Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very scarce Civil War Corps pin badge for the 137th New York Infantry Regiment, which played a pivotal role in the Battle of Gettysburg. This example could have been worn on a cap but also could’ve been worn on a shell jacket or uniform. The badge is a star and has a pin-back, reading 137th S.N.Y.. The badge measures 1⅛ x 1”.

Corps badges in the American Civil War were originally worn by soldiers of the Union Army on the top of their army forage cap (kepi), left side of the hat, or over their left breast. The idea is attributed to Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny, who ordered the men in his division to sew a two-inch square of red cloth on their hats to avoid confusion on the battlefield. This idea was adopted by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker after he assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, so any soldier could be identified at a distance.

Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield, Hooker's chief of staff, was assigned the task of designing a distinctive shape for each corps badge. Butterfield also designated that each division in the corps should have a variation of the corps badge in a different color. Division badges were colored as follows:

Red — First division of corps
White — Second division of corps
Blue — Third division of corps

These were used in the United States' Army of the Potomac.
For the most part, these rules were adopted by other Union Armies, however it was not universal. For example, the XIII Corps never adopted a badge, and the XIX Corps had the first division wear a red badge, the second division wear a blue badge, and the third division wear white.

For Army corps that had more than three divisions, the standardization was lost:

Green — Fourth division of II, III, VI, IX, and XX Corps
Yellow — Fourth division of XV Corps (reportedly Orange was also used for a 5th Division Badge)
Multicolor — Headquarters or artillery elements (certain corps)

The badges for enlisted men were cut from colored cloth, while officer's badges were privately made and of a higher quality. Metallic badges were often made by jewelers and were personalized for the user. The badges eventually became part of the Army regulations and a great source of regimental pride.

A lovely example ready for further research and display.

The 137th New York

The 137th New York Infantry was organized at Binghamton, New York beginning August 31, 1862 and mustered in for three years service on September 25, 1862 under the command of Colonel David Ireland.

The regiment was attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XII Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October 1862. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, XII Corps, October 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XII Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October 1863, and Army of the Cumberland to April 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XX Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to June 1865.

The 137th New York Infantry mustered out of service June 9, 1865. Recruits and veterans were transferred to the 102nd New York Volunteer Infantry on June 1, 1865.

Left New York for Washington, D.C., September 25, 1862. Moved to Harpers Ferry, Va., September 27–30, 1862. Duty at Bolivar Heights until December. Reconnaissance to Rippon, Va., November 9. Charlestown November 9. Reconnaissance to Winchester December 2–6. Charlestown and Berryville December 2. March to Fredericksburg, Va., December 9–16. At Fairfax Station until April 27, 1863. "Mud March" January 20–24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1–5.

Gettysburg Campaign June 11-July 24. The 137th New York played a pivotal part in the Battle of Gettysburg. It was this unit that on the night of July 2, repulsed the Confederate attack on the previously abandoned works on Culp's Hill. They were the extreme right flank of the Union lines on that night. Stretched at double interval, there were times where the unit was taking fire from three sides.

Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5–24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until September. Movement to Bridgeport, Ala., September 24-October 4. Reopening Tennessee River October 26–29. Battle of Wauhatchie, Tenn., October 28–29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23–27. Lookout Mountain November 23–24. Missionary Ridge November 25. Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge, November 27. Duty at Bridgeport until May 1864. Atlanta Campaign May 1-September 8. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8–11. Battle of Resaca May 14–15. Near Cassville May 19. Advance on Dallas May 22–25. New Hope Church May 25. Battles about Dallas, New Hope Church, and Allatoona Hills May 26-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11–14, Lost Mountain June 15–17. Gilgal or Golgotha Church June 15. Muddy Creek June 17. Noyes' Creek June 19. Kolb's Farm June 22. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5–17. Peachtree Creek July 19–20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Operations at Chattahoochie River Bridge August 26-September 2. Occupation of Atlanta September 2-November 15. Expedition to Tuckum's Cross Roads October 26–29. Near Atlanta November 9. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Near Davisboro November 28. Siege of Savannah December 10–21. Carolinas Campaign January to April 1865. Averysboro, N.C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19–21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 9–13. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review of the Armies May 24.