OMFG did I just find another Civil War ID TAG??

[BuckleBoy]

Hello all,

Need some help here! I dug this shield that looks like it may have had a pin back at one time (pin is long gone). Front has an eagle or pelican up top with wings spread. Below are three raised (formerly smooth) lines into which text has been stamped. What it appears to say is:

LEVY JOHNSON (OR IOHNSON)
U.S. R OF ?(illegible letter)
L(illegible--maybe "La?")

I could use some help figuring out what--and WHO this is! Below is a photo in artificial light and a photo in natural light.

Thanks so much, everyone!

 

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[villagenut]

I think I see a second letter S after U.S....try a flashlight at a low horizontal angle over the surface....I know you may have already done that though

 

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[fyrffytr1]

I tried editing your photo several ways and this is the best I can do. Is it possible that there is another letter between the U. and S? there seems to be space there for one. Sometimes I have luck turning a relic while I look at it through a magnifying glass.

 

[Retired Sarge]

I tried editing your photo several ways and this is the best I can do. Is it possible that there is another letter between the U. and S? there seems to be space there for one. Sometimes I have luck turning a relic while I look at it through a magnifying glass.

Does look like it could be USS, but dang there are a lot of USS R***** ships.....!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Navy_ships:_Q–R

 

[Fossils]

Really neat find!

I don’t think there’s another letter between the U and S since you can see the dot between the two letters exactly halfway in between. Not enough room to squeeze in another letter on either side.

I also doubt there is another letter at the end of the line (U.S.R. of) since it would have to be completely obliterated, which isn’t consistent with the level of wear/corrosion on the rest of the piece.

The “S” in Johnson definitely looks like an S to me. There’s a bit of crud or maybe a die crack throwing off the appearance but you can see the S underneath for sure.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Hello All,

I toothpicked off a bit more between the U. and the S. and I don't see another letter there. What I do see is a bit of rust where the shield was resting against an iron nail in the ground. I also toothpicked a bit around the "La" at the bottom and it's definitely an "a" there. Below it are some vertical lines that tie in with the shield motif, and at the top is definitely a pelican with spread wings and head turned to the left. I also appreciated the idea of shining a light at a right angle to the shield. I have a photo where I did that as well. Both the updated photos are attached below. Unfortunately I don't see a letter after the word "of" so I wonder if it's just "U.S.R. of Louisiana." Out of curiosity, I searched every Louisiana representative for the State of Louisiana going back to its statehood and I don't come across a Levy or Levi Johnson, so that may be a dead end. Not sure what else would be "U.S. R of Louisiana"...

 

[BuckleBoy]

PS-One possibility I hadn’t considered is that this could be an advertising piece from a failed US Representatives run… no idea how one would check that out.

 

[celtex]

PS-One possibility I hadn?t considered is that this could be an advertising piece from a failed US Representatives run? no idea how one would check that out.

Can't image the manufacturing one- off IDs for an army group of any size. The ones I've seen were blanks engraved with info. I think you onto something there.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Can't image the manufacturing one- off IDs for an army group of any size. The ones I've seen were blanks engraved with info. I think you onto something there.

All of the ID discs during the CW were manufactured blank then stamped with names. This is likewise stamped. Again, to reiterate what I said above the raised letters everyone is seeing are the patina holding onto the stamped-in letters. The design is stamped in at a later date, not raised.

 

[celtex]

All of the ID discs during the CW were manufactured blank then stamped with names. This is likewise stamped. Again, to reiterate what I said above the raised letters everyone is seeing are the patina holding onto the stamped-in letters. The design is stamped in at a later date, not raised.

Ones I have seen are hand engraved not stamped... Maybe several types employed. Good find no matter what it is.

 

[CRUSADER]

U.S. R of
L
(might be a few smaller letters under the L, like ?U??, Maybe July?)

The above are all the letters, I see nothing next to the right of the 'of'. So U.S. R of L. No idea what it means....

 

[BuckleBoy]

Ones I have seen are hand engraved not stamped... Maybe several types employed. Good find no matter what it is.

I recommend reading the book I mentioned above, where all of the known, mass-produced civil war ID discs are listed. All of them are punch stamped or meant to be punch stamped if still blank as made. Only special order and hand made ones were engraved, which was the exception rather than the rule. Not trying to disagree but rather enlighten. I’m sure the book is available on inter library loan.

 

[Truth]

Oh buckleboy you never cease to amaze me it is beautiful and I will give you all the props for Metal Detecting in this humidity

 

[BuckleBoy]

Oh buckleboy you never cease to amaze me it is beautiful and I will give you all the props for Metal Detecting in this humidity

hey buddy! Good god it was bad. I normally stay all day but I left at 1pm!! Heat index of 106!

 

[DCMatt]

BB - Awesome piece! I know it has a story to tell!

I only found a couple references to "U. S. R.". They were in reference to the United States Revenue Cutter Service (AKA US Revenue Marines) - which ultimately became the US Coast Guard in the early 20th C.

The cutter USRC Robert McClelland and the brig USRC Washington (famed in 1839 for bringing in the slave ship La Amistad) were seized by Louisiana authorities in the port of New Orleans in 1860.

 

[beetle662]

Very cool find whatever it turns out to be. Just a thought here... U S R of... could the of actually NOT be the word of, but possibly be the beginning of an abbreviation for "office" or "officer" Maybe another part to go down in researching.

 

[erfranks]

Awesome Find!!

 

[Truth]

hey buddy! Good god it was bad. I normally stay all day but I left at 1pm!! Heat index of 106!

It?s all Louisiana heat wave that?s going on it?s brutal

 

[BuckleBoy]

BB - Awesome piece! I know it has a story to tell!

I only found a couple references to "U. S. R.". They were in reference to the United States Revenue Cutter Service (AKA US Revenue Marines) - which ultimately became the US Coast Guard in the early 20th C.

The cutter USRC Robert McClelland and the brig USRC Washington (famed in 1839 for bringing in the slave ship La Amistad) were seized by Louisiana authorities in the port of New Orleans in 1860.

thx Matt! We have dug 1850s revenue marine buttons in the area!

 

[The Rebel]

Incredible find! Wish I could help.

US Republicans of La
US Regiment of La
US Regulars of La

 

[Lenrac2]

Don't know if it helps at all. I tried.