"US military detective"

[Igor73]

what organisation used this badge during ACW?

[rogue]

Re: "US military detective"

Igor,
Kak dela?
This is a very "period" looking piece, and I have never seen its like.
What size is it, and if you have the piece at hand, what is the back like?
Nice! Thank you for sharing.
S.Sullivan

[Igor73]

Re: "US military detective"

Igor,
Kak dela?

horosho! :)
so - back side of the badge:



dimensions are: 1 5/16" x 1 9/16"

this item is from one of the on-line auctions (not E-bay!)

[Hank Trent]

Re: "US military detective"

dimensions are: 1 5/16" x 1 9/16"

this item is from one of the on-line auctions (not E-bay!)

Since no one else has replied with information, maybe this will help jump-start the discussion, from this site:

57150 Extremely Rare, Historically Important Civil War Period Silver Shield Shaped Badge with T-bar Pin Back Inscribed in Shaded Block Letters "U. S./ Military/ Detective". The forerunner of the US Secret Service, US Military Detectives served primarily under the direction of Col. Lafayette C. Baker and, in addition to being charged with enforcement of the draft and arresting deserters, were also tasked with investigating acts within the army such as payroll thefts and murders. US Military Detectives investigated the fire at the Colt Armory and were involved with the pursuit of Booth and his co-conspirators. It was US Military Detectives who arrested Dr. Samuel Mudd. The protection of the President was a duty alternately assumed by US Military Detectives and the Pinkerton Agency. 1 5/16" X 1 9/16" in perfect untouched/ uncleaned condition. The name "Winnett" is neatly scratched in block letters on the back. One of the rarest of all US law enforcement badges and an important Civil War artifact steeped in intrigue and romance.Sold for: $5,377.50.

Also, unconnected to this particular artifact, from http://www.archive.org/stream/finalr...6unit_djvu.txt :

Establishing offices at 217 Pennsylvania Avenue, in close proximity
to both the White House and the War Department, Baker began
gathering recruits and organizing his unit. Operating without official
status, the group was generally referred to as the Secret Service
Bureau. Its personnel, known only to Baker in terms of number and
complete identity, bore no credentials other than a small silver badge.^^
Secretly commissioned as a colonel. Baker initially represented him-
self, when absolutely necessary, as an agent of the War Department.
Later, he publicly cited his military rank and held the title of
Provost-Marshal.

The footnote system in the above article is too oddball for me to figure out where the "^^" leads, but I think it's a footnote to a source.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Igor73]

Re: "US military detective"

Thanks a lot!