musIdentify

Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated December 29, 2007

The Ridgeway Civil War Archive
Soldier identified items

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years. This archive record is for educational purposes only. Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.

All items listed are guaranteed authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.
Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.

M0090 Seth Hill, New York 153rd Infantry, Co H

White metal disc: "S.HILL / CORPL / CO H / 153 N.Y. / WAR of 1861 / S.V. / GREENFIELD, N.Y." Reverse: George Washington / Born Feb 22, 1752", bust of Washington, "MERRIAN" who may be the sutler. Seth Hill enlisted August 13, 1862. He got sick May 20, 1864 and returned to the field middle of October 1864, just in time for the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 18, 1864 He survived the battle and was discharged October 2, 1865 He received disability pension for diarrhea in 1891. He died May 30, 1930
Found by Harry Ridgeway Battle of Cedar Creek

Item is on display at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum

M0091 Aaron Underwood, US 1st Cavalry, Co G

Brass disc: "AARON D. UNDERWOOD / CO. G / 1ST.. US. / CAV. ", reverse:" MAJ. G. B. MC. CELLAN, / * PENINSULA CAMPAIGN * " bust of McClellan. Private Underwood was engaged in the climatic Battle of Cedar Creek October 18, 1864. He continued service after the war and deserted in Kansas July 28, 1866.
Found by Harry Ridgeway near the Heater House, Cedar Creek

Item is on display at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum

M0092 Seth Bennett, Indiana 11th Infantry, Co G

Silver ring: "S. BENNETT. CO. G. 11. IND. V. V. ***** " He enlisted March 31, 1864. He contracted chronic diarrhea at Ft. McHenry, in Maryland, June 1, 1865 He was discharged July 26, 1865 and received a government disability pension due to the diarrhea. He died March 22, 1903. This ring was lost at Third Battle of Winchester, Va at the site of the bloodiest cavalry battle. The contemporary account described the carnage as so great that one could walk across the field and not touch soil. Sure enough the archaeological evidence fully supported this, horseshoes were found by the thousands from the dead horses left to rot and stink. It must have been a horrible experience which no doubt Private Bennett remembered for the rest of his life.
Found by Harry Ridgeway Third Battle of Winchester

Item is on display at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum

M0094 Robert Lucas, New York, 1st Cavalry, Co K

Brass disc: "ROBERT LUCAS / CO. K. / 1st. VET. CAV. / N.Y.S.V. / WATERLOO. N. Y.", reverse: " MAJOR GENERAL. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN / WAR OF 1861", bust of McClellan. The regiment was engaged in a small action at Leetown, Va on July 3, 1864, when this disc was lost.

Picture of Private Lucas from CW Data base, he is wearing this ID badge!
Found by Steve Baker Middleway, WV (one mile from Leetown)

Item is on display at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum

M0651 Spears J Titus, Vermont 6th Infantry. Co B

Brass disc: "S. J TITUS / CO. B. / 6. / RRG. / VT. VOL. / WEST FAIRLEE. ", reverse: "WAR OF 1861 / eagle / UNITED STATES" Private Titus enlisted 9/30/61, he fought the full struggle, mustered out after the surrender, 6/26/65. After Gettysburg the regiment was active in the pursuit of the retreating Rebel forces, campaigning in Maryland. The regiment fought valiantly at Funkstown Maryland, July 10, 1863, The ID pin was found west of Boonsboro MD which is a short distance from Funkstown and was probably lost during this period. Special museum note: This is the same action that Major Pope (8th NY Cavalry) was captured, Pope's name is scratched on the courthouse wall! This unit was also engaged at Brandy Station, November 7, 1863 when Robert Bell was killed (diary on display).
Found by Charlie Cline, Funkstown Md

Item is on display at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum

M0653 Henry C. A. Bornemann 20th Mass Infantry, Co B

Brass stencil: "A. BORNEMANN, / 20th MASS. VOLS. " Private Henry A. C. Bornemann enlisted 4/1/64 was released 4/22/65, He was shown missing at Battle fo Wilderness 5/6/64, which is where this stencil was found.
Found by Charlie Cline, Wilderness Va

Item is on display at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum

M0656 Edward Smith, New York 21st Cavalry, Co F

Brass disc: "EDWARD SMITH / CO. F / 21th N.Y. / CAV. / W. TROY. N.Y.", reverse: "MAJOR GENERAL GEO. B. MCCLELLEN / WAR OF 1861", bust of McClellan Private Smith enlisted 7/9/63, mustered in 9/18/63 and deserted after the Civil War in Kansas. Using Halltown Va as a base of operations, they engaged in hard Shenandoah Valley campaigning from January 1864 to August 1864, participating in the Battle of New Market, burning of VMI, Lynchburg, Second Kernstown, and many other smaller engagements. The camp at Halltown was used actively in November to January 1864, and again in August 1864, this id badge could have been lost there either time.
Found by Ed Barber at Halltown Va (now WV)

Item is on display at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum

[Back to Ridgeway archive main page]

[Back to relicman.com Home Page]