A hollow-stamped, die-struck, brass badge in the inverted-shield form with scalloped edges typical of firemen’s badges, measuring 1-1/2” wide by 2” tall. This has a raised flat edge with small five-pointed stars in relief, and a finely stippled ground. At top in raised Old English script letters is “PFZ” and at bottom in slightly smaller letters “PSM.” A separately applied brass letter E is secured at the center by four pins passing through the badge and bent over on the reverse, which is fitted with a long, hinged pin and fastening hook. This has no bends or breaks and has a mellow bronze tone with some muted gold, slightly lighter along the lower edges from handling.

The “PFZ” stands for Philadelphia Fire Zouaves and the “PSM” for Pennsylvania State Militia. At the beginning of the Civil War the Philadelphia Fire Zouaves were recruited among Philadelphia’s fire companies, men renowned for their energy and bravery in entering burning buildings, and adopted zouave dress to match their reputation for dash and daring. They were among several regiments given a California sponsorship and designation at the urging of Oregon senator E.D. Baker and titled the 3^rd California. After Baker’s death at Ball’s Bluff in October 1861 they were redesignated the 72^nd Pennsylvania under that state’s quota, but were still often referred to as “Baxter’s Fire Zouaves” in honor of their Colonel, DeWitt Clinton Baxter. They saw active military service 1861-1864, seeing action on the Peninsula in 1862, followed by Antietam, where they took heavy losses. At Gettysburg in 1863 they were posted in the Union center, where they saw fighting on July 2 and on July 3 were at the apex of Pickett’s Charge. They took part in Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign, mustering out only in June 1864, having lost some 210 officers and men in killed or mortally wounded alone during their service. They reorganized in 1867 as an independent militia unit under their old Colonel, used their old title, and again adopted zouave dress, with the organization functioning until 1873.  [sr] [ph:L]

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