A light blue silk reunion ribbon produced for the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, honoring the service of the 149th New York Volunteer Infantry of Greene's Brigade. Manufactured by The Whitehead & Hoag Co. of Newark, New Jersey, among the foremost badge and ribbon makers of the late nineteenth century.

The ribbon hangs from a gold-toned celluloid top bar embossed with a pair of crossed U.S. national colors over stacked arms and marked along the lower edge "PAT. W. & H. CO. — NEWARK, N.J." The blue silk body is printed in gold with "GREEN'S BRIGADE" above a large white five-pointed star, followed by "149TH. N.Y.V.," a scroll device, and "GETTYSBURG 1863. 1893." A full skirt of heavy gold bullion fringe finishes the lower edge. The reverse retains the original printed Whitehead & Hoag patent panel citing patents dated 1888 through 1893, consistent with manufacture for the 1893 ceremonies.

Note that the ribbon is engraved "GREEN'S," dropping the final e from the name of the brigade's commander, Brig. Gen. George Sears Greene — a common period spelling variant, present as-made and not a fault of the piece.

The 149th New York — the "Fourth Onondaga Regiment," raised at Syracuse — served in Greene's Brigade, Geary's Division, XII Corps. On the evening of July 2 and into July 3, 1863, Greene's brigade held Culp's Hill against repeated Confederate assaults, famously maintaining its line after much of the corps had been drawn off to reinforce the Union left. It was here that the regiment's Color Sergeant, William C. Lilly, repaired the shattered flagstaff under fire — one of the most celebrated acts of the battle. This ribbon was carried at the great New York reunion and monument dedications held on the field in July 1893.

Condition: Repaired. The silk shows period piecing and backing at horizontal breaks, some toning, and softening to portions of the gold lettering, with light soiling to the celluloid bar. An honest, displayable example of a scarce regimental reunion ribbon tied to one of Gettysburg's most storied units.  [ss][ph:L]

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