19th Massachusetts Vets. Badge, Attributed to Corporal George E. Teele

[cylekostello]

Following up on my Pickett's Division badge. Here's something from one of the Yanks who forced them back.

Pictured is a regimental badge for the 19th Massachusetts Infantry belonging to George E. Teele of Companies H and I.

This badge belonged to George Eldbridge Teele. It was part of a pair, the other was a 2nd corps badge with Teele's name, that were sadly split. Luckily I have a photo of the two badges together as well as a description of the other badge. Teele's dog tag and a different badge (same style, different engraving and with an eagle hanger) sold at Cowan's a while back.

George Teele enlisted into the 5th Mass. Infy. on April 1 1861 at the tender age of 18. But he would be discharged for disability before their trial by fire at Bull Run.

Despite his disability discharge Teele was determined to serve, enlisting in the newly formed 19th on August 28th 1861. Teele's first taste of combat came on the Peninsula where the 19th would lose heavily. Especially at Glendale, taking 28 killed, 75 wounded and 59 missing. Teele and the 19th also fought at it Antietam where the regiment would suffer horrendous casualties in the West Woods. After the bloodbath at Antietam the 19th would fight at Fredericksburg, both in December of 1862 and May of 1863 as part of Hooker's feint. At Second Fredericksburg Private Teele volunteered to cross the river with 20 other men and clear out the town. It was for this act of bravery that Teele was promoted Corporal.

Unfortunately soon after his promotion Corp Teele fell ill. Teele spent a brief stint at the General Hospital in Washington before rejoining his regiment on June 25th, the very day the AotP marched North to check the rebel invasion of Pennsylvania.

Thanks to their performance on the Peninsula, Antietam and Fredericksburg Teele's regiment was fast developing a reputation as one of the crack regiments of the Army. They would solidify this reputation at Gettysburg. On July 2nd the 19th, alongside the 42nd NY rushed to fill the gap left by the broken III Corps, checking the rebel advance before pulling back to the Copse of Trees on Cemetery Hill. July 3rd would be the regiment's real test. After an earth shattering bombardment Pickett's men got underway. Surging forth the rebels broke a gap in the Union line. Responding to this growing crisis Col. Arthur Devereux ordered the Teele's and the 19th into the melee. In brutal hand to hand fighting the 19th would suffer 50% casualties but they would blunt the rebel advance and capture 4 standards from Pickett's men.

Miraculously Teele survived Gettysburg unscathed. The much reduced 19th would continue to serve with the II Corps through the Overland Campaign. Where they would suffer heavily at the Wilderness and the first days fighting at Spotsylvania. After three years of brutal fighting Corporal Teele would decline to re-enlist. Mustering out August 8 1864. The 19th would go on to fight all the way to Appomattox, firmly establishing itself as one of the crack regiments of the war.

Post war Teele would live a wonderful life. He married Eliza Connors and had three children. All of whom, near as I can tell, lived to adulthood. It was clearly a happy marriage as The Boston Globe ran a small announcement on the 50th anniversary of their wedding. Teele ran a successful hardware business and even served as Post President of GAR Post 81 (Isaac B. Patten) in Watertown. Teele would pass away in 1923 after a life well lived.

[mdk0911]

beautiful badge and great write up!!