Rare Andersonville "Survivor" bronze medal. [New York]: [Whitehead & Hoag Company], 1914. 2-part badge with 2-part silk ribbon. Upper bar features cannon with a drum, bugle, & flag, with legend "1864 / Survivor / 1914". Medal suspended from American flag-patterned ribbon obverse featuring illustration with legend: "Commemorating the Dedication of the New York State Monument at Andersonville, GA. / 1914". Reverse includes a relief illustration of the prison and the legend: "Presented to... / by the State of New York / in Recognition of his Heroism, Sacrifice, and Patriotism". Medal backed by azure blue silk ribbon. With original silk lined box. Approx. length 5 in.

A very scarce veteran medal presented to New York veterans and survivors of Andersonville at the 1914 dedication of the New York State monument at Andersonville, held on the 50th anniversary of the prison opening. To commemorate the monument and honor the veterans, the state of New York planned an elaborate trip and ceremony, spending $100,000 on the monument and appropriating $20,000 to pay the expenses of each survivor. (Buffalo Sunday Morning News, 10 May 1914, p. 43). The Buffalo Sunday Morning News gave a summary of the itinerary: "The veterans spent a day each in Richmond, va., Andersonville and Chattanooga and a half-day each in Dansville, Va., and Salisbury, N.C., going over the prison sites and attending ceremonies, dinners and seeing the sights,” with the Chattanooga Daily Times (1 May 1914, p. 12) noting that "sixteen steel Pullman cars composed the party's two trains."

A full and detailed description of these medals was given in the Buffalo Sunday Morning News (10 May 1914, p. 43) when reporting that three Buffalo veterans were recipients: "The bronze medals received by the survivors of Andersonville are elegantly worked out in design. On the obverse is shown the state monument with two panels in bas relief, one denoting the tablet on which are scrolled the names of the state's soldiers buried there, and the other representing Hope and Despair in supplication to Justice. Around the circular [edge] of the obverse of the medal is the inscription "Commemorating the dedication of the New York State Monument at Andersonville, Ga." The pinbar holding the medal bears a representation of cannon with inscription "Survivor." The reverse of the medal bears the inscription "Death before Dishonor," a laurel wreath around its outer circumference, a raised representation of the prison stockade, and the inscription, to cite the instance of one of the three comrades, "Presented to George W. Flynn, by the State of New York, in recognition of his heroism, sacrifice and patriotism."

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (10 May 1914, p. 27) notes that after a speech by New York Senator John F. Murtagh (described as "forcible"), "the survivors who were lined up on the field at Andersonville [received] their medals." The Daily Eagle continues with a complete list of 143 recipients reporting that "As each man was called the survivor stepped forward and his badge was pinned on his breast by one of the women detailed by Senator Palmer to perform this service..." The Daily Eagle's report was an extra-illustrated page with photographs from the day including a group portrait of the survivors and an image of the Survivor medal offered here.

In 1913, fewer than 400 survivors could be identified by the commission, and less that 150 were able to attend the trip and dedication ceremony. It is certain that fewer than 400 were struck, and possibly even fewer. This is a very fine example with ribbons in near pristine condition with original box.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Medals, Coins, Numismatics, Ribbons, GAR, Grand Army of the Republic, G.A.R., Veterans' Organizations, Reunions]