Civil War Medals, Pins and Insignia
The highest honor a soldier can receive today is the Congressional Medal of Honor. This medal has its roots in Union Army of the Civil War. President Lincoln himself commissioned the Medal of Honor in an order signed into law July 12th, 1862 and was intended to be presented to privates and non-commissioned officers who gallantly distinguished themselves in their performance of their soldierly duties. This Medal of Honor was ordered for the duration of the Civil War only and was soon to be handed out rather freely. The Congressional Medal of Honor that replaced this medal and is awarded to soldiers and sailors, officer and enlisted alike and has different and higher standers for bravery and gallantry in action.
The Confederate States of America, or CSA, army didn't hand out a lot of medals during the war, probably as a result of their financial situation. The South was having enough difficulties supplying arms and ammunition. The individual states often had medals and ribbons for their armies and militia. After the war was over there were several medals given to Confederate Civil War veterans.
Of course both the Union and Confederate armies and navies had the various uniform insignia common to the branch of service, specialized departments within the branch and the rank of the soldiers and sailors themselves. The Civil War Relics pages right here at our Civil-War-Costumes.com store offers these medals, ribbons, and insignia. And at affordable prices too.
