Star Taken from Confederate Maj. with Original Letter and CDV from Union Doctor

This fascinating Civil War artifact includes a remnant of a letter, a CDV photograph, a handwritten note, and a star insignia taken from the collar of a Confederate officer by Union contract surgeon Dr. William B. Ceary. Ceary served as a civilian Acting Assistant Surgeon with the 4th Indiana Heavy Artillery and the 4th U.S. Artillery, Companies U and M. The photograph included is one of only seven known images of Dr. Ceary, adding significant historical and collector value.
The star was taken from the uniform of Lieutenant Colonel Caleb A. Whaley, commander of the 2nd Georgia Cavalry (Cobb’s Legion), who was mortally wounded—likely at Stanford, Kentucky—and presumably treated by Dr. Ceary. In his letter, Ceary described Whaley as "a large fine man and an accomplished gentleman (only he was a rebel)," noting that he died on Oct. 23rd, "confessing his sins." The note accompanying the star, dated January 28, 1863, poignantly reads: “This is a rebel star off of the collar of Lt. Col. C.A. Whaley 2D Regt Ga… mortally wounded at Stanford last fall… has gone to his long honor, Murfreesboro, Tenn.”
The letter also references Division Surgeon Dr. A.J. Phelps requesting Indiana Governor E.P. Morton to commission Dr. Ceary as an official Army surgeon, a recognition of his service and capability. Tragically, Ceary would not live to see the war’s end—he died on January 20, 1865. Together, these items provide a powerful window into the personal and professional lives of those caught in the conflict, capturing both the humanity and brutality of the American Civil War.
 
"Whaley was commanding four companies of the 2nd Georgia under Wheeler after Lawton's resignation and the breakup of the Regiment. On 14 October, however, Whaley was wounded near Stanford and died there on 22 October. 62 Since Wharton was at Stanford on the 14th and Wheeler was well north at Lancaster, it seems likely that the two elements of the 2nd Georgia were reunited in Wharton's brigade prior to the 14th. Very likely, Whaley became the regimental commander at this time.
It is not clear how Whaley was wounded, but there were two Federal accounts that a Confederate lieutenant colonel was found mortally wounded in Stanford this day. This officer was almost certainly Maj. Whaley. It is possible that his rank was either misread or misreported. It is also possible, if indeed he had been put in command of the regiment, that Whaley was wearing the insignia of a lieutenant colonel. It should also be noted that, in his report of the campaign, Wheeler reported that the cavalry dead included "...field and company officers of every grade except that of colonel...," lending further evidence that the dead officer at Stanford was not a colonel, but Major Whaley, From the record it is clear that Whaley was wounded outside of Stanford, brought back to the town, and left there when Wharton retreated down the Wilderness Road. Union or Confederate, commanders usually tried to take their wounded with them when they moved. Whaley may have been left in the hope that the advancing Federals could give him quicker medical attention. The fighting had commenced about mid-morning when McCook's cavalry struck advance elements of Wharton's cavalry at Hawkins Branch. Since records show that Whaley was wounded near but not in Stanford, it was probably here that he fell. 4 The 2nd Georgia held its ground against the Federal cavalry here, but fell back on Wharton's main body when Wood's Infantry Division arrived on the scene." - Cracker Cavaliers : the 2nd Georgia Cavalry under Wheeler and Forrest by John Randolph Poole.