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by John Sexton

Q: I have a badge for the Battle of Cedar Creek. What was pictured in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated News. This badge is
the intended audience for this badge? The general public or considered wartime material and was likely made in 1865.
soldiers in the cavalry unit? Underhill was in service until June 1865.
Here is a little about the original owner of the badge. Daniel J. Underhill (1833-1868) entered service in
Dan Underhill is a distant relative of my wife. (Her September 1862 in the 2nd New York Cavalry. He served
family has many long ties with Long Island families.) the entire war in the same unit. The 2nd was one of the
Underhill was from Oyster Bay, Long Island, and was most famous of the New York cavalry regiments, and it
typical of the youth who joined the war. He joined with his ranks 8th in Fox’s Regimental Losses in the Civil War,
friend who was the son of the town mayor, against the which lists cavalry regiments that lost the most men killed
mayor’s wishes. Underhill wrote many letters home about his and fatally wounded in action during the war.
everyday war experience and also detailed the death of his From the New York Times, Oct. 20, 1864: “The Battle
friend, the mayor’s son, in battle. of Cedar Run, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 1864, will be
Underhill participated in some of the major battles recorded in history as one of the most remarkable that has
of Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. He survived the thus far taken place in this rebellion.”
war but was tragically killed in a carriage accident in The Union victory of Cedar Creek (3rd Battle of
Central Park three years later, unmarried. A fellow soldier Winchester) produced a feather in the cap for General
wrote a particularly poignant obituary, which accompanies Sheridan who was Custer’s mentor. Custer admired
the badge. Sheridan greatly for his early trust in giving him
In the days before the military provided servicemen with command where he rose in rank to major general.
campaign ribbons and medals, Civil War veterans had little Sheridan had almost 6,000 casualties including
recourse but to purchase badges like this from a private 644 killed, 3,430 wounded, and 1,591 missing. The
vendor. It is all they had, aside from weapons and uniforms. defeated Confederate army had larger losses including
This badge was clearly very important to Dan Underhill. 1,860 killed and wounded, and more than 1,500
Some things are a bit more than just things. The front of the Cedar Creek men captured.
badge attached to its faded “It was an expensive victory but worth the terrible
JS: This, indeed, is a very scarce and desirable George A ribbon and reading, price. The surviving Confederates were devastated, not
Custer-related ID pin. This custom ID badge was offered “Custer’s 3 Cav. Div.” just from the loss of men and equipment, but their morale
in several Civil War Era newspapers that soldier’s read was shattered beyond repair.” Custer’s comments about
that advertised “… the officially adopted Custer Cavalry badge.” Cedar Creek are memorialized on your distant relative’s ID pin on the
Though the badge was never actually reverse of the white metal medallion.
adopted, it was advertised as such. There are no complete badges of this type found in an auction or
The 35mm medallion was institutional collections that I am aware of. This is the only complete
manufactured by B. J. Hayward of badge I have seen, though I am told by a knowledgeable Custer
New York City whose ads appear in collector there is at least one other.
the Army & Navy Journal and were A similar, scarce, Custer silver ID badge of a different design
from Libbie Custer descent is inscribed to Benjamin Tuttle of the 1st
The reverse of the badge reads, “THE CT Cavalry. It sold in 2015 at James Julia Auctions for $7,110.
HISTORY OF THIS WAR WHEN The Tuttle badge has a similar rarity in being a complete badge with
TRUTHFULLY WRITTEN, WILL ribbon and inscribed top. The silver drop has been sold before as has
CONTAIN NO BRIGHTER PAGE the 35mm “Cedar Creek” medallion drop, the last three selling for
THAN THAT UPON WHICH IS about $1,000 each.
RECORDED, THE CHIVALROUS
DEEDS, THE GLORIOUS TRIUMPHS Custer is an iconic American figure, and although he is not as
OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD popular in modern culture today, he is still “The General” and has a
DIVISION CEDAR CREEK 19 OCT. following among collectors. Underhill’s complete badge at auction with
1864. G.A. CUSTER”. a presale estimate of $3,000-$4,000, could easily bring more.

Q: Hi, John, I was wondering if you could give me a value for this buckle. Lots of Boy Scouts were reenactors,
My husband said he found it in a riverbed at a Civil War battlefield when and this is a
he was a Boy Scout. reenactor’s plate,
Thank you in advance! circa 1960s, that
must’ve been
JS: This buckle is a reproduction, made no earlier than the Civil War lost in one of
Centennial in the 1960s. As a novelty, the value is about $20. their camps.

John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert of Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser
organizations. He can be contacted at john@CivilWarDealer.com, 770-329-4984 or www.CivilWarDealer.com. For a free
appraisal of a Civil War item, email a photo and a description to him or mclwriter@gmail.com.

42 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles