[Civil War] Woolsey, Charles W. Identified Army of the Potomac Headquarters Badge

Extremely Rare Army of the Potomac "Headquarters" Badge, Presented to Brevet Lt. Col. Charles Woolsey

No place, ca. May 12, 1863 or later. Silver Army of the Potomac Headquarters badge, presented to Brevet Lt. Col. Charles Woolsey. Silver eagle mounted to blue glass within silver laurel wreath, fastened to later American flag ribbon and brass triple chain-link bar suspension. Engraved on verso, "Bvt. Lt. Colonel & A.D.C. Charles W. Woolsey Hd. Qrs. Army of the Potomac". Soldered pin and hook to verso. Silver lightly tarnished.

An extremely rare survival, a silver "Headquarters" badge presented to Bvt. Lt. Col. Charles W. Woolsey (1840-1907).

Woolsey enlisted in the 164th New York Infantry in November of 1862, where he became a close friend of Adjutant General of the Army of the Potomac, Seth Williams. Invited by Williams to become a member of his staff, in this capacity, Woolsey often worked closely with Generals McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, and Meade, and was part of several war meetings with President Lincoln.

On May 12, 1863, General Seth Williams issued an order from his camp near Falmouth, Virginia that "the officers of the staff on duty at these headquarters shall wear a badge according to pattern in the assistant adjutant-general's office..." While an official specification for this badge has not been located, period photographs show that similar "headquarters" badges were worn by staff members of other Union generals, such as George D. Ruggles and George G. Meade.

This very medal was profiled in a 2025 issue of the Journal of the Orders and Medals Society America.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.