Union Veteran Legion 10th Encampment, Buffallo

[irishrebel]

Hi

 

I had originally posted a thread in the new registrations section, but i think this might be the correct forum to post to.

 

I recently came into possession on a 10th Encampment UVL medal which now belongs to my Dad !!!!...anyway, as a big Civil War Buff (we travelled in june from Ireland to Gettysburg so he couldwalk the battlefield) my Dad had a few questions about the UVL and the medal and if anyone could offer some help that would be very much appreciated

 

Thanks

Questions

1) Were these medals only issued to surviving veterans or would family members have been issued these medals also

 

2) Where or how were the medals presented, were they presented to the veteran locaaly in his own town or on the battlefields or at the encampment

 

3) How did you become a member or join the UVL

 

4) Are these medals rare

 

If you want to see a picture of the medal, i uploaded one to the original post in the new members forum

 

Thanks all

 

 

[SARGE]

The Union Veterans Legion (UVL) is one of those organizations that were eclipsed by the larger Civil War Veterans organizations like the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and the Union Veterans Union (UVU). This page of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War website may be of interest to you.

 

http://www.suvcw.org/?page_id=108

 

The page described the history of Augustus Plummer Davis who was a driver of the GAR, SUV, and the UVL formations. It details how these competing organizations struggled over the identity of the Union Veteran of the Civil War and notes he was a founder of the UVL.

 

1. These are membership badges so they would not be worn by sons of veterans.

2. The membership badges were presented to the member when he gained membership.

3. One had to be a Union CW Veteran to join.

4. They are not common simply because the membership was smaller than say the GAR.

 

Here is a thread on the UVL.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8484-union-veteran-legion/

[KevinBeyer]

Irishrebel, (If that IS your real name,... ...)

 

The Union Veterans Legion (UVL) was formed by veterans of the U.S. Civil War as pointed out by SARGE. Just like the larger and more well known veterans group, The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), the UVL held annual reunions for its members. The object to which you refer (I can't see a picture in either this post, or the other you mentioned) is a reunion badge from what I surmise might be the Oct 16,1895, reunion held in Buffalo, New York. Badges such as these would be issued to the veterans who attended the reunion and worn by the veterans throughout the reunion weekend. The badge companies that made them would include a card that touted these pieces as mementos that would last the test of time, a keepsake used for remembrances of times spent with comrades.

 

Regarding the rarity of these reunion badges, they are not necessarily easy to find. There are people who have collected them for years and I don't know of anyone who has put together a complete collection. Surprisingly, though, their scarcity does not equate to large monetary value. The collectors tend to seek out the National Encampment badges of the G.A.R. which are more intricate in design ($100-$250 in 2014 dollars). If you're looking for a fun hobby to share with your father, collecting UVL reunion badges would be the perfect thing. But, keep in mind, you may never find them all! (And, I hope the other UVL collectors aren't mad at me if you do start collecting!)

 

Kevin