GAR Medal

[dobber97]

Good Morning everyone!! I just wanted to share this find from yesterday and hopefully somebody can find a pic of a in better shape version of this medal for me to see. I know its hard to tell in the pic but it is a GAR Medal from 1897 the writing says National Encampment in Buffalo NY Aug 1897. The pic I think is of Thaddeus Stevens Clarkson who was the GAR commander in chief that year. Its kinda cool because I live in such a small county in Illinois that the vet that lost this might be able to be ID'd.

 

[Mackaydon]

dobber97,
Interesting find !!
The image may also depict either Gen. Wm. T. Sherman or Gen. Philip H. Sheridan who each appeared on bronze "Encampment" medals.
Don....

 

[Mackaydon]

Actually, it was Clarkson who was the Commander in the previous year (1896) during the Encampment (Sept. 3 and 4) when it was held in St. Paul; Clarkson being from Nebraska. In the 1897 Encampment ( Aug. 25-27), held in Buffalo, the Commander was John Peter Shindel Gobin, from Penn.
Source: (page 321) Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Wisconsin - Thomas J. McCrory - Google Books

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Nice relic. Those type nostalgia americana items beat the the pants off "boring coins". Look great in shadow boxes with other similar things (skeleton keys, trade tokens, etc...) for fun discussion story items. Thanx for posting !

 

[dobber97]

Actually, it was Clarkson who was the Commander in the previous year (1896) during the Encampment (Sept. 3 and 4) when it was held in St. Paul; Clarkson being from Nebraska. In the 1897 Encampment ( Aug. 25-27), held in Buffalo, the Commander was John Peter Shindel Gobin, from Penn.
Source: (page 321) Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Wisconsin - Thomas J. McCrory - Google Books

I cant make out some of the lettering but it looks like it says clarkson that is why i made the assumption. The date could be aug of 1896 not sure. Thanks for the great input

 

[Mackaydon]

I believe we are both right.
Clarkson was the Commander during parts of both years '96 and '97.
The only difference was that Gobin was the Commander by the time the Encampment began in late August of '97.