Civil War ID Tag for Gideon Dutcher, 37th Massachusetts Infantry, WIA Cold Harbor

About Auction

Live

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

View Full Catalog (392)

• Lot Description

  Sterling silver tag, 1 x 1.375 in., engraved in script G.M. Dutcher / Hopedale / Mass., reverse stamped 37 / Mass / V., marked Sterling at top.  

  Gideon Dutcher, a 26-year-old mason from a little town called Hopedale, MA, enlisted in Co. A, 37th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, after Lincoln's June/July 1862 call for 300,000 troops. In late August Major Oliver Edwards was given permission to organize the 37th Regiment of Infantry, mostly drawn from the four western Massachusetts counties. They were mustered into US service between August 30 and September 4, 1862. They moved to Washington, where they remained for the better part of September, before being sent to Frederick, MD to join Devens' Brigade, Couch's Division, 4th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Shortly after, Devens' unit became part of the 6th Corps.

  The 37th made several expeditions into Maryland, but its first battle experience came on the left at Fredericksburg, December 11 - 15, 1862. It went into winter camp, but in January 1863 it participated in Burnside's "Mud March," then returned to its camp. In the spring campaign the 37th was engaged at Marye's Heights and Salem Church.

  It was part of the forced march to Gettysburg the night of July 1-2, covering 35 miles in an 18-hour march. The unit suffered heavy losses on the 3rd as it shifted from point to point to bolster the fighting units. In August, the 37th was sent to New York City to enforce the draft, and by autumn it was fighting at Rappahannock Station and Mine Run.

  In the spring of 1864, the 37th headed for the Wilderness. They fought at Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, before being sent to Petersburg. It conducted several other operations, such as those at Charles Town and Winchester, returning to Petersburg. It was also involved at Hatcher's Run and Fort Fisher before the final assault on Petersburg. It was involved at Sailor's Creek on April 6, 1865, capturing Generals Ewell, Kershaw and Custis Lee. But being a short distance away, they missed the "real action" at Appomattox Court House on the 9th.

  The 37th Massachusetts was closing in on its term of service by this point, so they were one of the earlier units mustered out. They participated in the Grand Review, then mustered out in Washington on June 21, returning to Readville for final payment on the 2nd of July. Dutcher then disappears from the records; we have been unable to even locate his date of death. 

  _______________________________________________________________________________

  Identification tags were not "standard issue" at this point in American history, and requests for them early in the war were flatly rejected by the War Department. But once soldiers saw the carnage of battle (and the fact that bodies were left to rot, or blown to bits by artillery), they started pinning their names, home towns, units, and sometimes even messages to loved ones, inside their jackets, or scratch their names into belt buckles or plates, in the hope that they would at least be identified and loved ones notified of their demise.

  The sutlers picked up on this desire and began to furnish metal disks that could be stamped with names, units, and other information. Most were coin-like items with a hole through which a string could be tied. This tag is unusual in that it is silver and has a slot possibly for a wider strap to attach. There were fancier tags advertised in periodicals of the day. Maybe since Dutcher did not enlist until 1862, he saw and ordered one of these before leaving the state.

  Condition

  Few dings in tag. Tarnish along perimeter. 
• Shipping Info

  • SHIPPING. At the request of the buyer, Cowan's will authorize the shipment of purchased items. Shipments usually occur within two weeks after payment has been received. Shipment is generally made via UPS Ground service. Unless buyer gives special instructions, the shipping method shall be at the sole discretion of Cowan's Auctions, Inc.. Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.

• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	28.00
    $250,001	23.00
    $3,000,001	15.00