This ribbon is from the "33rd Annual Ex-Prisoners of War Encampment” referring to the annual meeting of the National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War, held in September 1905 in Denver. The association was comprised of Civil War veterans who had been held as prisoners. This encampment would have been a gathering of these veterans to share stories, remember their experiences, and support one another.

The ribbon measures 2” x 5.5” with black printing. It is in good condition with a very slight hole on the outer border of the Andersonville graphic.  There is typical and expected fraying along the bottom edge, which has been prevented from continuing by a commercial label placed on the reverse.  The label reads “The Whitehead & Hoag Co. … NEWARK, N. J.” and lists details of the company and further commercial offerings.  The top of the badge is folded over a vertical pin and is labeled by the manufacturer in blank ink. No major staining or dirt is noted, just two very small areas where the darker gold color of the reverse appears to have been woven into the lighter yellow fabric of the front.

An accompanying note ties this ribbon to Charles F. Hopkins.  He enlisted at Trenton, NJ on June 10^th, 1861, as a 19-year-old Private and mustered into Company I of the 1^st New Jersey Infantry.  His military service was marked by hardship.  He was promoted to Corporal on New Years Day of ‘62, then demoted back to Private in March of ’63.  In late June of 1862, he was wounded in the hand at Gaines’ Mill and captured – only to be released the same day.  In the terror of The Wilderness in 1864, he was again captured.  By May 22^nd, he had been shipped to Andersonville where he would stay in misery through September 14^th.  He finished his captivity in Florence, South Carolina, eventually being discharged back in Trenton on April 21^st, 1865. He lived a long life, dying in 1934 in Boonton, New jersey.  His grave is located in Boonton’s Greenwood Cemetery.

A fascinating and haunting link to one of the Civil War’s most brutal chapters.  A sure feature of any collection of veteran items.  [cm][ph:L]

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