Captain's commission signed by Gov. Curtin of Pennsylvania for William Geary as captain of Co. A 109th Regiment, Infantry -- Pennsylvania Volunteers, dated 2/3/64, along with his shoulder straps and two cloth 2nd Division 12/20th Army Corps.

Geary was a resident of Phildelphia when he enlisted in the 109th Pennsylvania on 3/10/62. He received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in Co. A 10/31/62 and as Captain of Co. I 12/1/63. He was transferred to Co. B of the 11t1th Pennsylvania on 3/31/65 and was mustered out of that regiment 4/8/65.

The 109th PA served in the 2nd Corps Army of Virginia, 12th Corps Army of the Potomac, and 12/20th Corps Department and Army of the Ohio and Cumberland. They suffered 3 officers and 61 men killed or mortally wounded during their service. They saw action at Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Dallas, Pine Knob, Kennesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek. They were consolidated with the 111th Pennsylvania at the end of the war.

At Gettysburg the regiment fought in the area of Culps Hill and was in action for six hours. Geary was present on the field: his name appears on the panel for the 109th on the PA monument. I include a photo of the panel showing it.

The commission has separation lines along the vertical fold and wear on the horizontal folds. All text, printed and handwritten is clear, red seal at upper left intact. Geary's captain's straps measure about 1 1/4 by 3 7/8, with a light blue wool background and single bullion and jacqueron wire borders. The straps show some dirt and tarnish to the gilding, but are not "zinced out." The white cloth stars measure about 1 1/2 inches across and are slightly different from each other in cut and material. One has wear and loose threads, the other looks never used.

This group came out several years ago from a paper dealer in Pennsylvania, went into a collection and is now coming out again. There are tons of bogus cloth corps badges out there. It is nice to see real ones.

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