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21st Massachusetts Shield Badge, ID'd to Sgt. Charles Cushing Crosby, Co. D


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cylekostello

Thought I’d share the newest addition to the Massachusetts wing. Pictured is a shield badge. Attributed, based on the three C’s, at the bottom, to Sgt. Charles C. Crosby of the 21st Massachusetts Infantry.

 

Crosby’s birthdate is a matter of some conjecture. On his recruiting papers he’s listed as 22 in 1861. While on his tombstone he’s listed as being born in 1843, which would make him 18/19 in 1861. Like a great many men North and South it seems young Crosby lied about his age in a bit of patriotic fervor.

Regardless of his age 1861 found Crosby working as a harness maker in Waltham, Massachusetts. Crosby was one of the “Minute Men of ‘61”, serving in the 3rd Massachusetts Infantry. The 3rd’s most notable action it’s brief term was the destruction of the Norfolk Navy Yard. Beyond this the 3rd remained at Fortress Monroe. Seeing little action and losing few men, save those lost to the sweltering summer.

 

The 3rd mustered out in July of 1861. Much like a great many Massachusetts men Private Crosby decided to reenlist. This time in Company D of the 21st Massachusetts. The nucleus of Company D was a militia unit called the “Washington Guard” and Co. D retained this moniker throughout it’s service with the 21st. Hence the bar atop the shield.

 

Mustering in as a corporal Crosby would see the worst of the war with this hard fighting regiment. Corporal Crosby’s first brush with combat would come in North Carolina. Where the 21st and the rest of Reno’s Brigade would see heavy fighting at Roanoke and New Berne. Their victories there gave the Union some key victories to rally behind at a grim point in the northern war effort.

After McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign crashed and burned Burnside’s corps was recalled to Virginia. Where the 21st would see hard fighting in Northern Virginia. Especially at the Battle of Chantilly, where the Massachusetts men suffered 35% casualties protecting the retreating Army of the Potomac.

 

A mere 16 days after their shellacking at Chantilly Corp. Crosby was again in combat. This time they were engaged in pitched fighting over a small stone bridge across a creek in Maryland. The “two fifty firsts” (NY & PA) carried Burnside’s Bridge and the fighting 21st Massachusetts helped check a ferocious rebel counter attack. Yet again, the 21st suffered 30% casualties.

Crosby’s much diminished regiment was again in combat at Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg was another bloody engagement for the 21st. At Fredericksburg Sgt. Thomas Plunkett of Co. E would be awarded the Medal of Honor, for keeping the state colors aloft, despite his hands being blow off by rebel gunfire.

 

Crosby and the 21st were sent to Kentucky with the rest of Burnside’s corps. However before heading west, Crosby received a promotion to Sergeant. In Kentucky the much reduced 21st served as counter insurgents and provost marshals. Though they did see some combat in the East of the state against General Longstreet.

 

After Longstreet was checked the IX Corps was recalled to the Army of the Potomac. Sgt. Crosby crossed the Rapidan with that Army. Fighting desperately to stall Longstreet’s flank attack in the Wilderness. Later fighting tooth and nail in driving rain at Spotsylvania. It was at Spotsylvania on May 12th where Sgt. Crosby was wounded in the hand.

The wound must have been quite severe as Sgt. Crosby remained in the General Hospital at Annapolis. Until September of 1864, when the much diminished 21st was consolidated with the 36th Ma. Infy. As a result Sgt. Crosby, still in hospital, was discharged as supernumerary.

 

Post war, Charles by all accounts seemed to live a good life. My digging on ancestry suggests Crosby married Ann Elizabeth Craft in 1873. And remained married until his death in 1904. Sgt. Crosby was also active in veteran’s affairs.  As he was a member of GAR Post 29, F.P.H Rogers in Waltham, Mass. Postwar Crosby would work as a watch maker at the Hampden Watch Company. Briefly relocating to Ohio but later returning to Massachusetts. Where he would die in 1903. Crosby is buried in his hometown of Waltham in a plot owned by his mother Sarah. 

 

The shield itself is rather interesting. There is the remainder of a t-bar pin on the back which suggests wartime manufacture. As the shield reads “21st Vet. Vols” it likely dates to 1864. Perhaps Crosby picked it up while on his veterans furlong after reenlisting. The bar up top that reads “Washington Guards” appears to be a post war addition, perhaps for reunions.

The shield came on a length of ribbon with a silver WC monogram. However based on the fresh holes on the ribbon it’s likely the two are not related. Also it’s impossible to wear the shield with the ribbon as the silver monogram weighs the ribbon down causing it to fall over the shield. Not to mention the fact that the bar atop the shield has a spot for a ribbon of its own. Sneaking suspicion the seller pinned it on the ribbon himself.

 

But at any rate. This is a lonely shield to a hard fighting Massachusetts regiment and a diligent soldier who served almost the entire war. Very happy to have it in my collection, hope y’all enjoy it!

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