Looks like a Civil War Sons of Veterans medal
Copypasta
The Iron Cross is the highest decorative honor known in the Order, and the only persons entitled to wear it are the Past Commanders of its several branches, who have, by faithful service, as is duly defined, entitled themselves to the distinction. Each branch is designated by its peculiar ribbon attached to the Decoration. The Gold Cross and Gold Star are more intended as presentation decorations to be bestowed upon certain officers who may, “by special adherence and devotion to the principles and objects of the Order, the exercise of particular discretion and vigilance in the discharge of their duties, coupled with long and faithful service in the Order, merit some special reward. ” The whole matter of wearing any and all of the decorative honors named is under a carefully arranged system in the hands of the proper legislative bodies of the Order, who pass upon and decide each individual case as it is duly presented to them.
The SUVCW was founded by Major Augustus P. Davis in December 1881 to ensure the preservation of principles of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and to provide assistance to veterans.[1] It is based on the principles of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty.
In July 1877, Davis made his first proposal for an organization of sons of GAR members to General Alexander Hayes Post 3 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The members rejected his idea, but Davis was persistent. He brought it up at least three times during the next four years and personally started a young boys' drum and bugle corps. Post members rejected that as well. Finally in September 1881, the Post 3 members took a neutral position on Davis' latest proposal. They would not endorse his plan, nor would they oppose it.
Davis wanted to organize the sons of GAR members into a military-style organization whose objectives were similar to those of the GAR, and whose members would provide assistance to those in the GAR. He proposed membership to be limited to the eldest living son of a GAR member. Davis envisioned the SV as not only a fraternal, patriotic and charitable organization, but as an organized military reserve to be called upon in time of war. Members of the Sons of Veterans wore military-style uniforms and practiced tactics and drill.
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of heroes who fought and worked to save the Union. Organized in 1881 and chartered by Congress in 1954, Sons of Union veterans are the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic.
Membership in the SV peaked in 1904, when it was reported at more than 200,000. This was also the height of reconciliation celebrations of white veterans of the Civil War, as noted by the historian David Blight in his Race and Reunion. Membership dramatically declined in following years. It may have been because many of the men served in the Spanish American War and preferred to be active in the United Spanish War Veterans (USWV), founded in 1902. Also, as members of the SV were now in their 30s, they needed to devote more time to work and families. Another possible explanation is that war service had ended whatever romantic vision of military life they had.
In 1922 members changed the name to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW). Sons of veterans of the Spanish American and First World wars had tried to join, but members decided their organization should be exclusively for descendants of Union veterans of the Civil War.