The mystery continues! Compare the medal worn by one of our Mystery Soldiers and the featured Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) medal. Are they one in the same? And if yes, what does this tell us about their military service?

Now consider the medal (below) worn by this distinguished Buffalo Solider from Company A, 25th United States Infantry Regiment. Are we looking at the same medal and if so, what does that tell us?

Questions of the day:

• Did our Soldiers serve in the Civil or Indian War? Could they have served in both?
• Are the medals worn in fact GAR medals awarded for Marksmanship?
• Would soldiers in the Civil and Indian Wars have received the same type of medal?
• When and where was the picture taken? Could it have been Fort Bayard New Mexico? Checkout the Fort Bayard “porch” featured in this 1886 image. Is this the backdrop…