Ralph A

Crown reverse:

Reverse:

Crown:

With Crown:

MM's

Reverse:

Thank you! Per request: (One of these I acquired from Mike Dunn)

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Interesting thread. What say you as to equivalents of the Prussian Military Merit Cross?

Don't listen to them. Hang one of these from it:

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Ah, Sea Lawyers... Waddell was convincing when he played "Jackson at New Orleans." The difference is, Jackson was on the winning side! Imagine what might have happened to Old Hickory had the British been triumphant. The dispatches available to the Carolinian at sea stated that Richmond was abandoned but the government was removed to Danville. Given this, he chose to fight on. Later, a British ship tendered the word of the surrender. Here's a piece I dragged off a website: "THE SHENANDOAH - The steamer Shenandoah has been handed over to the United States Consul, and will be sent to New York. Her captain and crew were unconditionally discharged. Captain Waddel, in his letter to Earl Russel, which is published says:- "In obedience orders I found myself in the Arctic and Okhotsk seas, far from ordinary channels of commerce, and in consequence of this awkward circumstance was engaged in acts of war until th 28th June. I wass ignorant of the reverse suffered by the Confederates, and the total obliteration of the Government under which I acted. I received the first news of the downfall of the Confederates on the 2nd of August, from the British barque Baracohts(?), and desisted immediately from acts of war till I could communicate with European ports, and learn if the news was true. I could not have been sensible that the tales told by the American ships were true. but merely upon the statement of the British captain. I diligently sought for precedent in law for guidance and the future control and final disposal of the vessel, but found none." Finding the authority questionable under which he acted, he ceased cruising and shaped his course for the Atlantic. He did not feel justified in destoying vessels, but, on the contrary, thought the ship should revert to the American Government. He therefore sought Liverpool to learn the news, and, if without foundation, to surrender the ship, with guns, stores, aadn apparel complete to the British government, for such disposition as it should deem proper. The Shenandoah was surrendered to the American Consul on the 10th who took formal possession, and placed her under Captain Freeman and a crew of his own selection, to convoy the ship to New York. - May 1866." Waddell stayed in England until 1875. The Treaty of Washington (The "Alabama" Claims) had been signed in 1871 (?) There's a clue. Back home, general amnestys were the order of the day. He had a good lawyer, and some luck. Also, he was a North Carolinian, like me.... We get free passes, from time to time. The thing is, you want them to think you're just smart enough to get out the door in the morning...

Excellent question. Is this signed by Forstner?

Ah, the Baden 109th. My "favorite" regiment. Thanks for showing these.

Sure. I can take some more. This piece really blows back my hair. Too bad there's no story to go with it... I did get it from an impeccable source, who also said "who knows..." and paid a price one might suspect for an EK2 and original ribbon... and a couple pieces of authentic SS Bevo weave cufftitle! The ring is done nicely - pulled into an oval from both ends, instead of squeezed in the middle. Also, the "patina" to the ribbon is such that it seems that it has been through the loop for many years. I'm in the clothing bizz a long time and I know how long it takes to make wrinkles and folds permanent in cellulose-based fabrics. Those silk ties weren't made yesterday either. So, some hints and clues - a possibility... a buy I feel good about, and welcome in my collection. It's just soooo cooool.

Note that cross is reversed.

Or this. The gauntlet has been thrown down, gents. Bring it on.

Top this.

Let's see some top-drawer stuff. No Party Day or May Day badges, etc. Rare Earth only.

3/3 Thanks for looking. Close up shots available upon request/vetting.

2/3

...cased.

I think I did, Don; but if not then I apologize. I'd love to have you over sometime. Call me at the office. 800-262-5660, ext. 9119. You can't be more then 20 miles away! By the way, this piece IS from W?rttemberg, right? Thanks. - RMA

Do Baden next.

I thought I'd try to get one of everything in this book.