Description
Service medal awarded to Private John Bloom of the 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The state of Ohio authorized Tiffany & Company of New York to provide 20,000 medals to recognize those soldiers from Ohio who re-enlisted from the state under War Department General Orders, No. 191, which called for “Veteran Volunteers.” These were soldiers who completed their tour of duty and then signed up for further duty as a Veteran Volunteer. The medals were distributed in the summer of 1866 and are engraved with the name and unit as is this one. John would muster with Company K in December of 1861 and would serve through July, 1865. The 73rd was one hell of a regiment and saw considerable service during their term. They would be engaged in nearly 30 battles and skirmishes including some of the bloodiest of the war. Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca and a slew of others. The reverse of the medal reads “The State of Ohio to Jno Bloom Veteran Co. K 73’d Regt Ohio Volunteer Inf”. This one is missing the ribbon which they often times are. There is some wear to it, so he must have worn it quite a bit. Nice medal from a really hard fought unit!
