These Civil War officer’s shoulder straps are the Smith patent variety, using stamped metallic borders and insignia imitating embroidered bullion, but far more robust. This pair rate good for condition, showing wear, but complete, with no bends, cracks or breaks to the frames and the silvered eagle rank insignia of a Colonel still pinned in place. Both have the infantry light blue center in place with the fabric showing stains, mostly on the left of one strap and right of the other, both being the front edge of the strap when worn with the eagle facing forward. Both of the eagles show some dark stains but retain a good amount of their silver finish. The borders show the groups of false embroidered dead and bright bullion, with wire edging along the inside and outside, showing some original gilt, but mostly a mix of muted brass, some slightly gray and some dark stains. The fabric shows just one small hole near the eagle’s beak on one strap. Both have their dark blue backing in place, showing some slight wear to the corners, but generally very good and with the pins undisturbed.

These come with a letter and envelope from  George R. Latham at Buckhannon, WV, dated Sept. 15, 1864, addressed to a Thomas S. Eichbaum in Alleghany City, PA, letting him know he has just consented to take command of the 17^th WV, noting that the 5^th and 6^th, referring to the 5^th and 6^th WV cavalry “are about being consolidated & Col Scott expects to command only a battalion…” He also notes that he is on “an electioneering tour for Congress.”

These straps appear to have been in an envelope with two notes on the back: “this is for John” and “this is for Frank.” These look like they may have been applied to the straps or two different sets of straps. The front of the envelope reads, “March 10, 1912 / Grandpa gave me / his first shoulder straps he / wore in war as 2d lieut [??] / 1862.” We may be misreading the rank or the writer may have been unfamiliar with Civil War rank insignia. Latham, in any case, seems to have entered service as a Captain, and since the straps remained together it looks like John or Frank got the better end of the deal, retaining grandpa’s Colonel’s straps.

Born near Haymarket, VA, in 1832, Latham was a lawyer and newspaper publisher before the war. He settled in Grafton, Taylor County, Virginia, where he commanded a local militia company, leading it to Wheeling to join the Union army after Virginia seceded and mustering in as Captain of Co. B of the 2^nd West Virginia Infantry on Aug. 28, 1861. He was promoted Colonel of the regiment on May 24, 1862. The regiment took part in numerous skirmishes in 1861 and in May 1862 fought at Elk Water, followed by fights at Cheat Mountain, Monterrey, and Bull Pasture Mountain under Milroy, followed by battles at Cross Keys and Port Republic, and at Cedar Mountain and Second Bull Run, where by one report Latham had several horses shot out from under him. In April 1863 they fought Imboden’s troops at Beverly, took part in various expeditions during the remainder of the year, and were mounted in January 1864, being redesignated the 5^th West Virginia Cavalry, who then served with Crook in the attack on the Virginian and Tennessee Railroad at Cloyd’s Mountain and later with Hunter’s expedition to Lynchburg.

Latham never got chance to command the 17^th West Virginia. His military career teetered on the brink of disaster in late November 1864 at New Creek, WV, where a small fort guarded the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Latham commanded combined elements of the 5^th and 6^th WV Cavalry, who were eventually consolidated, along with an artillery and an infantry detachment in the area when Confederate cavalry general Thomas Rosser penetrated Latham’s camp with a column of cavalry in Federal uniforms and then launched a devastating attack that captured a large amount of supplies and some 700 prisoners.

Latham was placed under arrest, “for permitting the garrison at New Creek to be surprised by the enemy on the 28th ultimo. . .” and later tried by court martial for, "neglect of duty, disobedience of orders, and conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline." He was found guilty and ordered dismissed from the service, but the dismissal was revoked, he was returned to duty, and he was honorably discharged at his own request, to date March 9, 1865. His political campaigning in the meantime had paid off, winning election as a US Representative from West Virginia, serving from 1865-1867, so it would seem his military career did not hurt his political career, or perhaps it was rather vice versa. He later served as US Consul at Melbourne, Australia, and returned to West Virginia in 1870, where he held various civic offices. He died in Buckhannon in 1917.

This is scarce set of straps- there would be only one Colonel for thirty-some line officers in an infantry unit. They are also Smith patent, and belonged to an officer with an interesting record connected with a militarily and politically complex area of the war.  [sr][ph:L]

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