CARVED CIVIL WAR WALKING STICK

This carved walking stick was created by Louis Thompson of the 58th NYSV infantry regiment, and carved in 1896 Wed. The 26th. Where to start, there is so much on the stick OK its just under 37” long and at the top grip just over 1” thick. Don’t know the wood but its close grain wood. Just past Thompson’s name in raised letters just like his name is In God We Trust then Birds of a feather will ft. He ran out of room to finish his thought. All the various army core badges are shown along with a GAR medal and what I think is a Soldiers and Sailers veteran group medal, one of the early veteran groups. He must have been a fireman after the war as there is an early fireman’s insignia with Rescue in raised letters above it. There are more symbols and dated shields that we will never know what they stand for. This walking stick is almost completely covered with something.I bought this at an auction in 2003 just because I liked it. not something that I could display with my German stuff. Condition very good ++++