c. 1862 Civil War Union Soldier’s Brass Identification Disc Dog Tag belonging to Private Lawson E. Barber of Company H, 14th Vermont Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Minimal wear with significant remaining original Gilt, Choice About New.
This Identification Disk measures about 1” across, the center of its face is decorated with a sharply detailed Bust of General McClellan’s side profile, surrounded by text reading “Major General Geo. B. McClellan - War of 1861”. The reverse is inscribed, “Lawson E. Barber - Co. H, 14th VT Vols. - To Annetta - Mt. Holly, VT.” The upper half of the inscription refers to the owner’s name and assigned unit, while the bottom seemingly identifies a woman (possibly his wife) whom Barber wished to notify in the event of his death. Lawson Barber was born in Ira, Vermont and enlisted in the United States Army on September 10, 1862 at age 24, joining the 14th Vermont Volunteer Infantry. Its only combat was at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. In the months following the Battle of Gettysburg, the 14th Vermont mustered out of service. Later, Barber reenlisted in the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery Regiment on December 19, 1863. He mustered out of active service on July 25, 1865.

The 14th Vermont Infantry Regiment was a nine months' infantry regiment in the Union Army active from October 21, 1862 to July 30, 1863. The regiment was assigned to the Defenses of Washington for most of its lifespan, only joining the Army of the Potomac on June 25, 1863. It participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, where the Vermonters distinguished themselves by capturing hundreds of Virginians in the wake of Pickett’s Charge. The 14th mustered out of service on July 30, 1863, whereupon dozens of its newly discharged members like Lawson Barber joined other Vermont regiments. The regiment lost 1 officer and 26 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 43 enlisted men to disease for a total of 70.

The 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery Regiment, formerly the 11th Vermont Infantry Regiment until its redesignation in December 1862, primarily performed guard duties with its companies garrisoned around several different forts during the Civil War. Various elements of the 1st were engaged in the Battles of Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Jerusalem Plank Road during the Overland Campaign. At the latter, 267 men of the 1st and 140 from the 4th Vermont were captured and taken to the infamous Andersonville prison where 232 of them died. Other elements participated in the Battles of Fort Stevens, Charlestown, Winchester Fishers Hill September 22nd and Ceder Creek October 19th in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. The regiment lost during service 10 officers and 154 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 officers and 410 enlisted men by disease for a total of 576.

Provenance: Identification Discs of Union Soldiers in the Civil War by Larry B. Maier and Joseph W. Stahl. United States Department of the Interior Pension Records, 1874-1899. National Park Service, nps.gov
1st Vermont Heavy Artillery saw extensive fighting from May 1864 onward.



This regiment (originally the 11th Vermont Infantry, redesignated 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery on December 10, 1862) spent late 1863 on garrison duty in the Defenses of Washington and didn't see combat again until it joined the Army of the Potomac in the field in May 1864. Its engagements after December 19, 1863 were ...

1864 Overland Campaign & Petersburg:

" Spotsylvania Court House, May 15-21

" North Anna River, May 23-26

" Totopotomoy, May 28-31

" Cold Harbor, June 1-12

" Before Petersburg, June 17-July 9, and Jerusalem Plank Road, June 22-23

Defense of Washington & Shenandoah Valley:

" Repulse of Jubal Early's attack on Fort Stevens, July 11-12

" Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, August 7-November 28, including:

o Near Charlestown, August 21-22

o Opequan (Third Winchester), September 19

o Fisher's Hill, September 22

o Cedar Creek, October 19

Final Petersburg/Appomattox operations, 1865:

Siege of Petersburg, December 13, 1864 to April 2, 1865, including Fort Fisher, Petersburg, March 25, 1865

" Appomattox Campaign, March 28-April 9, and the assault on and fall of Petersburg, April 2

The regiment was Vermont's largest, and it paid a steep price for this later service - it lost 10 officers and 154 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded during its service, much of that from the Overland Campaign onward, with old members mustering out in June 1865 and the remainder in August 1865.


[Civil War, Union Army, Vermont] [Battle of Gettysburg, George McClellan, Andersonville Prison] [Identification Discs, Militaria, Numismatics]