Some More On Private Levi Schlegel's Ring

From the April 10, 2013 Reading (Pa) Eagle "Berks & Beyond."

The ring was found by relic-hunter John Blue.  Over his thirty years of digging, he has found a lot of items, but this 2005 find was the first time he was able to track down the original owner's family. 

He found it while looking at a Virginia construction site.  "When you have a metal detector in your car, and you pass a construction site, you stop,' he said.  Thankfully he did or the ring would most likely have been lost forever.

The ring read on the outside "Levi Schlegel, Co. G, 198th  P.V.".  The P.V. stood for Pennsylvania Volunteers.

A Virginia geneaologist helped him find Ernie Schlegel, descendant and library trustee at the Reading Library.

Levi Schlegel was a carpenter by trade.

Some Almost Lost History.  Thanks Mr. Blue.  --Old Secesh

Civil War Ring Returned-- Part 4: Private Schlegel's Ring

In the final months of the war, the 198th Pennsylvania saw a lot of action.  They fought hand-to-hand at the Battle of Hatcher's Run.  Then they fought at Quaker Road, White Oak Ridge, Five Forks.  They lost officers Major Charles J. Meceum and captains George W, Mulfrey and Isaac Schroeder.

After lee's surrender, the unit marched through Fredericksburg on May 9, 1865.  This is where Private Levi Schlegel parted with the ring for some reason.  They then continued on to Washington, DC and then took the train  to Philadelphia and were mustered out of service June 12, 1865.

Schlegel came home to Reading, married and had eleven children.  He died at age 91 in 1932 and is buried alongside his wife at the 167-year-old Charles Evans Cemetery.

One of Those Little Stories That make the War So Interesting.  --Old Secesh

Civil War Ring Returned: Private Schlegel's Ring-- Part 3: Identifying Yourself

By the time Private Schlegel's new regiment got to the front lines, it was a time of trench warfare.

Identity rings like his were one of several ways soldiers used to identify themselves in case they were killed.  Their name, company and regiment would be etched on the outside and was probably worn on the pinky finger.  Soldiers could also wear identity discs around their necks, much more like today's dogtags.

Private Schlegel's appears to be made of silver.

Some soldiers simply wrote their names on a piece of paper that they pinned to their uniforms.

Considering the large numbers of unidentified soldiers buried on both sides, especially after battles, identification was a major issue during the war.

Old Secesh