This group consists of two matching infantry Lieutenant Colonel’s shoulder straps and a single full Colonel’s strap of John H. Patrick of the 5^th Ohio Infantry, who served as Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment from April 1861 to August 1862, when he was promoted to Colonel, commanding the regiment at Cedar Mountain, Gettysburg and the pursuit of Lee, and then in its western campaigning as part of the 12^th and 20^th Corps, where it fought at Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and other engagements, then taking  part in the Atlanta Campaign in Spring 1864, during which Patrick was killed in action at New Hope Church at the end of May.

Patrick’s straps are in good condition, showing use, some fading to the light blue, infantry, ground in their centers and some soiling, some small moth nips, but no bends or breaks to the Smith patent false embroidered gilt brass borders or the silvered metallic false-embroidered rank insignia- oak leaves on the Lieutenant Colonel’s straps and a spreadwinged eagle with U.S. shield on its chest on the Colonel’s straps. One of the Lt. Colonel’s straps shows some thin verdigris on one edge. The Colonel’s strap shows some in the recesses of the borders. Both borders and insignia, though, generally show a mellow aged tone, with some of the raised portions of the eagle showing a bit lighter from rubbing. The Colonel’s strap shows some wear to the front and back edges of the backing. All retain their original Smith patent paper labels. The Colonel’s strap shows the June 1861 patent date and dealer address: “JAS. S. SMITH / PATENT,/ JUNE 18, 1861/ 15 DUTCH STREET / NEW YORK.” The Lieutenant Colonel straps use an even scarcer, earlier version used by Smith in anticipation of his patent, with a premature date: “JAS. S. SMITH / PATENT / MAY, 1861.” Please see our photographs to fully gauge the condition, color, etc. of the straps. For those unfamiliar with the Smith patent, we add a note at the end.

John Halliday Patrick was born in Scotland in 1820, emigrated to the U.S. in 1848, and was a tailor in Cincinnati when the wear began. He was commissioned Lt. Colonel of the 5^th Ohio to date April 20, 1861, the date of its official organization as three-month regiment. It mustered in for that term on May 8, but under the call for three-year regiments reorganized on June 21, with most of the men, including Patrick, reenlisting for that term.

The regiment served first in western Virginia, campaigning and taking part is small actions at French Creek and near Romney through 1861 and early 1862, then facing Jackson in the Valley Campaign with more serious losses at Kernstown (47 casualties) and Port Republic (244, many captured while covering the retreat.) They joined Pope’s Army of Virginia in June. Patrick was promoted Colonel on August 2, and commanded the regiment at Cedar Mountain, where it lost 14 officers and 95 men out of about 300 engaged. He was not at Antietam or Chancellorsville, but in command again at Gettysburg where the regiment, part of the 12^th Corps, was posted on the north side of Little Round Top late on July 1, then moved to Culp’s Hill on July 2 where was it was engaged in the fighting of the morning of July 3, losing 2 killed and 16 wounded.

After taking part in the pursuit of Lee and being posted to New York in the draft riots, the regiment was transferred in the Fall to the western theatre in the wake of the defeat at Chickamauga, continuing to serve as part of the 12^th Corps in the Army of the Cumberland until April 1864 when it was amalgamated with the 11^th Corps, which had transferred west with it, forming the new 20^th Corps. Dyer’s Compendium includes the following summary of their western service: “moved to Bridgeport, Ala., September 24-October 3. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Battle of Wauhatchie October 28-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Lookout Mountain November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge, November 27. Scout to Caperton's Ferry March 31-April 2, 1864. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1-September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Face Ridge May 8-11. Dug Gap or Mill Creek May 8. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Cassville May 19. New Hope Church May 25.” The Official Records contains Patrick’s reports for Cedar Mountain, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and the early stages of the Atlanta Campaign.

New Hope Church was an ill-fated attempt by Sherman to once again flank Johnston out of a position blocking the approach to Atlanta. The 20^th Corps, however, leading the advance, found their opponents in their way, well entrenched, and prepared. Patrick was struck and killed by an artillery shell in the attack. His body was returned to Cincinnati, lay in state in the City Council Chambers, and was interred on Sunday June 19 with “imposing honors.”

Patrick’s choice of Smith patent shoulder straps rather than conventional cloth, embroidered bullion straps is a testimony to his active field service. They were popular, robust insignia, using hollow gilt brass frames stamped to imitate embroidered bullion for the borders, even imitating alternating bands of dead and bright bullion along with a jaceron wire border. These had short pins on the reverse to secure the backing and colored center panels indicating the branch of service and holding the rank insignia, likewise of stamped metal to imitate embroidered bullion and secured with pins. These were less expensive and faster to make, the essential pieces being interchangeable and the branch color and rank easily created or changed. They were also more durable than actual bullion embroidery that was subject to unraveling or snagging on something, and much easier for the owner to keep bright by simple polishing of the brass, as Smith pointed out in his patent application.

This is a very good, identified set, belonging to an officer with active service in both the eastern and western theatres of the war who paid the ultimate price while leading his men forward into battle in a strategically significant campaign.  [sr][ph:L]

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