These medals were authorized by the State of Ohio specifically for veteran volunteers - those soldiers from the state who had reenlisted for an additional term of service during the war. Some 20,000 were ordered from Tiffany and seem to have been distributed in the summer of 1866 either by mail or in person at Columbus. (The Tiffany name appears in small, raised letters on the lower edge of the reverse.) The medals were accompanied by a letter from the state Adjutant General describing the reason for the award and the figures portrayed on the medal:

“Sir:

This medal is presented to you in accordance with the following Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of Olio, as a slight testimonial of the high appreciation by the State of your devoted patriotism in entering upon a second term of enlistment without any hope or expectation of largo bounties, and actuated only by the purest love of country.

None are entitled to this medal excepting those who, being already in service in Ohio regiments, re-enlisted for an additional term of three years.

‘Resolved, by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That the Governor procure, or cause to be procured, for each veteran volunteer who re-enlisted from this State under General Orders No. 191, of 1863, a bronze medal, one and one half inches in diameter, containing upon one side in bold relief, the following or some similar design, to wit: Ohio personified, crowning one of her soldiers with laurel. Emblems wheat sheaf; eagle perched on shield, bearing State arms. In the background, a steamer and tented field, springing from the wand which supports the liberty cap, a buckeye leaf.

Clasp- a plain bar on which shall be raised the buckeye and laurel; the swivel of the clasp in form of a monogram U.S. Upon the reverse side to be engraved the name of the recipient, with his regiment, battalion or battery, surrounded with a laurel wreath.

The medal to be suspended by a piece of tri-colored silk ribbon, and its artistic features. to be equal to the 'crimean medal.’"

We note the dates 1861-1865 are also rendered on the side of the platform the soldier steps up, and the top, pinback bar is decorated with floral motifs.

The reverse of this medal reads: THE STATE OF OHIO TO / Rcd. PERIGO / VETERAN / Co. G 66th REGT. / OHIO VOLUNTEER / INFT. Richard Perigo enlisted at age 40 on 10/12/1861 and mustered into Company G as a private on 12/26/1861. He was severely wounded in the left leg at Atlanta on 8/14/64, lost the leg to amputation and was discharged for wounds on  6/9/65 at Louisville, KY. Born about 1822, he had married in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1849. The 1850 census lists him as a laborer, married, with and 11-month old daughter. He did not survive the war long. His widow applied for a pension in March 1869.

The 66th Ohio mustered in for three years’ service December 17, 1861. It served in the eastern theatre until transferring west with the 12^th Corps in Fall 1863 and had enough men re-enlist to “veteranize” in December 1863. The 12^th Corps amalgamated with the 11^th to form the 20^th Army Corps in April 1864 and the regiment served thereafter officially as part of that organization.  The regiment first saw action in the Shenandoah against Jackson at Port Republic losing 109 men of the 400 engaged. At Cedar Mountain its loss was 87 killed and wounded out of 200 and fielded just 120 at Antietam as part of Tyndale’s brigade.  At Chancellorsville the regiment held a position on the right of the plank road and in front of Gen. Hooker's headquarters. At Gettysburg it fought on Culps Hill, losing 3 officers and 14 enlisted men wounded and 1 killed. Among the wounded officers was the regiment’s Major, whose wound proved fatal. Their monument at Gettysburg gives the following list of their major engagements: Port Republic June 9. 1862; Cedar Mountain; Antietam; Dumfries; Chancellorsville; Gettysburg; Lookout Mountain; Mission Ridge; Ringgold; Dug Gap, In Rocky Face; Resaca; New Hope Church; Pine Mountain; Kenesaw Mountain; Peach Tree Creek; Atlanta; Savannah. Perigo was, obviously hospitalized after his wounding at Atlanta. In addition to the March to the Sea, which led to Savannah, the regiment also took part in the Campaign of the Carolinas before mustering out July 19, 1865. The monument also lists their total enrollment as 1,334, with 117 killed, 167 died (presumably by accident or disease,) and 320 wounded. Other sources give slightly different numbers.

The condition is very good, with sharp lettering and figures and still has its ribbon, though the ribbon shows fading to the blue stripes where it was not shielded by the medal and was exposed to light. The medal also has a decidedly silver color, though these were struck in bronze, and the bronze shows in one or two small spots. It is possible the color was applied to indicate the recipient was wounded in action, but we find no mention of that as official policy in the manufacture or distribution of these medals. Please see our photographs.  [sr][ph:L]

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