This stamped brass artillery forage cap insignia was purchased by Greencastle collector Tom Bohon from Mrs. Ellen Shields in the late 1970’s. Tom was a regular visitor to the Shields Museum and got to know the family. Tom had often mentioned to them that if they ever wanted to sell anything he would be interested. One Saturday Mrs. Ellen Shields pulled a box with several items from under the counter and asked Tom if he was interested. Tom purchased the box which included the artillery insignia described below.

This item is a complete relic condition stamped brass crossed cannon artillery insignia. The item appears to have been crushed by the weight of people, wagons, horses, cattle or who knows what walking on it over the time it was exposed to the elements. Despite some bends and cracks the insignia is complete except for the loops that anchored it to the cap.

Ott Shields amassed one of the earliest and well known collections of Gettysburg artifacts.  In 1918, he opened a private museum that featured the “Shields Collection,” one of the few documented Gettysburg collections obtained by local families (Rosensteel; Danner; Wert; Mumper; Ziegler, etc.).  The Shields Museum closed in the 1980s and the collection was sold at auction on November 16, 1985.  Offering over 600 lots “comprised mostly of Gettysburg battlefield pick-up relics,” the auction attracted several hundred Civil War collectors, dealers, and museum buyers.

Items from the old Shields Museum of Gettysburg artifacts are highly sought after and very desirable.

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