Provost Guard Badge Birney's Brigade 23rd Regiment PA Volunteers -  Inventory Number: INS 104 / SOLD

Historic regimental specific Provost Marshall Badge of Barney's Zouaves 23rd PA Volunteers.  This 8 point brass Provost Marshall Badge bears the stamped inscription, "PROVOST GUARD BIRNEY"S BRIGADE".  It is the only other example that we have encountered in over 20 years.  The other example was sold from the John Ocklerbloom collection by Amoskeag Auction of Maine in 2000 for $4200. 

This badge is mounted to archival board with calligraphy identification as well as original envelope from the collection.  The reverse of the badge shows remnants of solder markings from pin and scribe markings.  These markings are for creating symmetrical points.  A pin is a fixed to the card stock which once accompanied this badge.  This is one of the earliest and rarest Marshall's Badges in existence. 

The 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that fought in the Union Army during the American Civil War.   Known for its colorful uniforms based upon the popular French Zouave style, the regiment served in the Eastern Theater.

Organized at Philadelphia August 31, 1861. Ordered to Washington, D.C., September. Attached to Buell's (Couch's) Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps, to September, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, to January, 1864. Johnson's Island, Sandusky, Ohio, to May 1864. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, to September, 1864.

SERVICE.--Duty in the Defenses of Washington until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula March 26. Warwick River April 4. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Operations about Bottom's Bridge May 20-23. Reconnaissance toward Richmond May 23. Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, May 31-June 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. White Oak Swamp and Charles City Cross Roads June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Reconnaissance to Malvern Hill August 5-7. Movement to Alexandria, thence to Chantilly August 16-30, Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September-October. Guard Potomac from White's Ford to Nolan's Ferry September 11-24 during battles of South Mountain and Antietam. White's Ford September 15. (Company "B" captured at Nolin's Ford September 15 by Colonel White's Command.) Moved to Downsville September 24 and picket duty on the Potomac until November 1. Movement to Falmouth, Va., November 1-19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Fredericksburg, Maryes Heights, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks' Ford May 4. Operations about Deep Run Ravine June 6-13. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. At Warrenton and Culpepper to October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7 (Reserve). Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Regiment reenlisted December 30, 1863. Veterans on furlough until February 11, 1864. Moved to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, Ohio, January 6, 1864, and guard Rebel Prisoners at that place until May 6. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 9-13; thence to Belle Plains and guard Rebel Prisoners and escort trains to the front until May 23. Rapidan Campaign May 23-June 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey November 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 17-19. Ream's Station, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23. Siege of Petersburg until July 9. Moved to Washington July 9-11. Repulse Early's attack on Washington July 11-12. Snicker's Gap Expedition July 14-18. Operations in Shenandoah Valley until September. Charlestown August 21. Ordered home for muster out. Mustered out September 8, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 82nd Pennsylvania September 8. 1864.

Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 110 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 70 Enlisted men by disease. Total 188.

Inventory Number: INS 104 / SOLD