This veteran’s badge uses a Spencer in white metal on a flat gilt brass pin back bar, from which hangs a wide red swallowtail flag with a pair of crossed sabers in white metal pinned to it. It follows the lines of the corps badge adopted by Wilson’s Cavalry Corps in June 1865, and in using the red flag the maker may be following Wilson’s desire to have the badges reflect the red flag of the entire corps, or the maker may be falling back on the more conventional method of indicating division by color rather than Wilson’s more complicated system, perhaps as a cost-cutting measure.

The corps made its reputation in March and April 1865 as Wilson led three divisions, numbering something over 10,000 men, all or many armed with Spencer carbines on a raid into Alabama and Georgia. The main target was Selma, with an arsenal, powder mill, gun making facilities, railroad repair shop, etc., but they destroyed various iron works along the way, skirmishing off and on and defeating Forrest at Montevallo and Ebenezer Church, and finally at Selma. From there Wilson moved on to Montgomery and into Georgia, with engagements at West Point and Columbus, eventually taking Macon just a week before Johnston’s surrender. [sr] [ph:m]

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