Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-19


Under Commander-in-C Chief Earn
shaw chosen in 1880, there were
slight changes made in the shape OF
the star and the form of the eagle,
which made the badge just like the
picture at the head of this article.
Badge for G. A. r. Officers.
At the 18th national encampment
in May, 1873, the following direction
was adopted concerning the official
badge:
'The official badge is to consist of
a miniature strap and plain ribbon to
which shall be pendant the bronze
star of the membership badge;; that
this strap be one and one-half inches
in length, one-half inch in width,
enameled, with border one-sixteenth
of an inch in width, of gold or gilt,
an on it the insignia OF official posi-
ton in the Grand Army of the Re
public, making use of the familiar
star, eagle, leaf and bar of the old
service, substantially as determined
and recommended for official badges
by the national council Of administra-
ton and announced in Circular No. 6,
Headquarters Grand Army of the Re
public, January 4, 1889; except that
for aides-de-camp to the commander
in chief there be substituted a silver
eagle, and for aides-de-camp to de-
partment commanders a silver leaf;
for the words, General Commander,
read Department Commander that
the field in enamel be, for national
and department officers, black; for
post officers, dark blue.
THAT the ribbon be one and one
half inches in length in the clear. and
one and one-fourth inches in width and
in color for national officers, buff, for
department officers, cherry red. and
for post officers, light blue.
THAT this badge be worn conspicu-
ously on the left breast of the coat.
That, to distinguish officers of diff
ferent departments. a miniature shield
in gold or gilt, with the coat of arms
of the state, may be worn pendant to
the strap"
AT the next national encampment it
was decided that post officers may
wear the rank strap of the highest Of
flee they have held in the grand army
the same to be clasped about the
proper ribbon and just below the
eagle of the membership badge, to
which the whole should be pendant.
In 1886. at the national encamp-
ment at San Francisco, two more
corps badges were added to the
twenty-four On the reverse side, and
just back of the bronze eagle there
was put a campfire design-a coffee
kettle hanging over fire. The badge
as thus completed has been duly pa
ented for the exclusive use of mem
bers. in good standing. of the Grand
Army of the Republic
The Button Badge.
At Minneapolis, in 1884, a resolution
was adopted looking to the prepare
ton of a design for a button badge.
Such design was later presented and
adopted This is the little bronze
button so familiar in these da''s on the
left lapel OF the coats of Grand Army
men.
Made From Captured Cannon.
For several years before 1884 the
metal of these badges came from guns
bought of various societies to which
they had beetn givetn by congress for
monumental purposes, but since then
captured cannon have been purchased
from the government for this pur-
pose. These guns have been selec'-
ed from those stored at Governors Is
land, and were made by Noble Broth
ers, Rome. Georgia. Quimby and
Robinson. Memphis: John Clark. New
Orleans: and A. B. r. Bros, Vicks-
burg Some of these are presumably OF
English metal. =.
To prepare this metal for badges
the gun is put into lathe and cut in
to sec. ions. These pieces are then
melted, cast into small pigs, re-melted
and refined to get out of IL every trace
of iron or lead Twenty per cent Of
copper and zinc is then added 10
make the metal so il will not break
In further work upon it. A rough
form of the star Is then cast in sand.
This blank is freed from sand and
again annealed. and the fire coating
is removed by acid baths. after which
ii is thoroughly rinsed 10 remove an
traces of he acids, which would
otherwise destroy the dies. The piece
is then placed between steel dies and
nut under pressure Of about four or
i've times. every piece being cleaned
and annealed after every operation.
The edges, which have been expand
ed under the heavy blows. are trim
med BY machinery. and the piece IS
again put into the press to bring every
part into relief The outline is the~
perfected BY special machinery. the
edges are fled by hard he swivels
are inserted. the star numbered, and
the initial o. the Commauder-in-Chief
Of that term aS3ad The badge Is
then ready for the final finish by q
special process. which is adopted tc
the peculiar quality Of metal in each
gun. All this IS for the star In he
badge. The eagle from whicA e Is
hung BIZ the ribbon is subjected to
the same general process. Int fl re-
CURES much less pressure in the
stamping machine