🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Odd Infantry Insignia

[Mason Jarr]

A friend of mine in NV knows a guy that found this insignia and asked me to help ID it. I'm pretty sure it's post Civil War as it's the narrower hunting horn consistent with the Model 1872. I have no idea what the UC stands for though. I've never seen nor heard of one. Any ideas?

 

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[traveller777]

Can you give us an idea where it was found?

 

[Retired Sarge]

Correct 1872-1875 style Infantry Badge.

Wonder if it's for a college/university, C (College name) U (University)?

 

[Mason Jarr]

Can you give us an idea where it was found?

In Nevada. I don't know which part, sorry.

 

[Mason Jarr]

Correct 1872-1875 style Infantry Badge.

Wonder if it's for a college/university, C (College name) U (University)?

That's what I thought, also but can't find one that matches. Maybe it's Union Carbide! Ha

 

[traveller777]

In Nevada. I don't know which part, sorry.

That is ok. I tried a couple of times to find a match so thought knowing the area might help. Thanks.

 

[Retired Sarge]

That's what I thought, also but can't find one that matches. Maybe it's Union Carbide! Ha

Another thought, based on the time frame of use, maybe U (Name) C (County). So maybe a State Guard Infantry unit from a county.

Similar example from an earlier period of this type of naming from the American Civil War period. My GGGF served with the Cabarrus Rangers (1st NC Cavalry Regiment, Company F), out of Cabarrus County, NC.

 

[gillious]

Could it possibly be from a USCT (US Colored Troops as they were called at the time) unit?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Some of the oldtimers here might recall a long-running discussion which resulted from finding US-Military-type (or "inspired") insignia with the letters "UR" attached. Those items turned out to be regalia from the "military" branch of the Knights Of Pythias fraternal organization. The KoP "Uniformed Ranks" heyday was in the 1880s into the very-early 1900s. Therefore, your Indian-Wars-era US Infantry horn with letters "UC" attached MIGHT have some connection to the KoP UR.

 

[crashbandicoot]

I searched for a good while on this one and while I could find similar,I couldn,t find one with the UC. I did find that some referenced similar ones to the Indian Wars.Maybe that might put you on the right track. I,d sure like to know.

 

[Mason Jarr]

Could it possibly be from a USCT (US Colored Troops as they were called at the time) unit?

It's possible I suppose, but I would think the research data would be readily available if that were the case. I haven't been able to find anything about with a UC reference.

 

[traveller777]

It's possible I suppose, but I would think the research data would be readily available if that were the case. I haven't been able to find anything about with a UC reference.

Me either Mason. Something has to be out there.

 

[traveller777]

Still no luck, Mason?

 

[Retired Sarge]

TCBG has a very valid point. IF it was used by a Fraternal Organization, there is a very distinct possibility that it could be lost to time.

First you'd have to come up with a definitive originating location, before one could start to narrow down which organization it belong to.......Just food for thought!

 

[Mason Jarr]

Still no luck, Mason?

Sorry, I'm just now seeing this. No. I've not had any luck IDing it nor has anyone else as far as I know. I did talk to a friend of the guy who found it and it was near Virginia City, NV.

 

[DCMatt]

Could it possibly be from a USCT (US Colored Troops as they were called at the time) unit?

Wow. Good guess. I haven't found any official Army documentation from the 19th C, but there are plenty of references to men enlisting or being commissioned into the "Infantry Regiment U. C." - which refers to colored troops in the Civil War era and immediately after.

"Recollections of My Slavery Days" by William Henry Singleton. Originally published in a local Peekskill, New York newspaper in 1922, the autobiography of William Henry Singleton, from Craven County, NC, recounts his years as a slave, his Civil War service in Company B, 35th UC Colored Infantry and his life after the war.

How cool is that!?!

 

[VaGent]

his Civil War service in Company B, 35th UC Colored Infantry

Just my 2 cents, but in that reference I would think it likely that the C is a typo or a misreading of handwriting, and should be an S. I have never seen any reference anywhere else to the USCT referred to as UC. YMMV.

 

[DCMatt]

Wow. Good guess. I haven't found any official Army documentation from the 19th C, but there are plenty of references to men enlisting or being commissioned into the "Infantry Regiment U. C." - which refers to colored troops in the Civil War era and immediately after.



How cool is that!?!

Here's another record:

American Civil War Soldier
Name: William P Stewart
Residence: Niles, Illinois
Enlistment Date: 01 February 1865
Side Served: Union
State Served: United States Colored Troops
Unit Numbers: 2914 2914
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 01 February 1865
Enlisted in Company F, 29th Infantry Regiment UC on 01 February 1865.
Mustered out Company F, 29th Infantry Regiment UC on 06 November 1865