CIVIL WAR 34TH MASS INFANTRY GROUP POLICE BADGE

Named Civil War grouping of a member of the 34th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Residence Northborough MA; a 21 year-old Farmer. Enlisted on 7/25/1862 as a Private. On 7/31/1862 he mustered into "C" Co. MA 34th Infantry. He was discharged for disability on 12/27/1862 at Fort Lyon, VA. Other Information: born in 1841. Member of GAR Post # 116 (David G. Farragut) in Gardner, MA. After the War he lived in Northboro, MA. The grouping consist of his named Brass Civil War Stencil, GAR Membership Badge that is numbered to the edge R44155 and is patented in 1886, Secret Detective Service Badge that is beautifully hand chased, 116th GAR Campaign Hat Badge, Single Coat Button from his Frock or Sack Coat and Lastly a GAR Cuff Button. Excellent. The 34th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was organized at Camp John E. Wool, Worcester, in the midsummer of 1862, and was composed of companies recruited in the five western counties of Massachusetts. The men were mustered in on various dates but largely on July 31. George D. Wells of Boston, lieutenant colonel of the 1st Mass. Regt., was made colonel. On Aug. 15 the regiment left Camp Wool for the seat of war, reaching Hunter's Chapel near Arlington, Va. on the 18th. Aug. 22 it proceeded to Alexandria and thence to Cloud's Mills. At Fort Ellsworth, Fort Lyon, and Upton's Hill the fall and winter and spring following were spent, the regiment having been twice temporarily brigaded with other regiments. Not until July 9, 1863, was it ordered away from the defenses of Washington. On the above date it was sent to Harper's Ferry, where it occupied a position near Fort Duncan as a part of Gen. Negley's Brigade. On July 15 it crossed the Potomac, took possession of Harper's Ferry, and established itself on Camp Hill. Here Genl.Lockwood took command of the brigade. He was succeeded by Col. Wells October 15. This was then known as the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Observation. October 18 the 34th met the enemy at Ripon with slight loss. In mid-December, 1863, it led an expedition up the Shenandoah as far as Harrisonburg, returning to Harper's Ferry the 24th. On Feb. 1 it was sent by train to Cumberland, Md., returning a week later. It now remained at Harper's Ferryand vicinity until March 8, when it was ordered to Martinsburgwhere it remained about four weeks. Attached to Sigel's command, as a part of Thoburn's Brigade, Sullivan's Division, Department of the Shenandoah, it proceeded to New Market, where it was engaged May 15, 1864, losing 221 officers and men, of whom 39 were killed or mortally wounded. In June, Genl. Hunter having succeeded Gen. Sigel in command of the department, the regiment participated in the Lynchburg expedition, being engaged at Piedmont, June 5, with a loss of 110, of whom 22 were killed or mortally wounded. Reaching the outskirts of Lynchburg the 17th, on the following day it lost 5 killed and 40 wounded. Then followed the retreat across the mountains of West Virginia to Gauley River, thence on to Point Pleasant on the Ohio River, from which point it proceeded back to Martinsburg and thence to its old camping ground at Harper's Ferry. Again crossing the Potomac it proceeded to Knoxville, thence to Berlin, where it recrossed, then marched to Snicker's Gap, where it was engaged July 18, with a loss of 4 killed and 11 wounded. The succeeding seven weeks were spent in marching and countermarching from Williamsport to Frederick, Md., and as far up the Shenandoah as Middletown near Cedar Creek. On Aug. 7, 1864, Genl. Sheridan took command in the Valley. The 34th was now a part of Wells' (1st) Brigade, Thoburn's (1st) Division, Crook's (8th) Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, and as such participated in Sheridan's Valley campaign. At Opequan (Winchester), Sept. 19, it lost 7 killed and 97 wounded, several mortally. At Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, it was engaged with slight loss. At Stickley's Farm, near Cedar Creek, Oct. 13, it lost its colonel, Wells, now commanding the brigade, and 9 men killed, 48 wounded, and 40 missing. At Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, it lost 9 wounded (two mortally) and 32 missing. Gen. Thoburn having been killed at Cedar Creek, his division, now commanded by Gen. Turner, was sent to the Army of the James and attached to the 24th Corps, commended by Gen. John Gibbon. Lieut. Col. Andrew Potter of the 34th now commanded the brigade. After a winter spent in front of Petersburg, the regiment was engaged at Hatcher's Run, March 31, at Fort Gregg near Petersburg, with heavy loss, April 2, then joined in the pursuit and capture of the Army of Northern Virginia. After a short stay in Lynchburg it returned to Richmond, where June 15 it was mustered out and sent home. Assembling for the last time at Readville, Mass., July 6, the members of the regiment were paid off and discharged.