Brass disc pendant with original bail. Obverse features a Christian cross with the legend "Christian Soldier's League / 185. N.Y.V.". Reverse legend reads: "Pledged to be Faithful to God & to Each Other."

An exceedingly scarce religious pendant or medal issued by the Christian Soldier’s League, an organization created by the soldiers of the 185th New York Infantry.

An account of 185th New York Infantry's founding of the Christian Soldier's League is recorded in a letter sent from "Camp near Petersburg" on 25 October 1864 to the editor of the Syracuse Journal (and other newspapers): "At a meeting held last evening at the quarters of Co. K, pursuant to notice, it was unanimously agreed that we, members of the 185th Regiment, N. Y. Vols... unite to form a society which shall be known as The Christian Soldiers' League, by which we bind ourselves in an act of solemn worship to be faithful to God and each other—to watch over and pray with and for each other." They further avowed to banish gambling and "religiously abstain ourselves from all games of chance."

One the group's primary duties was to record the deaths of their fellow soldiers and give notice to their families.

We found no other examples of this fascinating relic of an independent religious organization founded by Civil War soldiers.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Tokens, Medals, Numismatics, Coins, Religious History, Christian History, Ephemera]