The obverse of this tag is totally obliterated but the reverse is still readable.

There is moderate loss to the edges of the disc which wiped away all but the last two letters in the soldiers last name which are “AY.”

The rest of the tag reads “CO. A 163 REG - WAR OF 1861 - N. Y.S.V.” with “NEW YORK” along the bottom edge.

A search of the roster of Company A, 163^rd New York turns up four men whose names end with the letters “AY.” All four are named Murray and all four were mustered in on October 10, 1862, three were from Brooklyn and one from New York City. They are:

Private James Murray who left the regiment on January 18, 1863 to serve with the 73^rd New York.

Private Joseph Murray who deserted from camp at Arlington Heights on October 15, 1862.

Sergeant Michael Murray who left the regiment on January 18, 1863 to serve in the 73^rd New York. He eventually made 1^st Sergeant.

Sergeant Robert Murray who left the regiment on January 18, 1863 to serve in the 73^rd New York.

The 163^rd New York was assigned to the Defenses of Washington until November of 1862 when it was transferred to the 3^rd Corps of the Army of the Potomac seeing action at Snicker’s Gap and Fredericksburg where they suffered 42 casualties. When the regiment was consolidated with the 73^rd New York in January of 1863.

The 73^rd New York (also known as the 4^th Regiment Excelsior Brigade) served with the 3^rd Corps at Gettysburg where they were heavily engaged. They were then sent to the 2^nd Corps where they remained for the duration of the war.  [ad] [ph:L]

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