Surgeon from 6th Maryland Regiment
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This is a small collection of items from Dr. Edwin K. Foreman (1837-1906), surgeon to 6th Maryland Inf. Regiment from Sept 15,1862 through June 20th, 1865. He graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1862. The 6th Maryland arrived at Gettysburg soon after the battle. Foreman family lore says that Edwin worked at the Spangler farm field hospital for a time. Wounded from the battle were still present for weeks afterward. This collection includes: a major's-rank shoulder board; his red and green aiguilette (shoulder cord); a fancy twelve-blade spring-loaded scarifier with box; an 1880's family photo taken at The Devil's Den; and two 1880's Reunion Fliers for the 6th Maryland, listing Foreman as an attendant. An interesting Medical School course of study pamphlet from 1861 is present. Overall, a wonderful group of war-related items all focused around one man who served both his country and his comrads in the healing arts. His obituary tells us that old Doc Foreman died in his carriage on the way to make a house call in a snowstorm.
Ivory Handled Boot Pull
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This is a lovely item. An ivory handled boot pull of fine quality, with a heavy, solid construction. The shank/hook portion appear to be plated in silver, but could be an early nickle-alloy. In any case, this item would be used by a cavalry officer to help pull up his boots by the top strap.
CW Period Stencil Kit in Original box
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Many soldiers carried stencil kits to mark their clothing, books and personal possessions. This was most true for officers who often received such kits as gifts from wives, friends and family members before marching off to war. This stencil kit has a typical brass plate perforated with Edwin R. Yeaton, the name of the original owner, above a perfoated garland. It also contains two more plates for numbers and letters. The box is labeled "Metcalf's Stencil Cutting Rooms" in Boston. A yellow page of instructions is still folded within. When these kits belonged to soldiers, they often listed their Company and Regiment under their names.
Sexy Lady CDV
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This is an interesting CDV "entered according to Congress in the year 1865" for a copyright. It shows "Euterpe", a classic historical figure as a partially-clad young lady. Her long, lovely back is exposed as well as part of her breast. This was a good way to justify a saucy little photocard in the days when women were totally kept wrapped in black to the ankles! Men missed their sweethearts when facing certain death. People liked kissing and holding hands as much as we do these days...
Length of brass chain from Fredericksburg
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A clumped length of brass chain found in Frederickburg camp area. Was it used for decor on sword belts or is it just watch fob chain???
Fancy Double Carved Bullet: Chess Rook!
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Two bullets were artfully carved by a Civil War soldier into a fancy rook or castle piece for a chess set. Both pieces were dug up together!
Period Tin Shaving Mug
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This is a Civil War period shaving mug with attached outer compartment to hold the soaped brush. The soldiers of the civil war were teasingly said to be "the hairiest Army ever seen on the face of the earth". Though many men did shave to a clean face or simple moustache, most tended to prefer a full or partial beard. Thus, in the early mornings, officers and enlistedmen on both sides of the battle lines carefully shaved around their goatees, handbars, and Burnsides using straight-edge razors and lather from such tin mugs~ just prior to going into battle for the last time.
Silver-plated Pen tip
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This is the silver plated end of a Civil war Period ink pen. On one side it slid into the body of the pen that was held in the hand. On the other side, it took the metal nib that held and directed the ink to write. This was found in a Civil War campsite in Virginia where the most troops were concentrated for battles during the years of conflict. There is no manufacturer's marking. To think, a young troop might have written home to family, friends or sweetheart with this before a hellish battle the next day...
CW Period Personnal Poetry Book by
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A black book which was hand-written in sections by "Miss A. Learn" during 1860's and 70's. Not only are there quotes and passages from famous authors but also her own sonnets and poems. About 85 written pages with others left blank. One passage in French! It's neat to read the feelings of a woman from the time period of the Civil War. Inks a bit faded, few pages loose, and fancy old script sometimes some work to decipher, but very cool.
Silver-Handled & Ivory Lice Comb
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Yes, Friends... Lice! Among the many torments of crowded camp life, longer-hair and beards! Lice! And everyone with sense carried a very fine toothed comb that would pull out the lice and their nits (eggs) from combed hair. This is a very, very fine officer's example with an ivory comb supported by a silver handle. A few teeth missing from battling those buggars! Suger Cool! You just don't get good lice combs like this at WalMart any more...
SC Coat Button pounded into a poker chip
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This is cool! A Horstmann & Allien SC Coat Button pounded totally flat to be used as a poker chip during card games in camp.
Lighthouse shaped Needle Holder
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This item is a walnut needleholder with a screw top in the shape of a lighthouse! Interestingly, before the Civil War, General George Meade was in charge of maintaining lighthouses along the coast, supervising the construction of the Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island in New Jersey.
IDENTIFIED PENNSYLVANIA CAPTAIN'S SET
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Here is a nice grouping of items from Captain George T. Harvey who served with Company E. of the Pennsylvania 104th Regiment. Mustered in 9/12/61 as a Captain and out on 9/30/1864. We first see one of his double-bordered shoulder straps for a Union Captain, measuring 4 1/4" by 1 1/2" with an open-backed construction. The blue dye in the velvet nap has since faded to a lime green. Double-border design was not allowed after the Civil War. Next, there is his heavy cast brass Officer's Eagle sword belt plate with the integrally cast wreath. It is beautifully preserved with a rich honey- to dark-brown patina. There is no benchmark on the back where we find the wider latch-tongue design. Finally, there is a muster role dated July 1864 for Company E, signed by Captain Harvey himself in ink! It lists the condition and special circumstances of his soldiers, such as one who "returned from desertion" and another who "died in Reg'tl Hospital."
Adams Express Envelope Money Going Home
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Well, way before there was UPS, there was the popular "Adams Express Company" which during the Civil War period sent secure packages and envelopes directly between individuals. It was often used to ship important notices, letters, private documents, money and even goods between two locations. Even those places close to current armed conflicts! This is a five wax-stamp sealed envelope originally containing $50 (a LOT of money then!) sent home by a soldier to his family in Minnesota. Yes, in spite of war and deadly conflict, men still needed a reliable messenger service to send practical items and currency to-and-fro from their distant campsites to their families back home.
Waiting at home for Daddy...
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Not only did soldiers have their own images prepared and sent to wives, sweethearts and parents, but they carried-off pictures of their loved-ones to war with them. In fact, after the Battle of Gettysburg a photograph of children was found upon the unidentified body of a Union soldier. It was copied and published in various newspapers across the Union until the widow recognized her childrens' image and stepped forward to identify her sadly-lost husband. The woman was given the priviledge of running the orphan's home in Gettysburg for many years afterward. This particular image shows a little girl in a sash-adorned dress who misses her daddy...
Civil War Period Animal Bone Dice
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Dice were a popular game od chance between bored soldiers in camp. Before the advent of plastics, dice werre made of animal bone or ivory.
An excavated pocket watch...
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Wrist watches did not yet exist. Therefore, most gentlemen of means carried pocket watches in their vests.
This imasge shows the fragments of a Civil War pocket watch which were found in a Union camp site. One might imagine a Colonel staring anxiously at the minute hand of this item as the seconds ticked toward the pre-arranged start of battle. How curious that a man could gaze upon such a watch, well-knowing that when the hands had fully turned again, then he and many others might no longer be alive... Obviously, this timepiece did not survive the battle. But did its master?
Bullet Lead used as a Pencil to Write!
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Soldiers wrote many letters home to sweethearts, acquaintances and family. If a standard pen or pencil was unavailable, the trooper could fashion a functional replacement from a piece of lead. If pressed hard enough, it would leave a readable scrawl on paper. These elongated pencils were crudely made from lead scraps of hammered-out bullets and artillery shell sabots. They are found in Civil War camp areas and are pictured in the major Relic Books about this conflict. Never was the old saying more true: "Necessity is the Mother of Invention."
Religious Icon
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Many Civil War Soldiers were deeply religious in various faiths, but Christianity tended to predominate at that time. Troops carried Bibles, crucifixes, medallions and even small religious icons made of brass or painted-lead like this tiny cased statuette shown. Often, before going into deadly action, Priests and Ministers would bless a Regiment. Brothers would soon move onto other spiritual spheres...
Straight-edged Razor
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In a war of bearded men, there was still a need to trim cheeks, necks and parts of the chin. With no double-edged or safety-razors as yet, the reliable straight-edged razor was carried and used by men on both sides of the battlefield.
1862 Fort Donelson Bible Flag
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This is an incredible piece of history~ a true rarity! A hand sewn commenorative "Battle Flag" bible bookmark that lists the dates of the major rengagement between Union and Confederate forces at Fort Donelson. It was likely sewn in honor of a soldier's service there. The construction and aging demonstrate that this was crafted during the Civil War itself. Sadly, the original owner's name and regiment was never added to the ink notation on the back cloth panel. It's size is 4 1/2 Inches by 3 3/8 inches in order to fit inside a bible or book. It appears to be made of pieced-silk sections with 5" long tassels and a early ring of concentric stars flag design. How fortunate that this delicate work has survived all of these many decades!
Meerschaum Eagle Claw Pipe Bowl
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A very attractive and interesting Meerschaum pipe bowl in the bold and deeply-carved design of an eagle claw grasping the aged, well-used bowl. It has no stem. It was probably discarded at a Civil War camp site due to a burn-through hole at bottom of bowl, thus making it impossible to easily use... This is a very cool item in light of the fact that most soldiers used cheap white-clay pipes during the Civil War.
CDV of famed Colonel Shaw of "Glory"
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This is an early Civil War period CDV of the famous young Union Colonel, Robert Gould Shaw. A highly educated young fellow who lived a charmed & aristocratic life in New England, he joined the army by conviction towards the Union cause and anti-slavery. Rather than choosing some "elite" or easy desk assignment, he chose to lead a Union regiment made-up entirely of black soldiers. This was very atypical and controversial at the time. Though the typical white Union soldier supposedly fought against slavery, they did not believe in the abilities of freed slaves to fight. Colonel Shaw knew otherwise. He enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment and became its Colonel in April, 1863. He was killed three months later at the futile & desperate attack upon the heavily defended Confederate Fort Wagner (Confederate Battery Wagner) on July 18, 1863. He marched into a deadly hail of lead and cannonshot alongside his regiment of brave, orderly, regal freedmen. Afterward, he was buried by the rebels in a mass grave with his silent black troopers. The stunning movie "Glory!" was based upon these events of his and other brave patriots'lives. Academy Awards were given for these film performances. (Go rent & watch it now!)
Imprint on verso, "Whipple, 96 Washington Street, Boston" (scan below). Research dates this photograph from May, 1863.
CDV shows Colonel Shaw seated, wearing a cap and Colonels' double-breasted frock coat. His left arm is resting on a table, his right hand placed on his thigh. In his closed right hand are his gloves. A ring is worn on the pinky finger of his relaxed left hand (close up scan below).
This CDV recently sold on Ebay for over $3000... but the strength and dedication of this man toward freedom and human equity is forever worth well-over $1 Billion...
Gold Medal of a Confederate Chief Surgeon
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This stunning gold medal demonstrates a fantastic sunburst effect. It is inscribed to: Dr. Frank Rice, Chief Surgeon of Gen. Cheatham's Div., Army of Tenn., C.S.A. Likely it was given to him after the Civil War by appreciative comrads or family. On the reverse, it reads: Surrendered at Greensboro, N.C. April 26, 1865." This is an extremely rare item attributed to a high-ranking officer. Its overall length is 6 inches in diameter. Unclear if solid gold or not. Descended directly through descendants until sold recently on EBay in the range of $1000+... After a certain number of generations, sometimes the money is needed more by the living than an item from a long-dead relative. Sometimes, time can act like a very big pencil eraser... We see an accompanying Carte de Visite photo of Dr. Rice which is marked on the front by the photographic gallery: Bingham Bros., Memphis, Tenn.
Wooden Civil War Period Chess Set
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Poker, dice and checkers were much more popular with the lower ranks, while some officers might also play the more "heady" games of backgammon and chess. This is the typical wooden chess set of the Civil War Period...
Inkwell with Iridescence
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Sometimes the chemicals in the ground give strange iridescent effects to the glass which gets buried there for years... As an example, observe this very cool and attractive "umbrella ink" glass bottle... it almost looks like a pearl shimmering with superimposed green and pink accents... like the nacre inside a muscle shell or oyster. This type of construction is generally from around the CW period. Early Hinge Molded. Smooth Base, 3"H x 2 1/2"W, With a crudely sheared-off lip, American, C. 1860s. It came from a double barrel-lined privy on Baltimore's west side, the house having been built in 1860. This is an unusual color for this kind of bottle, as these were usually made of an aqua-green glass. Soldiers often used glass shear-tops and crockery bottles to carry their ink during the Civil War.
Officer's Candle Lamp
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This is an interesting mid-Nineteenth Century candle lamp. It is nickle-plated candle tube, whereby the candle rises via an internal spring as it burns down. A pivoting hood is slid down along the top of the candle tube, serving to divert the light down onto a desk or workplace. It can be opened wider or less so. Most likely applied to write letters home after dark. But it did not spill kerosene in a travel trunk like oil lamps.
Civil War Wooden Chess Set Pieces
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This is a set of standard wooden Civil War period chess pieces in a slidetop lidded period box. They are original and very attractive. The kings stand abnout 2 3/4" high. No board came along with the set. Box is 6 1/2" by 3 1/2." Passing the time between battles or during long winter seasons in cold camps...
Civil War Period Wallet
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This is a very attractive larger sized leather billfold from the 1860- 1880 era. Has nice soft supple feel with an oxblood color. The closure strap is in good shape. Inside is marvellously constructed: with two azure owl's-eye semi-circles that form pouches to hoild coins or stamps. The inner scalloped flap then lifts to reveal inner cardboard dividers marked for 1 to 100 dollar bills. There are also two red lined larger sections for bills/receipts at the rear. Overall a super-duper man's accessory from mid-late Nineteenth Century.
Log Cabin Shaped Ink Bottle
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A nice square-shoulder little ink bottle in aqua glass with small inclusion air bubbles from the mid-Nineteenth Century. It is mold poured (not hand-made so no pontil) marked "Lyons Ink." The lines of the design are oriented to rest a pen across the top of the bottle. The top is a "snap top" design. 1 3/4 wide by 2 1/4" high. These were commonly discarded into trash pits and privy wells during the period of the Civil War. No breaks.
Initial Ring from Battle of Winchester
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A squashed brass ring with a roughly engraved initial "A" from the area of the repeated fierce battles of Winchester, Virginia. A man wore this till something pulled it from his person: injury, death or a lost love? Who knows!
A Bullet for War turned into a Dice for Fun
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This is a lead .69 Caliber bullet that was carved by a Civil War trooper into a gaming dice. It was recovered in 1985 from the Camp of the 55th New York Vols. along Warrenton Turnpkie, Centerville, Va.
Carved Chess Piece 4 South Carolina Infantry
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This carved lead minie bullet was dug from "Kamp Washington" at Jermantown, Fairfax County, Virginia by famed old tyme digger Norm Latcher. It was the camp of the 4th South Carolina Confederate Infantry. Looks like a chess Rook to me. Men often made their own pieces out of bullets
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