Civil War Folk Art Carved ID Tag, Badges, Ribbons, & Letter Identified to W.D. Remington, 50th New York Engineers

Lot 148

About Seller

6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States

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$500	$50
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$10,000	$1,000
$20,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000
$100,000	$10,000

About Auction

American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. by Cowan's Auctions

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American History, Featuring the Property of N...

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-06-09 10:00:00 2017-06-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-featuring-the-property-of-n-flayderman-co-2392 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

Lot of 7 items collected by W. Remington, Co. C, 50th New York Volunteers, featuring folk art carved bone, shield-shaped identification tag likely meant to be worn on a ribbon or band around the soldier’s neck, 1.5 x 1.5 in. The front features a fine, high relief carved turreted castle as worn by members of the engineering divisions, with incised carving above, Co. C. 50. N.Y.V. (50th New York Volunteers). Like the front, the reverse is carved with a decorative border, and the following battle names are neatly carved and highlighted in red, Fred. burg / Chancelory / Deep. Run / Stick. in. Mud / Germania. F.O.D. / Po. Run.

Accompanied by 2pp letter penned by W.D. Remington, the soldier that almost certainly carved the bone tag described above, dated February 11, 1863, from Camp in the Woods Near Fredericksburg. In the letter to his mother, Remington discusses visiting with Major Brainard [of the regiment]. He goes on to describe a gift he plans on making for his brother. I will make him a present of a nice little laurel root ring with a castle upon the top and the United States coat of arms upon each side. He adds, I have made a Bible of the root and wear it upon my watch cord with a clasp and raised binding upon the back cut out of wood with a knife and sealing wax set in the corners and upon the clasp, upon the back I have cut the words "HOLY BIBLE," it is filled with sealing wax and looks nice. I intend to make a smaller one and send it home in a letter to you to put upon the mantelpiece in the parlor.

The lot also features a five-part ladder badge engraved as follows, Co. C / 50 / New York / Engineers / Corps, with two tassels suspended from bottom link, 5 in. overall; small brass insignia representing the engineer corps (2), the first 1.75 x 1.25 in., the second 1 x .75 in.; silk ribbon (separated into two parts) with partial, applied paper labels, E / 50th / [New] York / Volunteer, approx. 4.25 in. long; and cello reunion badge that reads, Andersonville 1864 / Death Before Dishonor, attached to silk ribbon with silver text, Union Ex-Prisoners of War Ass'n of Western Mass. / Greenfield, Mass. April 9, 1911., approx. 3.75 in. long.

The 50th New York was originally raised as an infantry regiment in September 1861 from Elmira and surrounding areas in central and western New York. Converted into an engineer regiment the next month, it served throughout the war, with the various detachments digging trenches and building pontoon bridges, roads, and fortifications. The 50th played a major role in several battles and campaigns, including Yorktown, Harper's Ferry, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Petersburg. Wesley D. Remington enlisted as a private in Rome, NY on August 26, 1862 and mustered into Co. C of the 50th NY Engineers on the same day. He served with the regiment through June 13, 1865 when he was mustered out at Fort Barry, VA. Although the lot includes an Andersonville POW reunion badge, there is no indication that Remington was interned at the Confederate prison.

Provenance: Property of N. Flayderman & Co.

Condition

Some light surface wear to bone tag, but typical considering age and use, small chip in top left corner of shield. 50th New York silk ribbon separated near center, paper tags partially present, fraying along edges. Some light soiling/tarnish on ladder badge. Union Ex-POW ribbon partial separation near top (close to cello).
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