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COLLECTION OF ITEMS BOTH WARTIME AND VETERAN IDENTIFIED TO 8TH IOWA INFANTRY OFFICER

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This lot consists of item identified to Lieutenant Spencer Smith of Company A, 8^th Iowa Infantry.

Smith was born in Ogle County, Illinois on January 14, 1839 and relocated to Iowa with his family in 1845.

On August 12, 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Company A, 8^th Iowa Infantry. He was captured at Shiloh on April 6, 1862 and paroled. He was promoted to sergeant December 1, 1862 and took part in the Vicksburg Campaign during which he was commissioned a 2^nd lieutenant June 1, 1863. He was slightly wounded in the left shoulder at Spanish Fort, Alabama on April 8, 1865 and was promoted to 1^st lieutenant on April 13, 1865.

After the close of the war Smith was detailed to the Freedman’s Bureau at Opelika and Tuskegee, Alabama before being discharged on April 20, 1866.

The 8^th Iowa saw action at Shiloh, Corinth, Jackson, Vicksburg, Pleasant Hill, Memphis and Spanish Fort.

After the war Smith returned home where he purchased 90 acres and took up farming and was active in local politics. He married in 1870 and raised three children.

Spencer smith died on January 29, 1920 and is buried in Big Grove Cemetery, Benton County, Iowa.

The grouping contains the embroidered infantry hunting horn insignia from Smith’s forage cap or slouch hat. The insignia is a bullion hunting horn embroidered on a black felt oval that is outlined with dead bullion. At center of the horn is a flat white metal numeral “8.” Insignia is in excellent condition and meas. approx. 3.50 x 2.00 inches.

Also present is one of Smith’s single boarder 1^st lieutenants should straps in excellent condition. The bullion thread is in nice condition as is the royal blue rank field.

The group also contains what looks to be a hand decorated and handwritten business card that reads “LIEUT. SPENECER SMITH, CO. A. 8^TH IOWA US.” Also present are five three-piece staff officer buttons complete with shanks and “WATERBURY BUTTON CO.” back marks.

The grouping also contains a large yellow ribbon approx. 8.75 inches long for the 7^th annual reunion of the 8^th Iowa Infantry in September of 1889 and a woven cloth souvenir ribbon of the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Lastly, the group contains ten reunion ribbons and badges for the Benton County Veterans Association. All are in fair to good condition.   [ad] [ph:L]

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