Civil War Veterans GAR Encampment Medal, Boston, 1904

This is another nice item being offered, this is a souvenir GAR medal. It measures 2 ¼” x 1 ¼” and has a bar on the top with “SOUVENIR”, suspended below that is the medal in a wreath with “38^th / 1904, National Encampment / August 15, Boston”. In the center is “Grand Army of the Republic, Veteran 1861 – 1866”. The back of the medal has a makers mark.

A local Boston newspaper stated: “Commander in Chief John C. Black of the Grand Army today assumed command of the grand encampment. A conservative estimate of the people in this city on account of the encampment places the number at 100,000, with the likelihood of another 100.000 for the G. A. R. parade tomorrow”.

This medal is in excellent condition and was no doubt proudly worn by a Civil War veteran well over 100 years ago.