Item is a two-piece silver medal with a drop in the shape of a 19^th Corps badge suspended from silver riband at top.

The riband has a finely chased border with a sunburst at top center. The face of the riband is engraved with “114 N. Y. V.” Reverse has a working “T” bar pin.

Drop is plain on the front but for serrated edges and a very fine linear pattern decoration. Reverse of the drop is engraved with “1^st LT. C. J. BIGGS.” Medal meas. 1.50 x 1.00 inch.

Item is in excellent condition with a nice light patina.

Charles J. Biggs was 34 years old when he enlisted as a private in Company C, 114^th New York at Norwich on August 12, 1862. He rose through the ranks to corporal, sergeant and sergeant major before being commissioned a 1^st lieutenant in Company I on January 20 1865. He was mustered out at Washington, D.C. on June 8, 1865.

The 114^th New York served in the defenses of Washington from July to November of 1862 before being transferred to the 19^th Corps in the Department of the Gulf. They remained there until August of 1864 when they were transferred to the Army of the Shenandoah. While in Louisiana the regiment saw action at Fort Bisland, Port Hudson, Brashear City, Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill and Mensura. After moving to Virginia, they were engaged at Opequan, Winchester and Cedar Creek suffering heavily losing 43 killed, 254 wounded and 14 captured in the last two named actions.

The short biography of Lieutenant Biggs found in the regimental history is worth quoting in full;

“THE SUBJECT OF THIS SKETCH WAS BORN IN BRISTOL, ENGLAND, NOVEMBER 14, 1826, OF ISSAC AND SARAH BIGGS. HIS ADVENT TO THIS COUNTRY WAS SOMEWHAT SINGULAR, HAVING BEEN SHIPWRECKED INTO QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, IN A VOYAGE FROM BARBADOES, WEST INDIES TO NOVA SCOTIA… HE AFTERWARDS EMIGRATED TO CALIFORNIA, VIA CAPE HORN, BUT RETURNED IN 1854 VIA PANAMA. HE CAME TO CHENANGO IN THE SAME YEAR. HE ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE IN COMPANY C, AUGUST 12, 1862 WAS APPOINTED CORPORAL, THEN SERGEANT AND OCTOBER 1, 1863, SERGEANT-MAJOR. HE WAS MUSTERED ON HIS COMMISSION AS FIRST LIEUTENANT, DECEMBER 9, 1864, AND ASSIGNED TO COMPANY I. HE PARTICIPATED IN ALL THE ENGAGEMENTS OF HIS REGIMENT, AND WAS SLIGHTLY WOUNDED AT BISLAND AND PORT HUDSON. HE WAS KNOWN AS A CLEAN AND PROMPT SOLDIER, AND AS AN OFFICER DISCHARGED HIS DUTIES WITH FIDELITY. HE SERVED IN THE BRITISH ARMY NINE YEARS AND A HALF, AS SECOND AND FIRST LIEUTENANT, AND WAS WOUNDED IN ONE OF THE ENGAGEMENTS IN THE CRIMEA.”

An attractive little badge with an interesting history. [ad] [ph:L]

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