Hand-made lead 2nd Corps Badge from Spotsylvania. Click photo and "Detailed Description". (SOLD)
This rare and unique piece has been in my private collection for almost 20 years. It was hand-made by a soldier who melted down lead bullets and formed it into a clover, which symbolizes the 2nd Corps. It measures approximately 1 1/4" x 1 1/2". It was recovered at the Spotsylvania, Virginia Battlefield in the area of the lines of the 34th New York Independent Battery.
At Spotsylvania the Second Corps again attained a glorious place in history by General Hancock's brilliant and successful assault on the morning of May 12th. During the fighting, Mott's (Fourth) Division became so depleted by casualties, and by the loss of several regiments whose term of service had expired, that it was discontinued and merged into Birney's Division, Mott retaining the command of a brigade. The casualties of the corps in the various actions around Spotsylvania, from May 8th to the 19th, aggregated 894 killed, 4,947 wounded, and 801 missing; total 6,642, or over one-third of the loss in the entire Army of the Potomac, including the Ninth Corps. The heaviest loss occurred in Barlow's (First)Division. Up to this time the Second Corps had not lost a color nor a gun, although it had previously captured 44 stands of colors from the enemy.
Like I said, this is truly a great piece of history and one can only wonder what was going through this soldiers mind as he created this little relic. It comes with the glass-top display case as shown. (SOLD)
Manufacturer: N/A
SKU: 0409111
