For over a year, an antique jewelry dealer had been telling me about a little Civil War pin she had. When she finally showed it to me, I was disappointed that it was from after the war, but excited that it was a memento from the gallant Second Battery.
These badges were popular with the boys in their reunion years. Itinerant badge makers set up in tents at the reunions, using stamps to mark stock German silver parts, then assembling them to order. Ladder badges included the name, company, regiment and state stamped on individual, linked bars. Other badges included the former soldier's unit and corps designation.
The Second Battery was in the 20th Corps (the 20th Corps badge was the star) from January to October of 1863. It included their service at the Battle of Chickamauga. That time of service must have been significant to the badge's original owner. Veteran's badges are unique artifacts; those with Minnesota attributions are particularly scarce.