Washington Artillery

Badges, Insignia, & Medals

over the ages...

 

 

As the Native American Artillery

Officer, Native American Artillery circa 1830s

 

Native American Artillery Shako Plate

A shako is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually adorned with an ornamental designation plate on the front and a feather plume or pompon on the top. The word shako is derived from the Hungarian word meaning "peaked cap"  and saw use in the early 1800s and was used throughout the 19th century.

Louisiana shako insignia

("L D" possibly standing for either Louisiana Dragoons or Division)

similar to or possibly exactly what Washington Artillery wore- circa 1830s

 

 

 

As the Washington Artillery of New Orleans

 

Washington Artillery Shako Plate

1850s

Washington Artillery with US Model 1851 Shakos

The Washington Artillery used standard US Model 1851 artillery shakos as depicted in this era lithograph. Adopted in 1851 as part of the new uniform regulations for the US army, the shako was to be worn by dragoons, infantry, artillery, engineers, and other branches, with designating branch of service colors on a band (or welt) at the base of the shako and on the pompom worn on top. The enlisted artillery pattern consisted of a red wool pompom ball from whose base a doubled wire extended to be put through a hole in the top front of the cap, and a single wire with a  brass insignia depicting a patriotic eagle with 1/4 stylized sunrays background (commonly called a Hardee eagle).  The  body was made of black felt wool. Immediately below the eagle is the company designation and a suspended gold/brass crossed cannon over a red band/ (welt) trim. It is possible that the letters "WA" were attached somewhere on the body of the shako, possibly where the company designation would normally be placed.

 

Washington Artillery Shoulder Plate

Washington Artillery (circa 1850s) showing shoulder slings

 upon which WA tiger plates would have be attached.

Washington Artillery shoulder belt plate- circa 1840-50s or 1880s?

(This buckle belonged to Commander B. F. Eshleman)

Militia shoulder belt plates date from the 1830s-1880s. These embellished shoulder belt plates were used for both unit identification and ornamentation. The proliferation of state militias in the 1840s and 1850s sparked the proliferation of inexpensive plates with interchangeable identification motifs. Similar plates, in both look and construction to the above Washington Artillery plate, date this style plate to the 1840s. The Boston Light Infantry as well as the New York Light Guard of the 1840s had similar tiger motifs, all with clipped cornered rolled brass plates with a brass tiger head attached by wires cinched through the plate and with a soldered brass attachment pin. Antebellum examples were often silver-plated. This style shoulder plate had a resurgence in the 1880s along with the Baldric device and staff officer's dress cartridge box as seen in the 1880s photo of William Miller Owen below. To date, there is yet no document or picture to confirm whether this plate is of the 1850 or 1880 era. Considering that this WA plate is nickel-plated and not silver-plated,  the 1880 era is probably correct for this particular plate, unless it was nickel-plated at a later date. Only four are known to exist.

Ambrotype of artillerymen with shoulder belt plates and shako-circa late 1850s

Close-up view of artillery shoulder belt plate and shako.

 This is where the WA tiger plate would have been attached.

(Note the US Model 1851 artillery shako in hand.)

 

Washington Artillery Badges

Civil War Era

The Washington Artillery badge was designed by James B. Walton in the late 1850s. It is composed of 14 karat yellow or rose gold. The badge was constructed of 1-2mm plate gold with applied pieces, not poured into a mold. Its design is that of a circular artillery belt with an applied clasp and belt end on the badge's 12 o'clock position and upon the belt is engraved "WASHINGTON/ Try Us/ ARTILLERY", within which is centered two applied crossed cannons. In some examples, a tiger's head hangs from its 6 o'clock position.  The back of the badge has a clasp and upper and lower circular loops, the lower loop from which hangs a tiger's head and the upper used to clasp a pocket watch chain. These circular loops could also be used to sew the badge to a uniform to prevent its loss in case the clasp failed.

Although there has been speculation that the war time badges were made by the firm of Thomas, Griswold & Co. of New Orleans, this researcher has yet to find that documentation or seen a badge marked with any jeweler or store's name. Close inspection of ten such examples of the badge reveal that each is unique, as would be expected since each was made by hand by a jeweler.  No two are exactly alike but the Civil War era models appear to fall into four designs. These slight variations suggest that either they were made by several different jewelers or that they were made a different times, spanning years with improvements and/or variations.

Each artilleryman was responsible for the purchase of his own badge. Therefore, the battalion did not have documentation as to their purchases. Hopefully, a bill of sale will emerge on one of these rare gems.

 The Daily Picayune, a New Orleans newspaper,

published this notice on November 14, 1861, placed by a

Washington artillerist who lost his badge and asks for its return.

 

Design One

Washington Artillery badge- design one- (28mm diameter) is the most common examined.

It has stippled crossed cannons, dark blue or black enamel painted trim and smooth edges on the belt. The cannon were cast individually and specimens show variations in the degree of crossing. The  tiger head has large, staring eyes.

 (This example is missing the rear clasp device.)

 

Design Two

Washington Artillery badge- design two- (29 mm diameter) has smooth cannon, light blue enamel painted trim, serrated edges on the belt. The tiger head is a different shape than model one with smaller eyes and larger ears.

 

 

Design Three

Washington Artillery badge- design three- is slightly larger (30 mm diameter) and has even smoother cannon with less detail, black enamel painted trim, smooth edges on the belt and a convex shape to the entire piece. The tiger head is yet another variation. This example has a post war repair,  having  "14K" (14 Carat) stamped on the replaced gold clasp- an obvious different gold content than the rest of the pin.

 

Design Four

Although this example is listed as a fourth design variation, it probably represents a unique badge.  There is only one known example and no known photographs of any Washington artillerists wearing this style badge. The badge reads "3rd Co./ WASHINGTON ARTILLERY/ Try Us." It was found in New Orleans with a locket containing the image of  M. "Buck" Miller , Captain of the Third Company. Although this association would tend one to believe it belonged to Miller, there is no engraving of his name on its reverse which opens the possibility that another or other members of the Third Company used this style badge.

Unique Washington Artillery badge of Third Company- circa 1860

(only known example & believed to belong to Captain M. B. Miller of Third Company)

The badge's design is a crescent moon upon which is engraved "3rd Co/ WASHINGTON ARTILLERY" surrounding a star upon which is engraved "Try Us".

 

Washington Artillery Badges

Post Civil War Era

Spanish American War Era

 A variation of the above Civil War time pins was used at the turn of the century when Allison Owen reorganized the unit. These larger (30 mm) badges have the same Civil War era design but use slightly smaller, fatter crossed cannon and wider belts and are marked on their reverses "ABG & CO/ N.O.  /14K" for A.B. Griswold & Co. New Orleans , a retail store which did not come into business until 1866 and closed in 1920. This badge, circa 1909, belonged to Captain Schaumburg McGehee of Battery B.

 

Washington Artillery Badge

Post Spanish American War Era

Washington Artillery small (possibly label pin) badge- circa 1920-40s?

 

 

 

Washington Artillery Buckles

 

Antebellum Era

Washington Artillery belt buckle- circa 1850s

 clipped rectangular belt buckle as seen in above photo

believed to be that of the Washington Artillery,

dug at Corinth, Mississippi- "W" missing-

This is the only example known to exist.

The Zouave-style "A" is soldered on the plate, not wire-cinched.

The 5th Company of the Washington Artillery was engaged at Farmington, Mississippi (about 4 1/2 miles northeast of Corinth) on May 8-9, 1862 and participated in the evacuation of Corinth May 29-30 1862, covering the rear of the retreat and engaging with Colonel Philip H. Sheridan's cavalry regiment. Details of the activity of the battery have been lost. 

 

Civil War Era

Washington Artillery belt buckle- circa 1860s

(Louisiana buckle made by Thomas, Griswold of New Orleans,

documented to have been used by the unit,

including William Miller Owen)

Washington Artillery belt buckle- circa 1860s

(Louisiana "Pelican with Rays" buckle,

documented to have been used by the unit,

including Lieutenant Edward Owen)

Washington Artillery two piece sword belt buckle- circa 1860s

(etched "WA" & made from US model 1838 sword belt buckle)

 

Post Civil War Era

Washington Artillery belt plate- Mills style- circa 1880s

Washington Artillery dress belt plate- militia style- circa 1880s

This dress belt plate is a typical clipped militia buckle with engraved

"WASHINGTON" over an applied battery designation (in this case "C" for Battery C) over "ARTILLERY".

 

Washington Artillery buckle insignia- Louisiana Field Artillery-circa 1880-90s

This dress belt plate is of typical 1880-90s design with applied script "LFA."

Washington Artillery Kepi Insignia

Washington Artillery kepi insignia- circa 1860s

Civil War era kepi insignia consisted of brass crossed cannon & individual plain cut or "Zouave"-style stamped brass letters for enlisted men and officers and sometimes a stamped pelican replacing the crossed cannon for staff officers.

 

Washington Artillery kepi insignia- circa 1870s

Post Civil War era kepi insignia consisted of brass crossed cannon or nothing.

 

Washington Artillery kepi insignia- circa 1870-80s

The crossed cannon were embroidered with "WA" within a central red circle overlying the cannon.

Washington Artillery kepi insignia- Span Am era-circa 1880s

 

Washington Artillery kepi insignia- Louisiana Field Artillery-circa 1880-90s

(LFA insignia courtesy John M. Fleming Collection)

The Louisiana Field Artillery of the 1880s used individual brass letters around crossed cannons

When the Washington Artillery became part of a volunteer artillery group for service in the

Spanish American War called the Louisiana (Volunteer) Field Artillery-circa 1890s-

the "LFA" letters were soldered to the cross cannon

 

Washington Artillery Dress Shako Insignia

Model One

The Washington Artillery returned to the use of shakos as part of its dress uniform in the 1870s when it reorganized. The shako plate used was of standard Northern manufacture. The WA used the same shakos manufactured for the New York National Guard, replacing the stamped brass regimental numbers with the letters "WA" and changing the New York state side buttons with that of Louisiana. The plate has a black center medallion upon which are the brass letters "WA," surrounded by alternating cannon barrels and spikes with a spread eagle at its 12 o'clock position.

The firm of Baker & McKenney of New York manufactured & sold the shakos.

Washington Artillery shako circa 1870s

This example belonged to Joseph H. Duggan of the Washington Artillery.

Model Two

The shako insignia of this type consisted of simple stamped crossed cannon over which is the letters "WA".

The shako was also of Northern manufacture.

Washington Artillery kepi insignia-

M1872 pattern-circa 1870s

 

Model Three

Officers Model

The shako insignia of this type consisted of an elaborate shako plate of the battalion's logo with a surrounding laurel wreath.

It was most probably used by staff officers.

(Reconstructed shako with original shako plate.)

 

Washington Artillery Dress Baldric Insignia

1880s-era photo of William Miller Owen showing a shoulder plate Baldric device (a wide sash worn over the shoulder), a French design.

On the front of the shoulder sash, a die struck eagle within a shield is attached by chains to a brass lion's head.

circa 1876-1885

Artillery Baldric staff officer's dress accoutrements- circa 1855-1885

 

 

Washington Artillery Veteran Badges

 

Washington Artillery veteran's badge- circa 1870-80s

 

United Confederate Veteran's badge

This badge belonged to Washington Artillerist

H. Dudley Coleman

presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy

circa 1900-1913

 

Washington Artillery veteran's badge- World War I

 

Washington Artillery Insignia of the 20th Century

 

Washington Artillery officer's insignia World War I- circa 1901-1917

(Unit designation changed to 141st Field Artillery on September 27, 1917.)

Washington Artillery collar insignia, Battery C, World War I-circa 1912

Washington Artillery collar insignia, LA on US over 141-issued in 1918-23

 

Washington Artillery commander's badge- Allison Owen

circa 1902

Washington Artillery officer's hat pin insignia World War I/II

 

Washington Artillery/141st collar insignia, pre-World War II

 

Washington Artillery/141st collar & hat insignia, pre World War II

 

Washington Artillery insignia, 141st FA, World War II- circa 1940s

(a tiger head within a red shield, underneath the motto "Try Us")

Washington Artillery insignia, 935th FA, World War II- circa 1940s

(a tiger head within a red shield, underneath the motto "Continuous Fire")

(Photo courtesy John Fleming)

 

Washington Artillery insignia patch, World War II- circa 1940s

 

Washington Artillery insignia, World War II- circa 1940s

773rd Tank  Destroyer Battalion

(a tiger head within a shield with motto "Fit Via Vi', Latin for "The way is forged by labor/strength")

 

Washington Artillery insignia patch, World War II- circa 1940s

773rd Tank  Destroyer Battalion

Batteries G & H of the Washington Artillery were assigned to a new anti-tank category and were later re-designated as Batteries A & B of the newly created 773rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. No Tank Destroyer unit in Europe had a better combat record than the 773rd. Under the aggressive leadership of Colonel Frank G. Spiess, it destroyed 113 tanks, 25 SP guns, and 105 pill boxes. It fired 8,219 rounds in direct fire, took 1,970 prisoners, and spent 254 days in combat - a truly remarkable record. For this meritorious action, the battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

 

Washington Artillery insignia - present day

 

 

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