What’s New!
Identification Tag of H. M. AUSTIN Co. E. 5th REG. N.H.V. NEWPORT – WOUNDED 3 TIMES: FAIR OAKS, ANTIETAM, & PETERSBURG
“THEY HAD THEIR SLEEVES ROLLED UP AND THEIR HANDS AND ARMS WERE ALL BLOODY, AND LOOKED LIKE A LOT OF BUTCHERS.” -A 3rd Corps Hospital description at Gettysburg
Great World War II 96th Bomber Group Insignia… Actually Cut Out of a Flight Jacket!
Here is another WWII Flight Jacket Patch – Not Sure What Unit… Can you Identify?
Out of a Union Soldiers Scrapbook – A Small Piece of Confederate Soldiers Letter with a Nice Period Ink I.D. Attached
56th North Carolina Letter from George B. Dewese (Killed in Action at Globe Tavern, Va.) – Dewese Writing from “Camp Badger, N.C., Sept. 28th, 1862” Talks about Fighting Off the Enemy Blockading Vessels
Wonderful Confederate General’s Letter to His Wife: “Head Qrs. Mississippi Brigade Leesburg, Va. Dec. 17, 1861” – Richard Griffith: “The ‘sober second thoughts’ of the down trodden, heavy taxed and oppressed people of the North must cause a reaction and ere long compel peace measures to be adopted. As long as the enemy remain in the field under arms, we must be prepared to meet them, and propositions for peace must come from the other side; and honorable terms must be submitted or they cannot obtain a hearing. Would that this war could now cease!”
Out of a Johnson’s Island POW Album: Two Drawings by John A. Bergin (30th Alabama) – One of the U.S. Military Prison & the Other of the U.S. Gunboat Michigan which Played a Key Role in the “Lake Erie Conspiracy” Plot to Free Confederate Soldiers
Complete Lock from a Tyler, Texas Rifle Along with the Book Tyler, Texas CSA
Original Civil War Sailor Art Drawn by George H. Rogers of the USS’ ‘Adela’ – Presented in the Winter of 1863 to his friend James W. Browning
Solid Gold ID Pin “DRUM MAJOR, E. D. CLARRAGE, 1ST MASS. HEAVY ARTILLERY”, Complete with Pin & Safety Chain/Pin
ID Disc from the Famous 83rd Regt. Pa. Volunteers – Highest Death Count of all Union Regiments. Joseph R. Borland, Wounded 6/27/62 at Gaines’ Mill. A Year Later He Fought at Gettysburg, and His Name is on the Monument
Letter from H.L.D. Lewis to General Robert E. Lee. Lewis Served in Stuart’s Cavalry as a Currier While in the Sixth Virginia Cavalry
Magnificent Hand Drawn Picture of Johnson’s Island Prisoner of War Camp for Confederate Officers – Drawn by Topographical Engineer G. W. Melvin of the 9th Louisiana Regiment
Private E. G. Russell of the 5th South Carolina Infantry Describes his Living Conditions in Moultrie House in Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island, April 30th, 1861 – 4 Pages in Ink Written on Confederate Patriotic Stationery (7 Star Flag) With Original Envelope
Early War Letter from Col. Sullivan Amory Meredith (Later Brigadier General) Writing from “Camp Meredith” – Gives Great Description of His Camp & the Daily Drills!
Frank M. Rood, Co. E, 93rd New York Infantry Writes a Great Letter from Falmouth, Va. April 10th, 1863 – Talks at length about Major Sheppard of Stuart’s Cavalry who they had Captured, & A GREAT DESCRIPTION OF BEING REVIEWED BY “OLD ABE”
William A. Smith, Co. D, of the 116th Pa. Infantry (Irish) Describes the Battle of Gettysburg – “Well, we give them a hard rub at Gettysburg. Our Corps took about 2,000 prisoners their selves. It is hardest battle that has been fought yet.” “The darn bugers get in the woods and their clothes is so near like the old stumps that it is hard to tell them very far off for the stumps, and it makes it bad for us to follow them up.”
Silver 90th PA. Gettysburg I.D. Pin – 1st Sergt. John Robson Co. F – His Name is on the Monument at Gettysburg
SILVER I.D. PIN IRA RYERSON CO. G, 4TH NEW YORK CAVALRY – EXCAVATED NEAR ALDIE, WHERE THE 4TH CAVALRY HAD SUFFERED GREAT LOSS
Document Signed by Col. Langhorne Wister of the 150th Pennsylvania “Bucktail” Regiment, Wounded at Gettysburg
LETTER FROM THE “SEA GHOST OF THE CONFEDERACY”… JOHN TAYLOR WOOD
SILVER I.D. FROM CUSTER’S 5TH MICHIGAN CAV.
5TH REGIMENT EXCELSIOR BRIGADE I.D. DISC LISTING 8 BATTLES!
Nice Example to go along with the Francis Bannerman Catalog you grew up with!
KILLED AT GETTYSBURG
Excavated I.D. Disc from the Battle of Gettysburg – Thomas J. Wood, Co. I, 2nd Delaware Infantry – He was wounded on July 2nd, 1863 – “WHEN ALL THE OFFICERS OF HIS REGIMENT WERE DISABLED OR KILLED, HE ACTED AS COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT”
ALS War Date Letter of Confederate General Richard Griffith – Writing from Leesburg, Virginia on January 16th, 1862, He Describes the Presentation of the Mississippi Confederate Flags! Griffith would be Killed 5 Weeks Later at the Battle of Savage’s Station
The Greatest Battle of Chancellorsville Letter that We Know Of – Written by Joseph Moody, Co. H 140th Pa. Infantry – “The Rebels are piled up & not buried. Many of the wounded have been burnt” – “many found who not being able to get out of way have had to suffer untold torture” – “they were fed whiskey & gun powder, maddened & kept up by their Cavalry with drawn swords to urge them on.”
Barefooted & On His Way to Gettysburg – June 22nd, 1863, Near Hagerstown, Md. McAlpin Bentley Co. F, 38th Georgia Infantry
Graphic Battle of Antietam Letter – 8 Pages of Great Content – Lt. Ralph Buckley, 124th Pa. Infantry – “WE DISCOVERED THAT THE GUM BLANKET WITH WHICH I HAD MADE MY PILLOW WAS SATURATED WITH BLOOD”
Revolutionary War Parole Issued to Peter Merselis – A Loyalist from New Jersey! He Came Down with Cornwalis’s Army in the Invasion of Charleston – The Only Example We Have Seen!
Great Letter from the “REPUBLIC OF SOUTH CAROLINA” – Charleston January 24th, 1861 – James A. Carter, Co. F 23rd S.C. Infantry – “I had the pleasure of seeing the “Star of the West” driven from our Harbour” !
MUSEUM QUALITY EXAMPLE OF CIVIL WAR CALLIGRAPHY – Especially for the Navy or Theater Collector. Headline: UNION AQUATIC THEATRE ON BOARD U.S. STEAM GUN BOAT PORT ROYAL HARBOR OF APALACHICOLA. – Includes the letter sending it home
Historic Letter at a New Price
Fort Sumter March 21st, 1861 – Major Anderson & his men are isolated. Steamers have failed to bring aid to the fort. Dr. Samuel W. Crawford writes to the Post Master in New York concerning mail that he has not received.
AMMUNITION FOR MAXEY GREGG’S 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLS. AS THEY GET READY TO GO NORTH & FIGHT AT THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS !
Important ALS from William Drayton Concerning the Committee of the South Carolina Society for Promoting & Improving Agriculture… He wrote a Letter to George Washington making him the First Honorary Member of the Society!
LS of States Rights Gist – South Carolina General who was Killed at the Battle of Franklin – Asking Col. Manigault, Ordnance Officer to Send a Cannon to Knoxville, Tennessee… the Endorsement on the Reverse is Cooler than the Front ! They Wrote out what was Stamped on the Barrel of the Cannon !! (You’ve just got to see our photo)
141st Pa I.D. Disc – His Name is on the PA. Memorial at Gettysburg!
Historic Letter & Cover from the U.S.S. Minnesota, Hampton Roads, Va. – Edward J. Cahill – The cover is especially nice! 15 days later the Minnesota would be badly damaged in the battle of Hampton Roads. Interestingly, the letter mentions the famous revival that started at Fulton Street in New York & spread throughout the East Coast!
Albert M. White & George W. White of the 4th North Carolina Infantry write home to their Father following BOTH OF THEM being wounded in battle! – “I WAS STRUCK 4 TIMES” “OUR CAPT. HAD ONE LEG SHOT OFF.” “OUR GENERAL RAMSEUR WAS WOUNDED AND COLONEL GRIMES SLIGHTLY WOUNDED.”
4th North Carolina Private Albert M. White Writes from Yorktown, Virginia – “THEY THROWED ONE OVER HERE THAT WEIGHED 34 LBS. IT WENT 10 FEET IN THE GROUND WHEN IT HIT.”, “WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME THAT WEIGHS 140 LBS. AND LOTS OF THEM.”, “THE ENEMY STARTED A BALLOON UP CLOSE TO THE LINE, AND OUR MEN FIRED ON IT… THEY MADE THE BALLOON MAN COME DOWN IN A HURRY.”
101st PA. Infantry Battle of Seven Pines Letter on Stationery Showing the Capitol in D.C.
8 Page Letter in Ink Describing J.E.B. Stuart’s Raid on Chambersburg, Pa. – “THERE WERE UPWARD OF TWO THOUSAND OF THEM ALL MOUNTED, WITH SIX PIECES OF ARTILLERY. THE CONFUSION OF SOUNDS BEGAN AGAIN, MINGLED WITH THE TUNES OF DIXIE’S LAND AND “MY MARYLAND,” – “HEADED BY GENERAL STUART BEARING A FLAG OF TRUCE. THEY RODE TO THE JUDGE’S OFFICE AND DEMANDED THE SURRENDER OF THE TOWN.”
Battle of Petersburg Letter Written by Lt. William Henry Mix Co. I, 19th U. S. Colored Troops Infantry – Wounded at Gettysburg & Twice a P.O.W.
34th Regiment New York Infantry – Letter from Philip Crewell – “ALL YOU CAN HEAR A SOLDIER SAY IS ONWARD TO VICTORY AND STRIKE THE DEATHBLOW TO THIS CURSED REBELLION.”, “AND ALL THE SOLDIER WANTS IS REVENGE. THAT’S ALL HE LOOKS FOR.”, “WE ARE HERE LIKE CLOUDS ON THE SKY, AND OUR CAMPFIRES ARE LIKE STARS IN THE HEAVENS.”
Antietam Battle Letter – Written by William H. Trisler, Co. K, 14th Indiana Infantry… Their Brigade never gave way during the battle & earned the title “The Gibraltar Brigade” – Trisler describes being hit 3 times! – “THERE IS FIVE ACRES COVERED WITH DEAD REBS. SUCH A SMELL I COULD HARDLY STAND IT.”
6th Michigan Cavalry Letter, Gettysburg Campaign – Great Descriptions by William G. Whitworth of Company A – ONE OF CUSTER’S WOLVERINES – “I THINK IF WE HAD PULLED OUR SPENCERS AT THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN GLAD TO HAVE LEFT.” – He died a POW at Andersonville, Ga. & we visited his grave!
One of Our Best Confederate Covers Along with a Captured Union Patriotic Letter Sheet – Abram C. Pendleton Co. K, 50th Virginia Infantry
Confederate Letter & Two Postal Covers from Augustine T. Smythe Who Served in the CONFEDERATE SIGNAL CORPS & ON THE C.S.S. PALMETTO STATE !!
Rare broadside entitled, “CAMP OF 5th VIRGINIA VOL. INFANTRY U.S.A.” – “OUR CHAPLAIN” – Shows the Chaplain playing his hand organ as the men sing along!
Broadside from the Fifth Maine Regiment Association – Concerning their 1894 Reunion in Portland Harbor, ME.
The Battle of Fredericksburg – Letters by William B. Glass Co. F, 155th Pa. Infantry
Spectacular Hand-Drawn Map + 3-Page Letter, Siege of Yorktown, Va. by Lt. John J. Knox Company D, 5th Michigan Infantry
Confederate Battle Letter: 48th North Carolina Soldier Fights at the Sight of Dunker Church, ANTIETAM Maryland – “THE GROUND WAS BLOODY FROM THE DYING AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. THERE WERE A GREAT MANY DEAD SOLDIERS A LYING ABOUT, SOME WITH THEIR BRAINS SHOT OUT, I SAW ONE MAN WHO HAD HIS HEAD SHOT OFF, ANOTHER WITH LOWER JAW SHOT OFF…”
Confederate Surgeon Caspar C. Henkel, 37th Virginia Infantry Writes to His Father Dr. L. G. Henkel – The Valley was “WAITING THE APPROACH OF THE VILE INVADERS OF OUR COUNTRY” – “THEY MAY TAKE OUR PROPERTY, OUR HOMES, OUR LIVES, BUT THEY CANNOT DEPRIVE US OF THAT INHERITANCE PREPARED FOR US ABOVE.” – “YOU WILL PLEASE DESTROY THIS LETTER FOR FEAR IT MAY FALL INTO IMPROPER HANDS.”
Early Confederate War Department “Regulations Concerning Substitutes in the Army” – Richmond October 20th, 1861 – SIGNED IN TYPE BY JUDAH P. BENJAMIN, Acting Sec. of War
Sergt. George J. Sager of the 149th New York Infantry Writes Home & Draws a Full-Page Illustration, “This is the way we are now suffering for ‘Our Country” (Getting Stuck in the Mud while Marching!)
Relic from the Fall of Vicksburg – Col. Frederick Starring of the 72nd Illinois Infantry Collected a Piece of Slate from the Famous Court House Roof! – Great Period Ink Tag
Great Description of the Work that Berdan Sharp Shooter “California Joe” did in Yorktown, Virginia in Killing the Enemy – Capt. Harry C. Fay, Co. H 92nd N.Y. Infantry, Yorktown, Va. July 6, 1862
One of the Rarest Sheets of Regimental Stationery: “Camp of Instruction Berdan’s U.S. Sharp Shooters Washington, D.C.” – A Camp Scene of Tents, Pickets, & D.C. in the Background. Letter Written by Lieut. John Wilson, 1st Berdan Sharp Shooters
16th Maine Soldiers Letter – Albert C. Brown Gives a Graphic Description of the Battle of Laurel Hill, Virginia – “THE BULLETS BEGAN TO WHISTLE ABOUT OUR EARS AND THE SHELLS TO BURST OVER OUR HEADS AND THE SOLID SHOT TO PLOUGH UP THE GROUND AND CUT OFF THE TREES ALL ABOUT US.”
Col. John S. Crocker of the 93rd New York Infantry Writes from Salisbury Prison in N.C. – Great Content Including being Forced to “Draw Lots” for Prisoners to be Placed as Hostages
Stunning Applied Wreath NCO Saber Belt Plate
Letter Describing One of the Last Battles in the Civil War – April 9th, 1865 the Battle of Dingle’s Mill in S.C. (The same date that Lee was surrendering at Appomattox C. H.) – Jonathan E. Pillsworth, Co. A, 56th New York Infantry Describes the Action. They fought along with the famous 54th Mass. Black Regiment! You have got to see the photo of the politically “incorrect” historical marker we found!
Pair of American Indian Vintage Sterling Silver Spoons – One 6 inch & one 4 inch
Pass for the James River Canal Boat & Stage – “From Staunton to Lynchburg”
The 33rd Wisconsin Volunteers & the Fall of Vicksburg, Mississippi – Sgt. W. Jewett Likely: “THEY WERE LIVING ON MULES WHEN WE TOOK POSSESSION.”
The 124th Illinois Infantry in Vicksburg, Mississippi – Letter by Edward Kelley of Company D – All about the 1864 Election: “I THINK THE POLITICAL HORIZON LOOKS BRIGHT FOR LINCOLN AND DARK AND GLOOMY FOR LITTLE MAC.” “COL. J. H. HOWE AND CHAPLAIN HOWARD MADE SPEECHES IN FAVOR OF THE OLD RAIL SPLITTER.”
Battle Letter from the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, Famous Unit that had “the Dictator” – Major Thomas S. Trumbull Writes on May 31st, 1864 – “JUST AFTER I LEFT MY TENT A SHELL BURST IN MY REDOUBT, THROWING A FRAGMENT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF MY TENT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ANOTHER STRUCK ONE OF MY MEN IN THE CHEST KILLING HIM INSTANTLY.”
Great Appomattox “Souvenir” Presented by the Acting Chief Quartermaster, A. B. Lawrence – A $10 Confederate Note on Official Stationery from Appomattox, Virginia!
Gettysburg Medal of Honor Recipient General Alexander S. Webb Sends Home a Souvenir from the Battlefield of Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 1862 – NOTE & AUTOGRAPH ALL IN HIS HAND!
Excavated from Dirt from the Historic District in Charleston, S.C. – A Brass 3 x 2 inch Tag that was once Mounted on a Charleston Trolley
Colorful Examples of Confederate Patriotic Flag Stationery & an Extremely Rare Patriotic Envelope – Both with Period Ink Inscriptions
$5 Note from the State of Georgia Milledgeville, April 6th, 1864 – One of the Notes from the Estate of Mzl Fuller
Highly Desirable Civil War Cavalry Captain’s Shoulder Straps – The Real Deal, Not Later Indian War Period Straps
Pair of Civil War Infantry, ACTUALLY WORN Major Shoulder Straps – Excellent!
Button that William L. Howorth Used to Smuggle a Letter Out of Libby Prison – Sent to the Commander of the U. S. Gun Ship Steamer Conemaugh
I.D. Disc from the 14th Brooklyn, “The Red Legged Devil’s” – Julius Scudder, Co. C
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain – Henry C. Laybourn, Company A, 66th Ohio Infantry Gives a Long Graphic Description – Confederate General Leonidas Polk is Killed – “WE HAD TO GO RIGHT OVER A HILL IN THE HOTTEST OF THE FIRE.” – “THE BULLETS JUST CUT ALL AROUND ME, BUT FORTUNATELY I DID NOT GET HIT” – “I USED MY OLD ENFIELD PRETTY BRISK.” – “THE REBS STUCK UP A FLAG IN THEIR WORKS IN PLAIN VIEW. I TOOK DEAD AIM AT IT SEVERAL TIMES & AM PRETTY CERTAIN THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE HOLE IN IT.”
Capt. John J. Knox, Co. D, 5th Michigan Infantry Writes Home on the Battlefield of Chancellorsville!
