u/CanISaytheNWord

Pictured is a staff badge for the 1915 Richmond UCV reunion. This badge belonged to the Adj. General and Chief of Staff for the Virginia Division of the UCV. With a little research I was able to determine that Boyd M. Smith was the adjutant general and chief of staff for 1915 - meaning this was his badge.

Boyd Mason Smith was born in Alexandria on June 6th, 1844. In January 1863 at age 18 Smith enlisted in the 4th Virginia Cavalry. Upon enlisting Smith was immediately detailed as a courier on the staff of General JEB Stuart. Private Smith saw heavy action while serving on Stuart’s staff, including at Brandy Station, Gettysburg on Day 3, Yellow Tavern and Trevallian Station to name a few.

In late July/early August 1864 Smith transferred to the newly formed Company E, 43rd Virginia Cavalry under Colonel Mosby. With the Grey Ghost, now Sgt. Smith would harass federals across northern Virginia. Notably Smith was involved in the capture of Union General Alfred N. Duffie in August 1864. Smith and the Rangers would torment federals all the way up to the end of the war, where Mosby’s command disbanded rather than surrender.

Postwar, Smith removed to Mineral, Va and was active in veterans affairs. He served many positions in the leadership of Virginia’s UCV Division, including of course, Adjutant General and Chief of Staff in 1915. Smith died in 1921 at the age of 77.

All in all a wonderful badge with a great history. As someone who often travels through “Mosby’s Confederacy” I’m quite pleased to add this bit of local history to my collection.

From the good folks at the Union Drummer Boy. Pictured is an early Smith patent strip and CDV, id’d to Major Charles P. Chandler of the 1st Massachusetts who was killed leading a charge at Glendale during the Seven Days Battles. The CDV is id’d with pencil and the strap has an old yellowed tag glued on the reverse.

Charles P Chandler was born in 1835 in Maine but relocated to Boston to attend Harvard.

In May 1861 Chandler accepted a commission, as Lieutenant and later Captain of a militia battalion in Boston. As the state began to organize regiments Chandler was then commissioned a major in the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. The pictured CDV was likely taken while Chandler was still a Lt/Cpt.

The 1st went south in July but served in primarily garrison roles until early 1862 when they were sent to the Virginia Peninsula. Their first taste of combat came at Yorktown, in April. The 1st was in constant action that took them from the gates of Richmond and back. At Glendale on June 30, Major Chandler was killed leading the 1st in a countercharge against Longstreet’s division. Chandler’s body was never recovered, meaning this shoulder strap was likely a on dress uniform or a spare and returned to Chandler’s family with his effects.

A recent pick up, and very much a grail item. Pictured is a nicely toned brass badge, in the shape of badge the 25th Corps. Suspended from a bar, engraved “M. M. Holland”. Hardware on the reverse suggests 1890–1900s. This piece used to be in the collection of Walter F. Reily, who had one or two other items attributed to Holland.

Milton M. Holland was born into slavery in Texas. Perhaps the son of his master Bird Holland. Bird Holland freed Milton and his brother and send them to Ohio for education.

Following the Emancipation Proclamation 20 year old Holland enlisted in the 5th U.S. Colored Troops. Like most USCT regiments, the 5th spent their early term of service on guard duty and performing other rear echelon functions. But at the start of the Petersburg Campaign the 5th was pulled onto the frontlines. The regiment was on the field at the Crater and several other engagements. At New Market Heights Sgt Major Holland took command of his company after all his officers had been killed or wounded. It was for this action that Holland earned the Medal of Honor. General Butler said after the fact that had it not been for Holland’s race he would’ve made brigadier general.

Now operating under the nearly all-black 25th Corps the 5th was reassigned to North Carolina. Where they participated in the capture of Wilmington and Sherman’s Carolina Campaign.

Postwar Holland settled in Washington DC. He earned a law degree from Howard and started the first Black owned insurance company in DC. When he passed away in 1910 he left behind a sizable estate. Milton M. Holland was born into slavery and buried at Arlington Cemetery. You’d be hard pressed to find a better encapsulation of the American Dream.