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BEAUTIFUL GOLD PAST POST COMMANDER’S BADGE OF WILLIAM L. HARROD, 32nd OHIO

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This beautiful G.A.R. badge was presented in 1905 to William Levi Harrod who had served throughout the war in the 32^nd Ohio. He enlisted in July 1861, was captured at Atlanta in late July 1864 and imprisoned at Andersonville until late September, but was exchanged, returned to the regiment, received a commission as First Lieutenant Nov. 26, 1864, and continued to serve and fight with the regiment until they mustered out in July 1865. The regiment was extremely active, serving first in the eastern theatre, was captured in the surrender of Harpers Ferry in 1862 and after exchange in January 1863 served in the 17^th Army Corps. A summary history of the company in the regimental history credits them with an impressive 94 engagements during the war and mentions Harrod as one of their two lieutenants, “who rose from the ranks of the company, knew how to treat soldiers as men and not as subordinates unworthy of their serious consideration.”

The badge is four-piece, with gold pin-back eagle top bar with the pin in place and gold, brass and blue enamel planchet in the form of a G.A.R. star with a presentation professionally engraved on the reverse: “Presented to/ W. L. HARROD / by / J.M. Wells Post No. 151 G.A.R. / Jan. 6. 1905.” Suspended in the middle of the badge is miniature triple-border shoulder strap with an applied silver eagle on a black ground, its position indicating a past office and the eagle in this case, given the presentation, likely indicating he had been the post commander. Suspended from the center of the miniature shoulder strap and hanging just above the star is an enameled green arrow symbolizing the 32^nd Ohio’s membership in the 4^th Division of the 17^th Army Corps from July 1864 to its muster out in July 1865.

Harrod was born in Ohio August 14, 1832. The 1850 census shows him in Hardin County, living on a farm with his parents and seven siblings, though there may have been more. He married in December 1857, in 1860 was running a sawmill in Knox County, and enlisted there at age 26 on July 20, 1861, mustering into Co. D of the 32^nd Ohio as a Sergeant on August 31. An 1881 county history sums up his military career as follows: “The company left Camp Dennison September, 1861, for Cheat mountain, Virginia.  He participated in the battles of GreenBriar, McDowell, and in the skirmishes of the Virginia valley, and in the battle of Cross Keyes. He was in the battle of and surrender of Harper's Ferry, and paroled on the field, and was subsequently exchanged at Cleveland, Ohio.  His regiment was sent to Vicksburg[h], where he participated in the fight at Champion Hills and the Vicksburg[h] campaign.  He then veteranized in 1863, and joined Sherman's army. July 22, 1864, he was taken prisoner at Atlanta and sent to that famed prison, Andersonville, where he was kept until Sept. 22, 1864, when, fortunately, he was exchanged.  During 1864 and 1865 he participated in all the various campaigns and marches in Sherman's army, and was at the surrender of Johnson's army.  He was first lieutenant of his company the last seven months, thus serving his country faithfully and honestly for four eventful years, never losing a day except when a prisoner.” Records confirm that outline, with the regiment fighting in Louisiana, Mississippi- including Vicksburg- the Meridian Campaign, the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, the Campaign of the Carolinas, etc., and show that after his exchange and return to the regiment he was promoted 1^st Lieutenant Nov. 26 and mustered out with the regiment on July 20,1865, at Louisville. The regiment lost 5 officers and 99 enlisted men just in killed or mortally wounded.

After his return home he continued in business as a sawyer until 1880 when he moved to Centerburg, Knox County, and became a hotel proprietor. In 1889 he applied for an invalid pension and by 1890 was living in Columbus, the location of the J.M. Wells G.A.R. Post. Given the presentation of the badge in 1905, he likely held office in 1904. He passed away at home in Columbus in December 1908 and was interred at Brandon, Knox County, Ohio.

This is an impressive badge worn by a G.A.R. officer with an impressive wartime record. The condition is excellent, with nice, bright color overall, no chipping to the enamel portions and just scattered age spotting recesses of the star.  [sr] [ph:L]

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