Civil War Brass Stencil of an Illinois soldier, fought at Stones River (SOLD)

This is another nice item being offered, it is a brass soldier's stencil marked “A. M. Ferguson”. He enlisted as a Corporal on August 25, 1862 in Company G of the 89^th Illinois Infantry and was discharged for disability on March 8, 1863. It measures 2 ¾” x 1 ¼”. While in the service for only four months, he took an active part in the horrendous battle of Stones River Tennessee, where the 89^th showed their gallant conduct and the men soon became classified among the old, tried soldiers. The regiment lost during service 12 Officers and 121 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 1 Officer and 172 Enlisted men by disease – a total 306 casualties.

Soldiers would acquire these stencils either sent to them from home or purchased from the camp sutler. They served a dual purpose – identifying their clothes and equipment and also as the modern day “dog tag”. There were many incidents during the war where these stencils were the only means of identifying a casualty.

It comes in the glass top display case pictured along with the Historical Data System records on Ferguson. I have similar soldier’s stencils in my book “The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items” (see pictures). This would make a great addition to any Civil War collection.