This is an excavated “WAR OF 1861” style identification tag made of pewter. The soldier named on the tag is Leonard F. Tukesbury, 11^th Massachusetts Infantry. The piece is in good condition for “dug” pewter. There is some edge loss and one side retains better finish than the other. The loop that it was suspended from is broken and no doubt the reason it was lost. The side with the battle honors is in better condition that the side with the name, but all stamping remains readable.

The front of the tag is stamped “L. F. TUKESBURY / CO. C / 11^TH REG / MASS VOL / PORTLAND ME.” The reverse lists the battles: Bull Run, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Peninsular Campaign, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg, Bull Ring (yes, that’s what it says), and Chancellorsville. Due to the unchronological order and that some are in large type and some in small type I suspect the later battles were squeezed in where space permitted.

Leonard Tukesbury was a railroad engineer from Portland, Maine and joined the “Boston Volunteers” on June 13, 1861 and became part of the 11^th Mass. Infantry. They were quickly sent to Washington, DC.  He was detailed as a wagoneer early on and mustered out as a sergeant. As part of the 3^rd Corps and later the 2^nd Corps, the regiment was engaged in every major battle with the Army of the Potomac. Following Chancellorsville he re-enlisted and remained with the regiment through the end of the war. He died in 1873 of Small Pox. Military and pension records are provided.   [jet]

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