Civil War Identification Badge of Private Jacob Boice 76th New York Infantry
Civil War Identification Badge of Private Jacob Boice 76th New York Infantry - Inventory Number: IDE 209
Civil War brass identification disk with patriotic eagle motif and the legend “WAR OF 1861 / UNITED STATES.” The reverse is stamped J. Boice / CO. E / 76th / REG. / N.Y.S.V. / RICHFORD.” Jacob Boice was 42 years old when he enlisted in September 1861 as a private in the 76th New York Infantry. The regiment suffered severely in the engagements at Brawner’s Farm and Second Manassas and was sharply engaged at South Mountain and Antietam. Boice was listed as “discharged for disability” from a convalescent camp on November 29, 1862. The 76th New York went on to be the first Union infantry regiment to arrive at the Battle of Gettysburg, advancing across the fields from Emmitsburg Road and past the Seminary to McPherson’s Ridge and the encounter with Davis’s Brigade. After only twenty minutes the 76th was pulled back, having lost more than half its strength. It rallied at the railroad cut, but the collapse of the Union defensive line at the end of the afternoon forced its retreat through town to Cemetery Hill. It was then posted to Culp’s Hill for the rest of the battle. It is possible that Boice is the same soldier listed as “Jacob Boyce,” a 42-year-old private that enlisted in the 6th New York Heavy Artillery in late 1862, and transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in August 1863. The identification disk measures 1 1/8” with an uncleaned brass patina and faint traces of gold wash in recessed areas. Accompanied by a hardbound reprint of the 1867 History of the Seventy-Sixth Regiment New York Volunteers; What it Endured and Accomplished by A. P. Smith.
Jacob Boice - 42 years old. Enlisted on 9/22/1861 at Richland, NY as a Private. On 10/4/1861 he mustered into "E" Co. NY 76th Infantry. He was discharged for disability on 11/29/1862 at Convalescent Camp, VA
NEW YORK SEVENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY (Three Years)
Seventy-sixth Infantry.-Cols., Nelson W. Green, W. P. Wainwright, Charles E. Livingston; Lieut.-Cols., John D. Shaul, Charles E. Livingston, Andrew J. Grover, John E. Cook, Charles A. Watkins;
Majs., Charles E. Livingston, Andrew J. Grover, John E. Cook, John W. Young.
The 76th, the "Cortland Regiment," recruited principally in Cortland and Otsego counties, was mustered into the U. S. service at Albany, Jan. 16, 1862, for three years. It left the state the next day for Washington, was assigned to the 3d brigade of Casey's division and served in the vicinity of Washington during the first winter. It suffered its first severe loss at Manassas in Aug., 1862, when it served with the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 3d corps, losing in the several engagements of Gen. Pope's campaign, 147 in killed, wounded and missing. It was active at South Mountain and Antietam, its brigade and division having been assigned to the 1st corps, with which it accompanied the cavalry advance through Philomont, Union and Upperville, Va.
It participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, went into winter quarters near Falmouth and during the Chancellorsville movement, lost 3 men while guarding bridges. At Gettysburg the regiment took a prominent part and suffered the loss of 234 in killed, wounded and missing. Previous to this battle the ranks had been reinforced by the addition of the veterans and recruits of the 24th and 30th N. Y. infantry, but after Gettysburg they were again sadly thinned. The regiment participated in the Mine Run fiasco, and at Brandy Station in Jan., 1864, was transferred to the 1st brigade of the same division, returning to its old brigade in March, and was later assigned to the 2nd brigade, 4th division, 5th corps, and broke camp in April for the Wilderness campaign, in which it suffered its greatest loss during the first two days-282 killed, wounded or missing.
It continued to see hard service at Spotsylvania, the North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, where it took part in the siege operations until the end of its term of service. It was mustered out by companies, July 1, Oct. 11 and 20, Nov. 8 and 18, Dec. 1, 1864, and Jan. 1, 1865, the veterans and recruits being transferred to the 147th N. Y. infantry.
The regiment lost during its term of service 175 by death from wounds and 166 by death from accident, imprisonment or disease, of whom 56 died in imprisonment. It ranks among the "three hundred fighting regiments."
Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 106
Comes housed in an 8 x 12 inch display case with blue velvet backing and descriptive card.
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