Civil War Infantry Hunting Horn Insignia, recovered Richmond

This is another item being offered, it is an excavated Civil War Infantry Horn insignia measuring 3” x 1 ½”. This rolled and stamped device is made of sheet-brass. It depicts the military insignia worn by soldiers in the infantry branch of the Federal Army during the Civil War. The thin attachment hooks are missing, which is typical of just about every dug example. The small mouthpiece was missing when dug. It was recovered in the early 1980s in the Richmond, Virginia area.

Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America for almost the entire Civil War. It was a vital source of weapons and supplies for the war effort, and the terminus of five railroads. Richmond was just one mile from the James River. Including inactive reserves, more than fifty thousand soldiers from each side took part in the fighting around Richmond.

The Union made many attempts to invade Richmond. In the Peninsula Campaign of 1862, General George McClellan moved up the James River, almost to the suburbs of the city, but was beaten back by Robert E. Lee in the Seven Days Battles. By April 1865, the Confederate government realized the siege of Petersburg was almost over and abandoned Richmond lest they be captured. The retreating Confederates chose to burn military supplies rather than let them fall into Union hands; the resulting fire destroyed much of central Richmond.

As seen in the pictures, this device seen hard use with bends, but still a solid piece and was coated for preservation. This is what just about every Union Infantryman would have worn on his kepi during battle. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.