Civil War Union Soldier ID Badge

[uscgdavis]

John C. Salsich was born in 1838 in Western New York. In 1861, at 23 years of age, John traveled to Rochester, NY and enlisted in the Union army. He was assigned to Company K, 13th regiment of the New York State Volunteers.
Rising to the rank of sergeant, John served until May of 1863, and then settled in South Bristol, NY.
He died in 1926 and is buried in Rose Ridge Cemetary, Naples, NY.

The American Civil War may well have been the first major conflict in which soldiers felt the need to wear some sort of a personal identification badge in the event that they were killed or wounded in battle. A great apprehension among soldiers was “the nameless grave,” the fear that loved ones might not recover their remains or learn what had become of them. John would have paid to have a jeweler hand etch this beautiful tag.
I found John's identification tag today while metal detecting a corn field. I will never know how it ended up in the middle of a field hours away from where John lived, but I am thrilled that I recovered it and got to learn about this American hero.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[ncsuwolf]

Amazing find and good research/backstory. Congrats. That’s the top 1% of my bucket list.

 

[GirlWithWolf]

That’s amazing! What a great find.

That’s true too about dog tags, I read about the history of them at a museum. I think it was Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty) but might have been when we were in Arlington. They did start wearing them during the civil war but they weren’t referred to as dog tags until WW2, if I remember correctly.

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

John C. Salsich was born in 1838 in Western New York. In 1861, at 23 years of age, John traveled to Rochester, NY and enlisted in the Union army. He was assigned to Company K, 13th regiment of the New York State Volunteers.
Rising to the rank of sergeant, John served until May of 1863, and then settled in South Bristol, NY.
He died in 1926 and is buried in Rose Ridge Cemetary, Naples, NY.

The American Civil War may well have been the first major conflict in which soldiers felt the need to wear some sort of a personal identification badge in the event that they were killed or wounded in battle. A great apprehension among soldiers was “the nameless grave,” the fear that loved ones might not recover their remains or learn what had become of them. John would have paid to have a jeweler hand etch this beautiful tag.
I found John's identification tag today while metal detecting a corn field. I will never know how it ended up in the middle of a field hours away from where John lived, but I am thrilled that I recovered it and got to learn about this American hero.

that is one great save! very well done friend and big time gratz

 

[mjb Mike]

wow I dont think it gets much better then that to be able to read the name and find the sotory behind such a big part of american history I vote banner

 

[mjb Mike]

we find so many things and just wonder who dropped this and what is the story behind it well you got it

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

A very rare and fantastic find - a real piece of history - congrats !

 

[The Rebel]

That's an amazing find of a lifetime, banner vote cast!

Here's his grave:

John Cornelius Salsich (1838-1926) - Find a Grave...

Served as a sergeant in Co. K, 13th New York Volunteer Infantry.

www.findagrave.com

 

[Oldrvrrat57]

Great save and taking the time to do the research is what this hobby is all about, Saving history!!!

 

[GaRebel1861]

Outstanding find!! Banner vote submitted.

 

[routefood]

Great save and taking the time to do the research is what this hobby is all about, Saving history!!!

Perhaps carried as a keepsake by a close relative an inadvertently dropped.

 

[uscgdavis]

we find so many things and just wonder who dropped this and what is the story behind it well you got it

I spend so much time thinking about the stories behind the things I find, and wondering who might have dropped them. Being able to research John and find out about his life has been beyond rewarding.

 

[uscgdavis]

That's an amazing find of a lifetime, banner vote cast!

Here's his grave:

John Cornelius Salsich (1838-1926) - Find a Grave...

Served as a sergeant in Co. K, 13th New York Volunteer Infantry.

www.findagrave.com

Wow!!!! Thank you for this!!!! I was really wanting to see his grave and considered driving the two hours there. Didn't know that website existed.

 

[Silvermonkey]

That's a very special find! Thanks for sharing the history of the man behind the badge. I too vote BANNER!!!!!!

 

[billb]

Congratulations on your success ..
Outstanding..
Voting Banner on your badge …

 

[bcbirdman]

John C. Salsich was born in 1838 in Western New York. In 1861, at 23 years of age, John traveled to Rochester, NY and enlisted in the Union army. He was assigned to Company K, 13th regiment of the New York State Volunteers.
Rising to the rank of sergeant, John served until May of 1863, and then settled in South Bristol, NY.
He died in 1926 and is buried in Rose Ridge Cemetary, Naples, NY.

The American Civil War may well have been the first major conflict in which soldiers felt the need to wear some sort of a personal identification badge in the event that they were killed or wounded in battle. A great apprehension among soldiers was “the nameless grave,” the fear that loved ones might not recover their remains or learn what had become of them. John would have paid to have a jeweler hand etch this beautiful tag.
I found John's identification tag today while metal detecting a corn field. I will never know how it ended up in the middle of a field hours away from where John lived, but I am thrilled that I recovered it and got to learn about this American hero.

What a great find! congrats!

 

[diggingthe1]

Awesome!!!! That is such a nice find and history behind it!!!!!