Civil War Union Soldier ID Badge

USCGD

Jr. Member
Aug 5, 2019
34
270
Western NY
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800
Nokta Legend
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
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.
 

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Upvote 56
I saw that site, but don't have a membership to Ancenstry, so wasn't able to see the info. The location was a home site on an 1855 map. I also found a very slick 1770s-1780s 2-reale there, so the home was likely there long before 1855.
 

I have been very curious, but don't know of any way to look into that. The map I found the home site on is from 1855, and none of the names in the vicinity are Salsich.
Aside from maps, you'd have to do some deed research. It's not easy if you haven't done it before, but some counties do have deeds online now, as opposed to doing it in person at the courthouse. Could be worth a shot if you've got the time and desire to follow the ownership trail.
 

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