GEORGIA ZOUAVES BADGE OF LIEUTENANT PENN BEDELL.

An attractive badge named to Penn Bedell, who was a southerner with a colorful history. Bedell enlisted in the Confederate States Army on April 28, 1861, at New Orleans in Nelligan’s 1st Louisiana for 1 year and was 2nd Lt. of Co. D. He resigned in July 1861, but apparently then became 1st Lt. in Company C, serving until March 1862 when he was “dropped,” likely indicating he did not reenlist “for the war” when the army was reorganizing in Spring 1862. During the post-war years, he was a member of the Georgia Zouaves, and an 1874 newspaper article sheds light on this award: "Lieut. Key, of the Jonesboro Zouaves presented Lieut. Bedell of the Georgia Zouaves with a magnificent gold badge, representing the coat of arms of Georgia." The badge is quite attractive and features a ribbon bearing the name "PENN BEDELL" with chain suspension that holds a cross that exhibits the Georgia coat of arms as described by the article, with presentation in each arm of the cross. Bedell has an interesting history, as he was involved in a shootout with an Atlanta policeman, M.W. Rasbury, in which Bedell killed Rasbury; Rasbury was the first Atlanta police officer killed in the line of duty. Since Rasbury shot twice first, Bedell had the charges against him dropped. Bedell was later murdered on February 19, 1874 and was buried in his Zouaves uniform. The badge exhibits a pleasing light patina with no visible gold markings, and is most likely gilded brass. CONDITION: Very good.