Original Civil War Infantry Hunting Horn Insignia, dug at Sailor’s Creek

This is another nice item being offered, it is an excavated regulation 1858 Infantry Hat Insignia. 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. Being thin stamped brass, these insignias are often broken. This one was dug in two pieces and has been repaired on the back. It was recovered in the 1980s at the Sailor’s Creek, Virginia Battlefield.

This battle took place when General Robert E. Lee's army was retreating from Richmond to Petersburg. Here, on April 6, 1865, Union General Philip Sheridan cut off and beat back about a quarter of Lee's army. Eight Confederate generals surrendered, and 7,700 men were lost. Confederate General George Washington Custis Lee, eldest son of Robert E. Lee, was forcibly captured on the battlefield by Private David D. White of the 37th Massachusetts Regiment. This was the last major engagement of the war in Virginia; Lee's surrender at Appomattox occurred three days later.

This example was repaired, and it is now a solid piece. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.