Identified to Captain Jedediah Chase Paine of Co. I, 57^th New York Infantry. Two piece medal. Not normally engraved but this example with rank, name & residence (Wilkes Barre, PA) jeweler engraved on the reverse side of the drop portion. Handsome bronze medal with busts of Meade and Lee.

Paine was 22 years old when he enlisted on 8/14/61 at Brooklyn, NY as a 1^st Lt. On that date he was commissioned into Co. I, 57^th NY. Promoted to Capt. of Co. B on 9/17/62; discharged for promotion of 3/3/63 and on that date commissioned as Capt. in the US Army Signal Corps. Promoted to Major by Brevet on 8/1/64, and Lt. Col. by Brevet on 4/9/65. Mustered out on 8/21/65.

The 57th New York was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel Alford B. Chapman, a New York City merchant. On the afternoon of July 2nd it was part of Caldwell’s counterattack into the Wheatfield to support Sickles’ Third Corps. The 57th was the second line of Zook’s Brigade in the attack, which moved south from Trostle’s Woods and into the woods on the west side of the Wheatfield. The attack lost coordination after Zook was mortally wounded and collapsed when Wofford’s Confederate Brigade struck their flank and threatened to get behind them. In its support role the 57th tried to hold back the crumbling first line but was unsuccessful, and the regiment fell back with the rest of the brigade north of the Wheatfield.

The division returned to its starting point on Cemetery Ridge and built breastworks, which provided shelter during the artillery barrage preceding Pickett’s Charge. But other than picket firing, the regiment was unengaged for the rest of the battle.

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