GAR Annual Reunion Badge - 131st PA Regiment - Lewisburg PA - 1903 - celluloid

Description

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I consider this a very rare
GAR
badge because of the combination of items which comprise the badge.
It is commemorating the
SEPTEMBER 17, 1903
Annual Reunion of the
131st Regiment
of
the
Pennsylvania Volunteers
who served in the
CIVIL WAR.
The reunion was held in
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
The annular top metal part depicts various Union soldiers at encampment, two on horseback.
The printing is clear and readily decipherable.
From this top part is suspended a blue ribbon having thereon the language which describes
the event. The gold lettering is clear and readily decipherable as well. The badge maker is
The Whitehead & Hoag Co
. of Newark, NJ.
The part which makes this very rare is the celluloid which suspends from the blue ribbon.
It is of a standing Native American man below which is the wording:
ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM  SUB LIBERATE QUIETAM
which is Latin for - -
UNDER quiet calmly sword on LIBERATE
- -.
The phrase is often loosely translated into English as
"
By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty
." This phrase and the standing man are the coat of arms
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and flags showing this symbol were carried by various Massachusetts Regiments during
the
CIVIL WAR.
It would appear that the 131st adopted this significant symbol for use with its own Regiment badge.
The 131st participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, the Burnside "Mud March" and the very costly battle of Chancellorsville.