The Civil War identification disk of a Pennsylvania soldier who gave the last full measure of devotion at Gettysburg: Augustus V. Turner, 142^nd PA Volunteers, killed in action July 1.

In style the tag is a Maier and Stahl “Shield 2A”, showing a full stars-and-stripes United States shield on one side with “UNION” in a curved ribbon across the front and “AGAINST REBELLLION / 1861” around the edge, with the other side left blank for the soldier’s identification, which in this case is stamped “GUS. V. TURNER.” along the top edge, with “Co. I. / 142^ND / REG. / PA. VOL.” underneath. This style of disk is one of two they record as known for members of the regiment. A close match not just for the style of the disk and letter forms, but the somewhat awkward placement of the lettering, including the use of the period at the end of the last name in close proximity to that at the end of “VOL.” and a sans serif suffix at the end of the regimental numeral, is shown on the 119^th PA tag they illustrate on pages 40 and 132. (In this case, the maker let slip the die for the “U” in Tuner’s last name and restruck it.) These are close enough that the two soldiers likely got them from the same vendor at Harrisburg, Washington, or in the winter camps near Fredericksburg, etc. Civil War identification badges were privately purchased and come in a number of designs, often in the shape of medals, and were worn suspended from a pinback top, often in the form of an eagle or portrait bust of a general, attached to the coat.

Turner was born about 1840, the son of Alexander and Michale Turner, and is picked up in the 1850 census at age 10 as one of their five children, living in Allegheny, Venango County, PA. The 1860 census picks him up as a “Com Laborer” (Common Laborer, we presume,) living in the household of Hugh and Eliza Miles in Deerfield Township, Warren County, PA. He enrolled in the army at age 21 for three-years’ service on August 16, 1862, at Plumer, Venango County, Pennsylvania, mustered into Co. I of the 142^nd PA as private at Harrisburg to date August 30and received a $25 bounty. He is listed as present on all bi-monthly muster rolls until his death at Gettysburg just a little over six months later, placing him in the ranks at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville as well.

The regiment was officially organized September 1 and left for Washington the next day, serving there until September 19, when they were sent to Frederick, MD. On October 30 they took part in the move to Falmouth and Fredericksburg, being assigned to Franklin’s “Left Grand Division,” serving in Meade’s 3^rd Division of Reynold’s 1^st Corps, in Magilton’s 2^nd Brigade along with the 3^rd, 4^th, 7^th and 8^th PA Reserves. On December 13 Meade’s division, on the Union left, led the attack on the Confederate right, held by Jackson’s forces along, lower, rolling ground. They struck a gap in the Confederate line, flanking Confederate forces in the front line, pushing beyond the railroad embankment and routing a reserve line in hand to hand fighting with one of Magilton’s regiments capturing the only Confederate flag taken in the battle, being eventually forced back by converging Confederate reinforcements, earning the area the label of the “slaughter pen,” with regiment losing 243 officers and men (16 killed, 182 wounded, and 45 captured or missing) of 550 going into the fight, a staggering 44%.

They were spared serious action and any casualties in the Chancellorsville campaign. At Gettysburg, however, as part of Biddle’s 1^st Brigade, Rowley’s 3^rd Division, of Reynolds’s 1^st Corps, they carried 336 officers and men into action on July 1, and lost 4 officers and 27 men killed or mortally wounded, another 10 officers and 100 men wounded, and 2 officers and 68 men captured or missing for a total of 211, or some 60%, with, as at Fredericksburg, a good number of the dead and missing likely left unidentified on ground controlled by Confederates at the end of the fighting.

They had initially formed south of the Iron Brigade in the defense of McPherson’s Ridge, but moved forward to Willoughby Run to escape Confederate shelling, were under sharpshooter fire from the Harman farm, and later fell back to the Fairfield Road, and then moved north to form on the left rear of the Iron Brigade. One of Biddle’s regiments was drawn off to act as a reserve and the remaining three supported the four guns of Breck’s battery, with the 142^nd on the right of the line. They were attacked on the front and flanked on the left by elements of Pettigrew’s brigade and forced back, with Breck’s guns pulling back, to defend Seminary Ridge, forming a line west of Seminary Lane, with other remnants of the 1^st Corps between the Chambersburg Pike and Fairfield Road. Here they faced South Carolinians of Perrin’s brigade, who eventually flanked their line again, forcing them to pull back behind the Seminary and join the retreat. Their Colonel was mortally wounded in the fighting. The Lt. Colonel reported he could gather only 80 men on the night of July 1. The survivors were in supporting position on July 2 and on July 3, the remnants of the 142^nd were posted in support of Stannard’s Vermonters in the repulse of Pickett’s Charge.

Turner was positively listed as killed in action on July 1, but his body, like many lying on the first day’s field, was not identified by Union burial crews, and he was certainly interred among the unknown, leaving behind this badge as his only memorial.  [sr][ph:L]

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