the Northern camp established it's reunion permently in Toledo, Ohio and the Southern camp in Knoxville, Tennessee. By 1912, the survivors realized the pension issue was not going to happen and they dropped it and focused on a national monument. The Southern camp came to the realization no money was coming from the Federal government and took things in their own hands. On July 4, 1912, they erected a beautiful marble monument in Mount Olvie Cemetary on the southern outskirts of Knoxville. The memorial contained a chiseled replica of the "Sultana" and the names of 365 Tennessee prisoners, both victims and survivors, listed on the sides. This was the only monument ever erected to the "Sultana". The last Southern camp survivor died on March 5, 1931. The last known survivor of the "Sultana" disaster died on January 9, 1936. This is a ribbon for the 48th Anniversary of the "Sultana" tragedy and the 30th reunion.of the Northern camp. The white ribbon is approximately 5 7/8 inches long and 2 inches wide. On the ribbon in black ink is "30nd Reunion and the 48th Anniversary - Sultana Survivors' Association - T

SOLD!!! At 9:00p.m. on April 24, 1865, the steamboat "Sultana" left Vicksburg headed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. Aboard the "Sultana" were over 2000 Union prisoners of war recently freed from Andersonville and Cahaba prisons and approximately 200 additional passengers and crew. The "Sultana" was 260 feet long, 42 feet wide, and three to four stories tall from the bottom of her keel to the top of her chimneys. The incredible overcrowding was caused by greedy Union officers trying to personally profit from the ending war. The Union prisoners of war were packed like cord wood on the decks of the "Sultana". On April 26 the "Sultana" reached Memphis and discharged several passengers and Union supplies. At 10:00p.m. the "Sultana" left Memphis headed north on the Mississippi River. Seven miles north of Memphis, at 2:00a.m. on April 27, 1865, the boilers on the "Sultana" exploded sending boiling water and fire all over the boat. Most of the Union prisoners of war were still weak from their time in Confederate prisons. Panic ensued and many of the soldiers jumped into the Mississippi River. Most did not know how to swim or had their water logged heavy woolen uniforms drag them under the water to drown. The Mississippi River was in flood stage and the banks of the river were miles away. The water was very cold. When help finally arrived only 786 of the 2200+ passengers were rescued. Of the 786 people rescued, over 200 died in the next few weeks from injuries and exposure. Of the Union paroled prisoners 652 were from Ohio, 463 from Tennessee, 407 from Indiana, 274 from Michigan, 185 from Kentucky, 18 from West Virginia, and the rest from Illinois, Alabama, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and U.S. Colored Troop. Unfortunately the news of the "Sultana" sinking was eclipsed by the news of Robert E. Lee surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. By the time of the tragedy, the nation had become pretty calloused to death and disaster. Due to geography the survivors split into two camps. The Northern camp consisted of survivors from Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. The Southern camp consisted of survivors from Tennessee and Kentucky. The first reunion of the Northern camp was in December, 1885 on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. At this reunion the survivors voted to call themselves the National Sultana Survivor Association. By 1889 the reunion had been moved to dates in April closer to the date of the tragedy. The first meeting of the Southern camp was in 1889. The goal of both camps was to get a special $50.00 pension for survivors and a monument to those that died on the "Sultana". By 1910, the Northern camp established it's reunion permently in Toledo, Ohio and the Southern camp in Knoxville, Tennessee. By 1912, the survivors realized the pension issue was not going to happen and they dropped it and focused on a national monument. The Southern camp came to the realization no money was coming from the Federal government and took things in their own hands. On July 4, 1912, they erected a beautiful marble monument in Mount Olvie Cemetary on the southern outskirts of Knoxville. The memorial contained a chiseled replica of the "Sultana" and the names of 365 Tennessee prisoners, both victims and survivors, listed on the sides. This was the only monument ever erected to the "Sultana". The last Southern camp survivor died on March 5, 1931. The last known survivor of the "Sultana" disaster died on January 9, 1936. This is a ribbon for the 50th Anniversary of the "Sultana" tragedy and the 32 reunion.of the Northern camp. The white ribbon is approximately 7 inches long and 2 inches wide. On the ribbon in black ink is "32nd Reunion and the 50th Anniversary - Sultana Survivors' Association - Toledo,

SOLD!!! This is a wonderful example of the 1906 Prisioner of War National Encampment badge from the 1906 GAR National Encampment in Minneapolis, MN. This badge has a beautiful ribbon and the hanger and drop are wonderful!

SOLD!!! Here is a hard to find GAR National baadge with the box which is even harder to find! These beautiful badges were issued at the 1894 GAR National Reunion at Pittsburg. The box is shaped like a railroad tie and is lined in a red velvet type material. Also in the box is a paper diecut pull out with great color and information.

SOLD!!! Here is a great identified badge from the 12th Michigan Infantry. This regiment fought at Shiloh, Corinth, and Vicksburg. The badge was owned by A.A. Bouton as noted on the badge hanger. He was in Co. B. He fought in the above battles and was shipped home in November, 1863 due to medical reasons. Another hard to find identified badge.

SOLD!!! Michigan ladder badges are getting really hard to find. This badge is for the 12th Michigan Infantry. The 12th Michigan was a hard fighting western unit. They fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, and other noteworthy battles.

SOLD!!! A great officers Badge from the GAR. This great badge has the red edging on the flag ribbon to denote a state badge.

SOLD!!! Here is a wonderful collection of reunion badges from the 10th New York Cavarly. The first badge is a gold identified veteran's badge. This wonderful jeweler made badge has two horse heads and a horse shoe on the hanger. "John J. Potter, Co. B" is inscribed on the gold top hanger. There is a yellow ribbon between the hanger and the bottom drop. The bottom drop has a Sheridan's Cavalry Corp symbol and "!0th N.Y. Cavelry Vetn Assn". Potter's GAR membership badge is included with two additional veteran reunion ribbons. One is from the 1903 reunion and the other is from the 1904 reunion.