Rare Civil War Identification Disk of Lemuel Wood

Rare Civil War Identification Disk of Lemuel Wood - Inventory Number: IDE 291

1st Massachusetts Cavalry, Hand-Carved Bone with Wax Inlay

Masonic Emblem Finely Carved on the Reverse

Exceptional and highly personal Civil War identification disk belonging to Lemuel Wood, Company B, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. Meticulously hand-carved from bone, the disk features the soldier’s identification details engraved with care and filled with red and black wax, enhancing visibility and artistic contrast.

These hand-crafted “dog tags” were often produced by soldiers themselves or local artisans, as official identification tags were not standardized until later conflicts. This example stands out not only for its excellent state of preservation, but also for its material—bone, a rare medium that adds to its individuality and wartime character.

Lemuel Wood served in one of the Union’s most active cavalry regiments, which saw extensive action in the Eastern Theater, including at Brandy Station, Gettysburg, and during Grant’s Overland Campaign.

The disk is displayed with its original presentation background and suspension cord, offering a moving reminder of the personal stakes each soldier carried into war.

Provenance: Formerly from the private Civil War artifact collection of James Stametelos and then the Texas Civil War Museum.

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Inventory Number: IDE 291