Before we get into the incredible history of Grant's career 1861-1864 included on this 1-5/16x1.5" brass badge, we note that the 3/8" oval ferrotype at center is a manufacturer's error picturing not U.S. Grant but rather William Grant, a beef contractor. The same error image occurred several times including its use on the cover of Harper's Weekly March 8, 1862. We've included a photo of U.S. Grant (with hat) as Brigadier General that is nearly identical to the error photo on this badge to show how easily the error occurred. That aside, this is an amazing badge detailing Grant's Civil War career from 1861 to 1864 and issued just prior to Lincoln advancing Grant to Lieutenant General March 2, 1864. The badge has a flat brass back with bit of silver flashing remaining and with a horizontal bar pin. The front is an embossed brass oval accented by four shield designs on the rim, a spread wing eagle above and a cannon with stack of cannon balls below. The center ferro has a separate oval brass rope border in turn surrounded by oval text "Gen. Grant The Hero Of The West." To the left and right are a total of 12 oval simulated medallions, each inscribed, although the first at upper left is weakly struck and illegible but meant to document Grant's first Civil War action, the seizure of Paducah, Ky Sept. 5, 1861. Likewise, the top medallion on the right is unclear, but all other ten medallions are readable as follow: "Belmont Nov. 7./Fort Henry Feb. 6 '62/Fort Donelson Feb. 16/Shiloh Apr. 7./Corinth May. 29." On the right beginning at the top the first medallion is lightly struck and indistinct. The following five read as follow: "Champion Hill May. 16. 63/Vicksburg July 4./Chattanooga Oct. 29./Chickamauga Nov. 26" and the final one reading within a circle of stars "1864." Some gray tone is off the ferrotype on the left and right background areas but the facial image remains completely clear. The lower right of the front brass plate has a very slight depression. Clean surfaces. Includes Ford's notated paper envelope and labeled plastic holder from Stacks Bowers auction Sept. 19-20, 2013. Formerly in the collections of F.C.C. Boyd and Wayte Raymond prior to Ford. Only example known to us. Rare.