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2ND PA CAVALRY VETERAN’S IDENTIFICATION SHIELD

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The badge is brass, made in the shield shape popular for identification pins during war and is pierced at the top for suspension. The face had the outline of a billowing banner or pennant engraved at left edge, flowing down and to the right. The veteran’s name is stamped at top and bottom: THEO. / STECK. His unit is stamped on the banner: 2 PA. CAV. Steck was born in 1845 and mustered into Co. M of the 2^nd PA Cavalry as a private on 7/1/1863 listing his age as 18 and his occupation as a painter. In joining this unit he followed his older brother, Samuel L.C. Steck who enlisted in the same company 10/1/61 and served as both Sergeant and the Chief Bugler of the regiment. Theodore seems to have been born in 1845 and lived until 1923. His older brother, born about 1843, passed away in 1923.

We summarize the regiment’s history from “The Union Army:” It had organized in the Fall and Winter of 1861, with the various companies reaching Washington by April 1862, where the men were mounted and drilled. The regiment joined the Army of Virginia in time to take part in Pope’s Virginia Campaign, seeing skirmish activity and with one squadron taking part in the Battle of Second Bull Run. It took part in various scouts and reconnaissance expeditions thereafter, losing 2 killed and 10 wounded chasing Stuart to near Warrenton in the Fall, and suffered serious losses, more than 100 in killed, wounded and missing in a surprise attack by Wade Hampton in December while serving in the Military District and then the Department of Washington. It joined the Army of the Potomac in June 1863, in time for the Gettysburg Campaign, during which the younger Steck joined it and during which at first they were assigned to Meade’s headquarters and involved mostly in provost duty, gathering stragglers, escorting prisoners, and in the pursuit of Lee.

It was engaged at White Sulphur springs in October and on the 19th moved to Fairfax Station, where it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, Cavalry corps. On Oct. 21, it moved towards the Rappahannock and Mine Run, was active at Beverly ford and Rappahannock crossing and again at Bealeton. From this time on during the campaign it was constantly engaged in skirmishing and scouting, and on Nov. 29, at Parker's store, fought with great gallantry, losing 35 men. In December it shared in the raid on Luray, and then went into winter quarters at Warrenton.

It took an active part in the Spring 1864 campaign, fighting in 16 engagements, including  Wilderness, Todd's tavern, Haw's shop and Trevilian Station, rejoining the army front of Petersburg and fighting at Deep Bottom, Charles City Crossroads, Malvern Hill, and Reams Station, taking significant casualties and being reduced in strength to about 200, and seeing more fighting at Wyatt's Farm, Boydton Plank Road, McDowell's Hill and Five Forks, and was present at Appomattox. After the Grand Review in May 1865, it was consolidated with the 20^th PA Cavalry on June 17 to form the 1st PA provisional cavalry, finally mustering out at Cloud's Mills, Va., July 13, 1865, both Steck brothers among them. The 2^nd PA cavalry listed 52 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded (plus wounded who survived,) which is a fairly heavy loss for a cavalry unit.

The badge is in very good condition, showing just minor stains. It is a nice veteran’s badge following the wartime identification badges that were usually silver. It is on an old cord, but was likely originally suspended from a pinback top bar. We note that CWData lists a Theodore Steck in Co. A of the 10^th US Infantry, but with no service dates. The pension index indicates no other units for him, however, and there can be confusion of the last name with “Stack,” etc. The 1880 picks him up as a laborer, but by 1900 he was in real estate and insurance.  [sr][ph:L]

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