Shoulder boards from an officer in the 147th PA Volunteers, killed at the Battle of Taylor’s Ridge, GA

Being offered is a great set of 1^st Lieutenant Infantry brass and cloth Shoulder Boards. The blue color has faded quite a bit from use and each one measures 4 ¼” x 1 ¾”. This set belonged to Captain Charles S. Davis of Company G, 147^th Pennsylvania Infantry. He enlisted on September 15, 1862. At the Battle of Taylor’s Ridge, GA, Davis was mortally wounded while leading his men in a charge, he died later that night.

The 147^th Pennsylvania, formerly the 28^th Pennsylvania, transferred to the 147th in September 1862; Companys F, G and H were mustered in at Harrisburg, Pa., from Aug. 22 to Nov. 20, 1862, for a three years’ term.

The regiment moved from the vicinity of Harper’s Ferry to Fairfax Court House just after the battle of Fredericksburg. It shared in Burnside’s “Mud March” and in January 1863,  were stationed at Aquia Creek landing until the opening of the Chancellorsville campaign. As part of the 1st brigade, it took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, losing 94 killed, wounded and missing, including 3 officers.

They arrived on the field of Gettysburg on the evening of July 1 and during the night went into position to the right of Little Round Top but were posted during the next two days of the battle on Culp’s hill, on the right of the line. It suffered a loss of only 5 killed and l5 wounded.

They proceeded west and joined the Army of the Cumberland. They participated with some loss in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and during the pursuit were active at Ringgold and Taylor’s Ridge, Georgia, where Davis was mortally wounded. From there the regiment went into winter quarters at Wauhatchie. On Dec. 29, 1863, the majority of the members re-enlisted and received the usual veteran furlough.

Captain Davis’s body was returned home for burial at the Selingrove Lutheran Cemetery in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. No doubt he was well thought of and returned home as a hero. His tombstone is more like a monument, towering over the other headstones in the cemetery (see pictures).

This set has all of the qualities when looking for an original set of Civil War shoulder boards – well-worn and faded as expected, and having a very nice unbent shape. They come in the glass top display case pictured.