The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-04-02
Read Better than Pension " on page I.
ORIGIN OF THE BADGEIDEI

Some Interesting "reminiscences Relating Thereto.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The system
of badges which became so extensive in our
army dUTing the late war was iuaugurated by
Gen. Phi hearny during our PeniusulaT cam
paign i'm 1862
We were in front Of Richmond when he
Issued the order requiring every member Of his
command TO wear red patch on his hat or cap
field officers on the top, line officers IN the
front, aud enlisted men on the sides thereof
This constituted our first badge
The idea was readily appreciated and greatly
admired by our entire division, aud favOrably
commented on by all the troops IN our vicinity,
and subsequently, became utilized to designate
tue various corps throughout all our vast
armies.
An amusing incident occurred in connection
with that order for red patches IL was Occa-
stoned through the great scarcity Of any suitable
material IN that locality TO make them from. Our
immediate entry into aud occupation Of Rich
moud might have prevented il. However, while
the demand for the fabric was az its greatest,
Que Of our fellows happened along whose bosom
was enyeloped with the coveted matcrIal-a red
flannel shirt, and he az once became the victim
Of military necessity" Without dwelling on
the probable cost, or " the millions that were in
u" his garment was forthwith made 10 yield
the required supply Of red patches. The Guai re-
suit oil 1t was equal to that Of the celebrated Or
der which permitted certain troops " 10 take the
top fcncc-rail only" When the limit Of cur
failing the furbcloW Of that garment was
reached, few worthless seams aud some but
tous were all that remained.
AT Hsuison's Landing the close Of that Pen
insuiar campaign Gen. keaTny issued another
order, similarly characteristic. 10 required
from every commaudant In his division the
names Of soldiers whom they knew to be de-
serving OF special mention for gallant and meri-
tOTious conduct in the engagements Of that
campaign, in order that they might be ieco-
rated with medals But unfortunate for
them, the marching orders which Immediately
intcryened and the peculiar yicissItudes which
then followed in rapid succession, caused the
abandonment Of the scheme.
However, when in tic Fall OF that moment
Gus year the campaign under Gen. Pope in
Virginia was also over, aud Kearny's Division
had lost its intrepid leader, killed in battle,
then the officers of this division felt a desire to
do something appropriate by which they might
commemorate his memory and their services
under him. Bearing IL mind how strong had
been the Generals prediction for military
decoration and display, they decided on each
securing asUitably- designed gold badge for this
purpose.
The design which was finally adopted was
that 1t should be n seycn-pOinted star with
zoned around that the names Of the seven
prominent engagements our division had par
ticipated in while IL was led by that distiu-
guishcd sOidier-One in each point OF the star
respectively, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glen
dale. Malvern Hill Second Bull Run, Groyeton,
aud Chantilly.
The rank aud file of our old % having been
equally DESTROYS Of wearing something more
substantial than the red patches in memory Of
Gen. Kearny. secured lot Of metallic disks
with red facings and la the center thereof a
large sized figure 10 denote their regiment
These were worn constantly by them On all Oc-
cas0us and in all sorts Of weather.
But however comnendable these various
efforts may have been to commemorate glorious
memories with honorable badges or medals,
none of these have been 50 completely express
siye Of what most Of us desired in relation to
our regiments career. aud 1t remained for our
Kalamazoo Reunion in 1883 TO develop the
proper course toward securing the beautiful
aud significant badge We can now wear, aud
which is designed 10 commemorate all the
glorious memories OF our greatly -chcTished old
pa Mich. IL embOdics the essential part of
that officers badge Of Kearny's Diyisiou-the
seycn-pOinted star-tO designate our earlier
service, aud in the center it has the badge Of
the two corps TO each Of which our regiment
WAS ~ sometime attached the diamond OF
the old Third in red enamel aud the shield
with cannon and anchor crossed Of the Ninth
ia blue enamel. aud in a circle around these,
emaazoued the thrilling legend, "Blackburns
Ford, 1851, 10 AppOmattJx. l-Gj," aud the title
OF our regiment, "2d Mich. Inf"
The design and specification, together with
rules governing the distribution Of these badges
were adopted at our Saginaw Reunion in 1859,
and the committee which arranged the re-
quired preIiminaries fur all this had the very
gratifying satisfaction Of having had is work
fled to that date. IL was then made a per-
manent committee, with authority 10 secure
the badges aud 10 distribute them, together
with the card folders containing a photograph
Of our old flag and brief history Of the rogi-
meat, 20 all who may comply with the ueces-
sary requirements rs stated in the rules /
should be glad TO hear from members OF the
regiment who have not received badges and
will give what further information | can 10
comrades addressing me.-JoHN V. RUEHLE. jr.,
Chairman Badge Committee, ID Mich. Assoeia-
ton, 81 Congress ST., Detroit Mich.
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