This group of medals is identified to Walter W. Hyde of Company E, 62nd New York Infantry.

First in the group is Hyde’s wartime engraved silver 6th Corps badge. It meas. approx. 1.50 x 1.50 inches. Engraved in script at center is “WALTER W. HYDE / 62D COMP. E / N.Y. / VOLUNTEER.” This inscription is done in four lines. The reverse of the badge has a “T” bar pin running horizontally. The central section of the badge is clean but the edges have tarnished some.

Attached to the Corps badge is a brass oval medallion with the figure of a Zouave advancing uphill holding his bayonetted musket at the position of “CHARGE BAYONETS.” The figure is surrounded by lettering that reads “ANDERSON ZOUAVES- 1861 62nd REGT. N. Y. V. 1865.”

A thin red, white and blue striped ribbon is tied in a bow between the two medals described above.

The next medal in the group is Hyde’s GAR membership badge. It is the standard badge with spread-winged eagle at top, US flag ribbon and GAR star shaped drop. The back of the eagle has a maker’s mark of a kettle over a campfire. The original pin is present. The US flag ribbon has light surface dirt but is in good shape. The reverse of the GAR star displays all the Corps badges of the Union Army.

The last medal in the group is a New York Gettysburg Veteran medal.

Top bar reads “GETTYSBURG VETERAN” with an arch above it that reads “JULY 1-2-3” with the year “1863” between the arch and the bar. Reverse of the bar has an operating pin. Suspended from the bar is a poor condition, torn, red, white & blue ribbon approx. 2.75 inches long x 1.50 inches wide with a swallowtail bottom. Also suspended by the top bar but in front of the ribbon is a disc with the Coat of Arms of the state of New York at center. Around the edges is “DEDICATION OF STATE MONUMENT AT GETTYSBURG JULY 1, 2, 3, 1893-NEW YORK DAY.” The reverse has the New York monument from the Gettysburg National Cemetery at center surrounded by a laurel wreath and flanked by the dates “1863-1893.”

Walter W. Hyde enlisted as a Private in Company B, Anderson Zouaves in New York City on August 19, 1861. When Federalized the regiment became the 62nd New York and Hyde was transferred to Company E.

Upon joining the Army of the Potomac the regiment was assigned to the 4th Corps and saw action at Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Savages Station and Malvern Hill. In August of 1862 Hyde was assigned as a wagoner and in September his regiment was reassigned to the 6th Corps where it remained throughout the war.

The regiment next saw action at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. During the winter of 1863-1864 Hyde re-enlisted. At the time of his re-enlistment Hyde was described as being 26 years old standing 5 ft 11 ½ inches tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

Hyde was present for the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor but on July 20, 1864 he was captured by the Rebels at Snicker’s Gap. In his pension records Hyde says he slipped on a rock while crossing the Shenandoah River and badly hurt his leg. He was left behind to recover and was captured. He was held in Richmond and the hospital in Danville, Virginia until his parole on March 23, 1865. He rejoined his Company on April 19, 1865 and was mustered out in New York on August 30, 1865.

Hyde’s military records from the National Archives show a wound at the Wilderness but this is not mentioned on the muster sheet for May of 1864 and he does not mention it in his pension.

After the war he returned to New York and work as a butcher. He married and raised a family. He died in New York City on January 19, 1903.

Full military and pension records from the National Archives come with the items.

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