Description
Superb personal Commander in Chief badge belonging to Thaddeus Clarkson of Illinois. Born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus first mustered as a private in Smith’s Independent Illinois Light Artillery in April, 1861. He received promotions to corporal on May 2, 1861, and to sergeant on July 16, 1861 before mustering out with the battery on the same date. The battery was next reorganized and Thaddeuse re-enlisted the same day as a private in the 1st Illinois Light Artillery and mustered out November 27, 1861. Clarkson subsequently transferred to the 13th Illinois Cavalry in December, 1861, to accept a commission as a first lieutenant, where he was assigned to serve as adjutant for the regiment and was then appointed to the staff of Brigadier General John W. Davidson. Discharged for a promotion to major in December, 1863, he transferred into the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry, a regiment he helped raise and then commanded until the end of the war. He mustered out of the service on September 10, 1864. Thaddeus became active with the G.A.R., serving as Commander of the Department of Nebraska in 1890, Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R. in 1892, and finally as Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R. from 1896 to 1897. This badge dates to his final year serving as Commander in Chief and is from the 1897 Buffalo reunion. The front side of the medallion is stamped, “COMMANDER IN CHIEF G.A.R., T. S. CLARKSON”. This one is in wonderful condition as well.
