SECOND RHODE ISLAND AND G.A.R. VETERAN’S BADGES OF JOSEPH LIVSEY

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An interesting grouping from Joseph Livsey of the 2nd Rhode Island, who served from March 6, 1862, to March 6, 1865. This consists of two veteran’s badges and two photographs. One badge is missing the ribbon, but retains the top, silver, pinback suspension bar nicely engraved “J. Livsey,” and has the silver pendant drop portion in the shape of a 6th Corps badge, with suspension loop at top, engraved at top and bottom “1861 1865” and across the middle “2d R.I.V.” with some curving flourishes. The second badge is a G.A.R. badge with the US flag ribbon having light blue edges indicating a post officer, and a miniature shoulder strap rank bar in the middle position indicating a past rank, and bearing two gold oak leaves, one tarnished to silver, indicating service as a Junior Vice Post Commander, Assistant Inspector or Post Surgeon. The side of the medal is numbered “M 16808.” The numbers are not traceable, but the letter prefix would be initial of the GAR Commander in Chief the year it was issued.

Livsey was from East Greenwich and enlisted as private in Co. A of the 2nd Rhode Island, mustering in 3/6/62. Records indicate he was hospitalized from 8/10/62 to 3/15/63 and later detailed to Brigade Headquarter in November 1864 and on detached duty in the Middle Military Department 12/15/64 to 2/15/65, mustering out 3/6/65. The originally organized in 1861 and  had fought at Bull Run, losing the well-known Major Sullivan Ballou. After Livsey joined it they  fought on the Peninsula in summer 1862 and his hospitalization may come from that service. He returned in time for its service in the 6th Corps, taking part in the fighting at Fredericksburg during the Chancellorsville campaign. The regiment was at Gettysburg, but like most of the corps, largely in support positions, but began to see heavy action in Grant’s spring-1864 campaign against Richmond and Petersburg, and in July moved to drive Early out of Maryland, away from Washington and into the Shenandoah, where it fought at Winchester on September 19 and then formed part of that town’s garrison until December when it returned to the Army of the Potomac at Petersburg, with fighting at Hatcher’s Run in December and February, while Livsey was still on its rolls, and then at Fort Fisher and Fort Stedman on March 25, the final assault on Petersburg April 2, and Sailor’s Creek April 6, having lost 111 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and many more wounded or maimed in service.

The 1870 census picks him up in East Greenwich as working at a cotton mill, in 1880 he is listed as an engineer, but unemployed for the preceding twelve months. In 1885 he is listed as a “color maker,” perhaps connected with the cotton mills. The two photographs with the medals show in one case some uniformed soldiers of the Rhode Island Militia in the 1890s, with an “R.I.M.” pennant on their tent, and another image about 1895 to 1905 of a unformed bandsman with a French horn. We note also a brass horn in the tent scene. One of these is labeled simply “pa” in the reverse, and the other “Joseph H. Livsey / Grandpa.” The latter would then be Civil War veteran Joseph Livsey’s son, Joseph H. Livsey, born about 1855 and the other, Joseph H. Livsey’s son. We note a Livsey Band showing up in period newspapers with a Mr. Livsey mentioned as a cornett player. The elder Joseph Livsey is listed as born in England and his son in the U.S., indicating the elder Livsey immigrated some time prior to that.

The Second Rhode Island is a very good regiment. It would not be improper to replace the ribbon on the silver regimental badge with one of the proper color. Some further digging would likely turn up more information on his wartime service and G.A.R. history. The regimental badge and G.A.R. badge make a very nice pairing.  [sr] [ph:m]

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