1863 Hand-Engraved Badge to Edward M. Gage, 47th Massachusetts Infantry

1863 Hand-Engraved Badge to Edward M. Gage, 47th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, Union Army. Silver. Choice Extremely Fine. 38.0 mm, mounted in gold bezel with loop at top for suspension. The bezel: 4.0 grams, XRF tested 11.5 karat, 0.616 troy ounces AGW. Obv: Hand-engraved classroom scene, man at left holding bugle, right hand outstretched toward two young girls, engraved above and below TO / EDWARD M. GAGE / 47TH. REG. MASS VOLS. / FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS / NEW ORLEANS, JULY 4TH. / 1863. Rev: Hand-engraved Federal eagle on shield, Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM above. The silver badge richly and originally toned with all design elements crisp and clear. The 47th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was a regiment of infantry that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was one of the 18 Massachusetts regiments formed in response to President Abraham Lincoln's August 1862 call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months. Known as the "Merchant's Guard Regiment," it was recruited primarily through the efforts of Boston merchant Lucius B. Marsh, who became the regiment's colonel and commanding officer. After training at Camp Edwin M. Stanton in Boxford and Camp Meigs in Readville, on November 29, 1862, the 47th Massachusetts left Boston for New York City to join other troops being gathered to reinforce Major General Nathaniel P. Banks' Army of the Gulf. On December 21, 1862, the regiment boarded a steamship for and reached New Orleans on December 31. Its service was unusual in that it never saw combat as a full regiment. While two detached companies saw minor skirmishing without casualties, the rest of the 47th Massachusetts served guard and provost duty in various camps and fortifications in and about New Orleans.

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