Militaria, Weapons, and Civil War

Model 1902 Colt, serial number 7362, found enfolded into the outlaw Bonnie Parker’s skirt at the Conger Funeral Home embalming room of Arcadia, LA in 1934. Letter of authentication dated 5/15/1972, signed by James Lavelle Wade (Sept. 28, 1886 – Dec. 17th, 1972), coroner in charge of the “Bonnie & Clyde” death investigation and signer of death certificates, and by Mrs. Alwyn (Vern) Hightower, employee of Conger Funeral Home. Affidavit witness signatures include Mrs. Ed Conger, wife of the Conger Funeral Home director, and retired Judge P. E. Brown, Second Judicial District Court of Louisiana, serving 1954-1969. Letter of Authentication is notarized by Violet L. Turner. On May 23, 1934, law enforcement officers ambushed outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow as they drove through Biennville Parish, Louisiana. The Conger Furniture Store/Funeral Home received the bodies after the shootout. The affidavit states the weapon was “enfolded in the skirt of Bonnie Parker and discovered in the Embalming room of Conger’s Funeral Home in Arcadia, Louisiana, by the late Mr. Charles Francis Bailey, who was employed at the time by Mr. Ed Conger as an embalmer.” The following day (5/24/34), Bailey gave the weapon as a souvenir to Mrs. Alwyn Hightower’s son, Dr. Robert Dawson Hightower, M.D. (b.1921-d.1973). Dr. Hightower served as a Naval Aviator in WWII, earning the Navy Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars and later as an Associate Professor of Orthopedics, LSU Medical School, Shreveport, LA, and passed this weapon down to his only child, the present consignor. This lot also includes six bullets found in the pistol and a photo archive of pictures taken by King Murphy, Mr. Bailey’s assistant and amateur photographer. Additionally, a Colt Manufacturing Company letter accompanies this lot stating the Model 1902 Colt was shipped to Simmons Hardware Company in St. Louis, Missouri on August 22, 1904 with a total shipment of 15 guns of this type. Additional items in the archive includes a 1973 offer letter for the gun and various newspapers referencing the 50th anniversary of the death of Bonnie & Clyde. The dated August 1973 letter from Peter Simon of Jean, Nevada offers to “purchase the gun, the book of actual pictures, and any other memorabilia….” Dr. Robert Hightower died October 27th, 1973. The letter also has handwritten notes from Dr. Hightower’s wife, “Before Dad died he had me write… Bob, this fellow wanted to buy the Clyde & Bonnie gun etc. I called him but I never did call and give him a price for I didn’t know what to charge– If you ever decided to do so you might call + give him a price if he is still there — The value may go up with time but it could go down for new people don’t even remember them— Thought I’d pass this on — It’s yours now to do as you wish — I love you Mother”. The gift of this weapon from the embalmer, Charles Bailey, to the young Dr. Hightower in 1934 was significant when one considers the rarity and expense of the Sporting Model 1902 pistol even at the time the gift was bestowed. It is especially significant when one considers the average pay of an embalmer working in rural Louisiana during the Great Depression. Specifications on the Colt Model 1902 (Sporting) Automatic Pistol: Caliber- 38 rimless, smokeless, 7 shot magazine, 6? barrel, magazine marked PAt’D SEPT. 9, 1884, hard rubber grips with molded checkering, the rampant colt design, and the name COLT at the top of the grips. Produced in 1904 with a total production of approximately 7500. Standard weight 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Condition: Colt pistol has aftermarket nickel finish but appears to retain the original factory grips. Minor oxidation to nickel finish. There are no records indicating the pistol has been disassembled or cleaned since acquisition in 1934, chamber verified as clear. Photograph album with toning to pages; photographs glued down. [See more photos →]

Civil War Era Tiffany & Co. Naval Presentation Sword, Belt, and Commendations, presented to U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Cadwalader Ringgold (1802-1867), 5 items total. 1st-2nd items: Tiffany & Co. sword with a German steel blade and etched scrolling foliate decorations, images of a naval engagement, a dolphin, and other maritime motifs, obverse, inscribed "U.S.N.", with the standing profile of a Naval Officer above "Tiffany/& Co./N.Y." within a masked riband, reverse. Ricasso stamped "Collins & Co.,/Hartford/Conn", obverse, dated "1861" to reverse. Gilt bronze hilt with eagle head quillon, pierced "U.S.N." lettering with oak leaves, and inscribed Robert Burns poem to guard reading "Affliction's Sons Are Brothers In Distress,/A Brother To Believe, How Exquisite The Bliss!". Scrolling oak leaf and acorn decoration to knuckle bow, the crowned head of Neptune, scrolling oak leaves and anchor to pommel, above a gilt brass grip wrapped in brass wire. Sterling silver scabbard with gilt brass mounts inscribed "Presented to/Captain Cadwalader Ringgold./of the Frigate Sabine by the/Battalion of U.S. Marines through his gallantry…/From the Wreck of the Transport/Governor/on the night of Nov. 2nd. 1861" with etched image of a naval engagement, the suspension mounts molded with anchors and scrolling oak leaves and acorns, the drag with the etched image of a dolphin entwined around a trident. Scabbard stamped "Tiffany & Co./Quality/925-1000/M" to reverse. Includes US Civil War Navy Officers Belt with two-piece interlocking gilt brass buckle depicting an eagle perched on an anchor, surrounded by thirteen stars, with an oak leaf and ribbon frame, with leather belt and brass mountings. All housed in a fitted wooden Tiffany and Company case with purple velvet and gilt stamp to interior. Blade length: 29". Overall length with scabbard: 37". Belt approximately: 42" L. Case: 4 1/4" H x 39 3/4" W x 6 3/4" D. 3rd-5th items: Three (3) ink on vellum scrolls issued in commendation for Ringgold, including one (1) from The City of New York, one (1) from the Legislature of the State of Maryland in General Assembly, and one (1) from the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, dated January 20 – March 13, 1862. All scrolls are trimmed in navy blue silk and wrapped around blue velvet covered wooden rods, two (2) with gilt metal handles. Ranging in size from 22 1/2" H x 18" W to 17" H x 26 1/4" W. Biography: "Cadwalader Ringgold (1802-1867) was an officer in the United States Navy who served in the United States Exploring Expedition, later headed an expedition to the Northwest and, after initially retiring, returned to service during the Civil War with the rank of captain. While in command of the frigate Sabine on November 1, 1861, he effected the rescue of a battalion of 400 Marines from Maryland whose transport steamer, Governor, was sinking during a severe storm near Port Royal, South Carolina. In February 1862, he was a part of the search and rescue of the ship of the line Vermont which had lost her rudder in a storm. For these rescues, Ringgold received commendations from the Maryland Legislature and the U.S. Congress, along with a gold medal from the Life Saving Benevolent Association. Promoted to commodore on July 16, 1862, he was sent (still on the Sabine), to cruise the Azores, Cape Verde Islands, the coast of Brazil and then back to New York in a search for the Confederate raider CSS Alabama from November 1862 to February 1863. In mid-1863, Ringgold's assignment was to search (again unsuccessfully) in the vicinity of Bermuda and then the New England coast for the bark CSS Tacony, another Confederate raider. For reasons of age, he was retired on August 20, 1864, and placed on the rear admiral (retired) list in 1866 (a promotion that was given to all commanders of squadrons). In retirement, he lived at 18 East Eighteenth Street (at Union Square) in New York City. Ringgold, who had never married, died of apoplexy (stroke) in New York on April 29, 1867." (source: Alan Fraser Houston, "Cadwalader Ringgold, U. S. Navy" article in California History magazine, Volume 79, Issue 4, Winter 2000, page 208).

PROVENANCE: Descended through the family of Rear Admiral Cadwalader Ringgold.

CONDITION: Sword with areas of oxidation, primarily to tip of blade. Leather to belt is stiff with cracking, several areas of separation. Scrolls with overall legible condition with toning, foxing spots, areas of holes/insect damage, largest 1/4", cracking to seals. [See more photos →]

Civil War Confederate States of America shell jacket worn by Colonel Tomlinson Fort, 1st Georgia Infantry, Company L, plus shoulder straps and albumen print, 4 items total. 1st item: “Butternut” Richmond Depot woolen single-breasted shell jacket with six-piece body, one-piece sleeves, and six button holes with one wooden and three cloth buttons, osnaburg interior lining with one pocket. Unmarked. Also includes three loose buttons, two (2) wooden and one (1) mother of pearl. 28 1/2″ H x 21 3/4″ W x 11″ D. Note: This is the coat that Colonel Fort wore on his return to his home in Milledgeville, Georgia. The brass buttons were cut off in Savannah and replaced by the ones now on it, as a law had been issued forbidding Confederate States of America (CSA) buttons to be worn. 2nd-3rd items: Two (2) gold tone metal and fabric Captain’s shoulder straps, manufacturer’s marks for James A. Smith, stamped en verso. 1 1/2″ H x 4″ W x 5/8″ D. 4th item: Early 20th century albumen print depicting a composite of three Civil War era cartes de visite (CDV) of the Fort Brothers: Colonel Tomilson Fort (1839-1910), lower right (depicted wearing the shell jacket and shoulder straps in this lot); Dr. George Fort (1828-1866), top center; and Lieutenant John Porter Fort (1841-1917). The three portraits are superimposed on a decorative shield dated “61-65” and flanked by two crossed Confederate flags, above, and two crossed sabers with a “CSA” canteen, below, with a row of ten stars, across the top of the shield. Fragmentary red “Art Department” label, en verso. Housed under glass in a black wooden frame. Print – 8 7/8″ H x 7 5/8″ W. Sight – 9 3/4″ H x 7 3/4″ W. Framed – 10 7/8″ H x 8 7/8″ W x 3/4″ D. Note: a CDV of Dr. George Fort and his surgeon kit are also included in this auction, lot 511. Provenance: Private Ringgold, Georgia collection; among items purchased in the 1960’s from the old location of the A. P. Stewart Chapter of the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy), formerly the Nathan Bedford Forrest UCV (United Confederate Veterans) home, St. Elmo, Chattanooga, TN. Note: The 1st Georgia Infantry regiment, also known as the 1st Georgia Regulars, was organized at Macon, Georgia in April 1861. The companies first named were twelve months’ troops, a majority re-enlisting for the war, while others were mustered out when the twelve months expired. The regimental commander, Col. Charles J. Williams, died on February 8, 1862. Now led by Col. William J. Magill, the regiment served in the Army of Northern Virginia in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. When Magill was wounded at Antietam, being part of Gen. G.T. Angerson’s brigade, the command developed to Cpt. Richard A. Wayne. The 1st Georgia was transferred to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in early 1863. In Gen. George P. Harrison’s brigade it participated in the Battle of Olustee. When Magill retired on September 3, 1864, Wayne was named as his successor. The regiment was surrendered along with Joseph E. Johnston’s army at Bennett Place in North Carolina on April 26, 1865. Biography: Colonel Tomlinson Fort (1839-1910) was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, to Dr. Tomlinson Fort (1787-1859) and Martha Low Fannin (1804-1883). Tomlinson Fort graduated from Oglethorpe University in 1857, and moved to Savannah, Georgia to practice law. Fort returned to his hometown to care for his father’s estate in 1859. At the beginning of the Civil War, Fort joined the 1st Georgia Infantry regiment and served throughout the war. Fort’s two brothers also served in the war; Lieutenant John Fort joined the 1st Georgia Infantry regiment and Dr. George Washington Fort was a surgeon, 53rd Regiment, Georgia Infantry. Fort was wounded five times during the Civil War including Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, and John’s Island, SC. Tomlinson Fort was captured in late 1864 until the remainder of the war. Fort moved to Chattanooga in 1865, and though he came to the city with very little, he quickly found work, and by the mid-1870’s, was one of Chattanooga’s leading businessmen. Fort served as city attorney, city recorder and served on the Board of Public Works before being elected Mayor in 1876. Fort’s election to the office marked a turning point for the city, as he was the first ex-confederate elected mayor and was able to improve the city’s financial status. (source: http://www.chattanooga.gov/about-chattanooga/history-of-mayors/1876-colonel-tomilinson-fort). See related lots 507, 511, 540 and 544. CONDITION: 1st item: Jacket is in stable condition with insect damage and age deterioration. Three-fourths of surface has holes, tears, abrasions, and/or unidirectional loss. Most significant damage: 1 1/2″ tear top right shoulder; 1″ hole top of left sleeve; 1″ tear with fraying left side top of collar; 2″ tear with fraying right side top of collar; 1″ unidirectional loss with fraying lower left edge on back; 3/4″ tear right side near arm hole on back. Heavy wear to buttons. Moderate soiling to end of sleeves and front opening. Interior lining discolored and weak seam with fraying right side top of button placket where wool joins lining. 2nd-3rd items: Overall good condition with surface grime, area of tarnish to metal, and holes, largest 1/2″ x 1 1/4″. 4th item: Overall stable condition with repaired tears, largest 8 1/8″ x 1 1/8″. Several pieces of white archival tape and scotch tape, minute foxing spots, en verso. [See more photos →]

Early Tennessee Militia archive relating to Lieutenant William Graham including a Tennessee militia coat, signed Governor John Sevier military commission, and powder horn, 3 items total. 1st item: Early Tennessee State Militia Coat owned and worn by Lieutenant William Graham (1786-1857, served circa 1807-1815 in the Sixth Regiment in the Tennessee State Militia) comprised of a navy-blue wool body with hook and eye closure to red wool lapel, red wool collar and cuffs, the lapels and coattails lined in off white linen with two interior slip pockets, two faux pocket flaps to exterior, all with a total of (44) total flat brass buttons. One (1) navy-blue wool epaulet to left shoulder, two (2) pieces of navy-blue fabric sewn to right shoulder and top of coattails. 40 1/2" H x 24 1/2" W.2nd item: Governor John Sevier signedmilitary commission document conferring on William Graham of Jefferson County the rank of Lieutenant in the Sixth Regiment of the TennesseeMilitia, dated August 15, 1807. Countersigned by Robert Houston, Secretary of the State of Tennessee from 1807-1811. State seal, top left. 16" H x 9 7/8" W.3rd item: Early 19th century East Tennessee powder horn withound wooden plug end secured by brads, fabric strap attached to nail and nozzle. Piece of cloth with ink inscription reading "96" pasted to horn near plug. 11" outer circumference of longest curve. These items have all descended in the family of Lt. William Graham. The Number 96 on the powder horn corresponds to a similarnumbering system used on an inventory list created by Joseph Feamster Taylor (1892-1965) of Whitesburg, TN, son of Franklin Walter Taylor (1854-1919), grandson of Franklin William Taylor (1810-1897), great grandson of Lieutenant William Graham (1786-1857), and father of Joseph Franklin Taylor (1934-2015). Biographical Note: William Graham was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, to George Graham (1756-1832) and Elizabeth Turnley Graham (1764-1817). He married Mary ShieldsGraham (1795-1832) in 1814 and was the father of Eliza Jane Graham (1821-1897) and Mary Shields Graham (1824-1907). Upon the death of Mary, William sent his young daughters (ages 11 & 8) to live with their uncle, Dr. Samuel Shields. Eliza married Franklin William Taylor of Shields Station in Grainger County and they had twelve children together. One of their children, Samuel Milton Taylor (1842-1875) served in the Confederate Army of Tennessee (see Lot 610). Mary married Calvin Bird Nance of Nance's Ferry and they had seven children together. William Graham passed away in a tragic house fire on the night of September 17, 1857 at the age of 71 and is buried in the Graham ChapelCemetery, Jefferson County, TN. (source:https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198785407/william-graham).Provenance: Estate of Anne Harrison Taylor & Joseph F. Taylor, Morristown, TN. CONDITION: 1st item: Discoloration, staining, to be expected from age. Moth holes, primarily to back of jacket, largest 1 1/4". Two buttons to bottom appear to be missing.Epaulet to right shoulder is not present. Accompanying note indicates that the coat was cleaned on April 24, 1975 for an exhibit. 2nd item: Overall good condition with toning, foxing spots, areas of dampstaining/acid burn, largest 1". Tears, areas of separation, largest 1 1/2", to fold lines. Signatures in good, legible condition. 3rd item: Natural age cracks, areas of insect damage, largest 1 1/8" x 3/4". [See more photos →]

Confederate Personal or Bible flag found with personal belongings of the wife of General John Hunt Morgan, First National pattern, 15 stars; hand sewn silk striped field and blue canton with fourteen embroidered stars encircling a large single star. Red or burgundy silk cord and tassels. 5" x 8 1/2". Circa 1862. Note: This flag is documented and photographed in the book, CIVIL WAR FLAGS OF TENNESSEE, by Stephen D. Cox, with commentary from Cox stating it is of a similar pattern to that of Morgan's brigade. (Pictured as Plate #154 and documented on page 540). Provenance: This flag was found in a box containing 4 envelopes addressed to General John Hunt Morgan and his wife, Mattie Ready Morgan, which are included with this lot. 1st envelope: addressed to Mrs. M.R. (Mattie Ready) Morgan, Murfreesboro, TN, postmarked Vicksburg, Mississippi, November 23. 2nd envelope: addressed to Genl. John H. Morgan, McMinnville, Tenn., postmarked Atlanta, GA (date illegible, possibly March, with two CSA five-cent Jefferson Davis blue stamps). 3rd envelope addressed to Mrs. Genl. Jno. H. Morgan, care of Hon. C.W. Ready, Murfreesboro Tenn, postmarked Abingdon, VA, Feb. 7. 4th envelope: addressed to Mrs. Jno. H. Morgan, Murfreesboro Tenn., postmarked Memphis (?) Tenn., __ 28. All with 3 cent US Washington rose stamps except as noted. Biography: Known as "the Thunderbolt of the Confederacy," John Hunt Morgan was born in Alabama but is most closely associated with Kentucky. He equipped a militia company, known as the "Lexington Rifles," out of his own pocket and led them to Bowling Green at the start of the war to join forces with General Buckner. Morgan was made a colonel in 1862 and fought at Shiloh before being attached to Joseph Wheeler's division in General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee. However, Morgan frequently defied orders and struck out on his own across "enemy" lines, destroying railroad and telegraph lines, seizing supplies and taking prisoners. In 1862, his marriage to Mattie Ready Morgan was called the "social event of the year" in Confederate circles. Mattie Ready was the daughter of a successful Murfreesboro, TN mayor and U.S. Representative (before the war); she attended Soule College in Murfreesboro and the Nashville Female Academy. John Hunt Morgan's most ambitious raid began in 1863, when against Bragg's explicit orders, Morgan and his 2,400 men crossed the Ohio River and rode over a thousand miles to terrorize the defenses of Southern Indiana and Ohio. Bragg was captured and sent to prison in Columbus, but escaped and made his way back to Confederate lines. In 1864 he set out to attack the largely pro-Union city of Knoxville, Tennessee, but was caught in a surprise attack in Greeneville and shot to death by a Union private who had once served under him. His death left Mattie Ready Morgan a pregnant widow after only 630 days of marriage. Source: Stephen Cox, "Civil War Flags of Tennessee"; and The American Battlefield Trust. Condition: Flag is in fragile condition with losses and full separation to white stripe and significant fraying to top red stripe along line where the flag was folded in half. Fading, particularly to red stripes, and scattered light grime/discoloration, particularly to white stripe. Tiny hole to blue canton. Tiny holes to lower red stripe and scattered small spots of light discoloration. [See more photos →]

Battle of Shiloh, Major General Leonidas Polk pattern personal/bible flag, presented to S. Duff J. Lewis, 12th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry. Flag comprised of machine sewn appliqued red and white silk on blue silk ground with eleven stitched stars in gold silk thread, obverse, appliqued white silk cross and oval with stitched "SHILOH" in red thread, reverse. Blue silk loop, top right corner. Also includes a cabinet card portrait of Lewis with Wallin, Birmingham, AL studio marks. Signed by Lewis with later genealogical information, en verso. Flag housed under double sided glass in a frame. Case wishes to thank Military Historian Greg Biggs for his essay with additional information on this flag (see attached report). Flag – 11 1/2" H x 7 1/2" W. Cabinet card – 6 5/8" H x 4 3/8" W. Mid 19th century. Provenance: Descended in the family of S. Duff J. Lewis. Note: BIBLE/PERSONAL FLAG OF S. DUFF J. LEWIS, 12TH TENNESSEE CAVALRY BATTALION IN A RARE POLK CORPS CONFIGURATION: This essay will cover the known details of a small Bible or personal flag formerly owned by Pvt. S. Duff J. Lewis, later of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion. As will be shown, some speculation, backed by evidence of location of Pvt. Lewis at a specific time frame, will be necessary as the record is not clear as to when exactly this flag was issued to or made for him. The flag itself is of a unique pattern and this will also be covered in this essay along with the unit history of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion and Lewis' war record as shown in the Compiled Service Records file from the National Archives. Pvt. S. Duff J. Lewis. According to information supplied to me by Case Antiques, Lewis came from a family where his father was a Methodist minister. Based on the unit he would join as to where it was formed and would fight in the Civil War, Lewis was from East Tennessee. While he is listed in the Compiled Service Records of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion (as Duff Lewis), he apparently did not join that unit with the rank of private until later in the war, possibly as late as February 1864. Prior to his joining that unit, Lewis was working for the Confederate Quartermaster Corps as a clerk in the military post office in the Department of East Tennessee which was under the command of General George Crittenden in September 1861. He apparently worked for Tennessee State Quartermaster officer Major Samuel T. Bicknell, who had been appointed as quartermaster in Knoxville, Tennessee by state governor Isham Harris. Bicknell would later apply to be a quartermaster in the Confederate Army with the endorsements of Confederate Senator Gustavus Henry and Confederate Postmaster General John Reagan. The forces of George Crittenden, under the tactical command of General Felix Zollicoffer, were defeated badly at the Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky in mid-January 1862. Zollicoffer was killed in action and the army routed. Falling back into East Tennessee, many of the troops were then transferred to Corinth, Mississippi where a new Confederate army was being formed.Lewis in the Collapse of the Confederate Line in Tennessee and Counter Offensive at Shiloh. By March 1862, five different Confederate armies were defending the large Department Number Two, which ran from the Appalachian Mountains westward across the Mississippi River into Arkansas and Missouri. West of the river was the Army of the West under Generals Earl Van Dorn and Sterling Price (formerly of the Missouri State Guard). East of the river was General Leonidas Polk's Grand Division, holding from Memphis, Tennessee northward to Columbus, Kentucky, a huge fortress on the bluffs above the river. At Forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers near Middle Tennessee was the large garrison under General John B. Floyd, while to the northeast in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Army of Central Kentucky defended the railroad to Nashville. This army was commanded by General William J. Hardee while department command General Albert Sidney Johnston was also present. Arriving in January 1862 from Virginia, was General P.G.T. Beauregard who assumed command over Polk as assistant department commander to Johnston. Lastly, split between Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida was the Army of Mobile and Pensacola under General Braxton Bragg.With the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson by mid-February, 1862, the vast majority of its garrison and the subsequent loss of the Tennessee state capital of Nashville only a few days later, the entire defense line of the Confederates collapsed. It was to reform along the Tennessee/Alabama/Mississippi border with the new base at Corinth, Mississippi becoming the rendezvous point. This town became a focal point thanks to the two railroads that joined there (including the most important track in the Confederacy, the Memphis & Charleston Railroad) and its closeness to the Tennessee River. This allowed the basing of a vast amount of supplies. Polk's Grand Division, the Army of Central Kentucky and Bragg's forces were ordered to meet at Corinth along with the Army of the West (although they would not arrive until after the Battle of Shiloh fought in early April) for the coming Confederate counter-offensive. A brigade was sent from New Orleans (Department Number One) as additional reinforcements as well as the remnants of Crittenden's and Zollicoffer's commands from East Tennessee, now under General (and former U.S. Vice President) John C. Breckinridge. On March 29, 1862, general orders were issued from General Johnston to form the new Army of the Mississippi, as their mission was the defense of the Mississippi River Valley. Polk's command became the First Corps (two divisions of two brigades each); Bragg's the Second Corps (two divisions of three brigades each), Hardee's the Third Corps (three large brigades) and Breckinridge's the Reserve Corps (three brigades).At some point in early 1862, Lewis transferred to the command of Major David Sullins (also listed as Sullens). Sullins, a Kentuckian, and former chaplain of the 19th Tennessee Infantry (an East Tennessee raised regiment), became a brigade quartermaster on January 7, 1862 in the division of General Crittenden, specifically the Second Brigade. With the transfer of those troops to Corinth after the Mill Springs disaster, Sullins and Lewis went along. This is based on two invoices in Lewis' file signed by Sullins as well as documents in Sullins' file. Sullins was then appointed as Brigade Quartermaster for Colonel W.S. Statham's Third Brigade (later Fourth Brigade) of the Reserve Corps, whose troops had fought at Mill Springs and whose brigade was created out of the two brigades from that battle (less a couple regiments who remained in East Tennessee). Indeed, one invoice, dated May 15, 1862, states that Lewis was being paid for, "one month's service as clerk in Brigade Quartermaster's Department from 31st March 1862 to 30th April, 1862". A second invoice for pay from April 30 to June 15, 1862 also covers Lewis' time serving with Sullins. Both are during the time frame of the Third and evolution into the Fourth Brigade, Reserve Corps which came later in April 1862. Invoices for both brigades can also be found in Sullins' file. These notations on the early history of the Army of the Mississippi and the cited invoice are important as it places Lewis in the right place and time to have enabled him to receive the flag in question for the Battle of Shiloh which was fought on April 6-7, 1862 in West Tennessee. Initially a Confederate victory, Union reinforcements arrived during the night of April 6th and on the next day launched a counter-attack that slowly drove the Confederates from the field. General Albert Sidney Johnston was killed in action and command of the army fell upon the shoulders of General Beauregard who ordered a retreat back to Corinth. Sullins resigned as a quartermaster in October 1862 but a month later he noted, "Capt. J.F.J. Lewis has been with me as my Assist. in the Q.M. Dept., since Jan. inst.," and goes on to recommend him as a quartermaster in the Confederate Army. While he gets his first name incorrect, he also, for some reason, lists Lewis as a captain. Nothing in Lewis' file bears out this promotion.Lewis did remain with the Quartermaster Department into 1863, where in January he was posted to the depot in Tullahoma, Tennessee, southwest of Murfreesboro. He remained there until the Confederate Army of Tennessee had been forced out of the Middle Tennessee region by a Union army under General William S. Rosecrans in the Tullahoma Campaign of June/early July, which led directly to the capture of Chattanooga in early September. Such supplies as could be saved from Tullahoma were loaded onto trains and sent to Georgia, primarily Dalton and as far south as Kingston, as the Battle of Chickamauga raged in mid-September. The victorious Confederates pursued Rosecrans back to Chattanooga but could never capture the city although they laid siege to it. That was broken in late November with massive Union reinforcements the Confederates falling back to Dalton, Georgia for the winter. In February 1864, Lewis began working at the depot in Kingston, Georgia and remained there into June, before the Union armies of General William T. Sherman forced that depot to be evacuated towards Atlanta. Here he worked for Captain A.L. Hamilton, another former chaplain turned quartermaster who, like Sullins, also worked for General George Crittenden in East Tennessee. One payroll invoice in Lewis' file mentions his Kingston service. One last notation states that Lewis was working for Hamilton as late as July 22, 1864, as the battles swirled around Atlanta itself at this time. While nowhere in the Lewis' Compiled Service Record states a date, it was probably in mid-1864 when he joined the 12th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion, and may have been on detached service from them remaining in the quartermaster department or perhaps serving in the field with that command. The record is not clear at all on this.After the war, Lewis married Helen Arthur of Kentucky and lived in Knoxville, Tennessee. His daughter, Eliza, married William K. McClure in 1889. In April 1938, she wrote (as Mrs. W.K. McClure) to the U.S. War Department asking for information about her father's war record and she received a response that features both typed and hand written paragraphs. This letter is also in Lewis' file.12th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion. A detailed history of this unit is not needed but since Lewis' file is with them, some history might be helpful. This battalion was formed on September 1, 1862 from several companies of partisan rangers that had been raised in East Tennessee pursuant to the Partisan Rangers Act of April 1862. These companies had been raised in Hawkins County and Greene County as well as the towns of Greenville, Morristown and Knoxville. Major T.W. Adrian was in command until his death in November 1862 whereupon Major Frank Phipps and soon after Major George Day (later Lt. Colonel).Their first action was in the Kentucky Campaign of August-October, 1862 where they fought in the cavalry brigade of Joseph Wheeler. After the campaign's conclusion, they were transferred to the brigade of Colonel John Scott, Department of East Tennessee. In mid-June 1863, the 12th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion was consolidated with the 16th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion to become Rucker's Legion, led by Col. Edmund Rucker. The new command fought in the Chickamauga Campaign of September as part of Wheeler's cavalry corps before being sent back to East Tennessee where they would fight during the miserable winter of 1863/1864.With Rucker's transfer to Mississippi, his legion was disbanded in February 1864 and both battalions reverted to their old formations. Now part of the Department of East Tennessee and Western Virginia, the 12th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion became part of General John C. Vaughn's Brigade with whom they would serve for the rest of the war fighting in the Valley of Virginia to upper East Tennessee. When the news of Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox on April 9, 1865 arrived, the battalion and the rest of the Confederate troops in this department disbanded and went home. If Lewis joined this battalion after July 1864 he would have been involved with their war history as part of Vaughn's Brigade for the rest of the war. Confederate Bible or Personal Flags: To date there has not been any written essay covering the topic of Confederate Bible or personal flags. This is a shame as there are a number of them still extant and their existence can add to our knowledge of how flags can have a personal connection to home in addition to the unit battle flags presented in the early phases of the Civil War to companies and regiments as they formed.These flags were typically made by ladies from the home towns or counties from where men derived to form combat units. Some went off to war with soldiers in 1861 while others would be made during the war and sent to them by mail. Their sizes varied from three by four inches to one by two feet. Some of the larger ones were flown on tents and indeed a famous image of the Clinch Rifles, 5th Georgia Infantry, shows just such a flag being flown from the top of a tent with some troops depicted in front. The epithet "Bible flag" comes from their probable use, at least for the much smaller flags of this type, as patriotic book marks used by soldiers as they read their Bibles. Although smaller than the aforementioned personal flags, even these varied in both sizes and quality of manufacture. The vast majority of these flags I have seen are of the First National pattern. There are some of the Second National pattern and even Third National but the First National pattern dominates. The star counts also vary although no flag historian has ever created a data base of these to track that. Some stars are ornate while I have seen others that are two simple crossed stitches including one in the collections of the Tennessee State Library and Archives bearing fifteen such stars. This flag was made in Nashville. Very unique to these flags are those of a battle flag pattern as used by the Army of the Mississippi/Army of Tennessee.Battle Flags of the Army of the Mississippi/Army of Tennessee. The four components of the army that formed in Corinth, Mississippi in March 1862 brought, in two cases, unique battle flags that had been adopted earlier in 1862. Polk's Grand Division, later Polk's Corps, developed a flag based on Episcopal Church heritage and heraldry. Polk, a West Point graduate who was also an ordained Episcopal minister, was Bishop of the Southwest before the war. This flag utilized a red Cross of St. George (+) bearing thirteen white stars on a blue field. The first version lacked the white fimbration that ran between the cross and field. Forty five of these were made of bulk purchased dress silk in Memphis, Tennessee in January 1862 and sent to Polk's troops who were in upper West Tennessee as well as the area around Columbus, Kentucky. Of these only three survive today.In August 1862 a second version of this flag was made for Polk's corps, especially General Benjamin F. Cheatham's Division just prior to the start of the Kentucky Campaign. These flags, made of wool with cotton stars, were smaller, bore only eleven white stars and added white fimbration to the red cross. These battle flags remained in use into 1863. It is not known how many were made of this version and only a few survive today. The Army of Central Kentucky, stationed at Bowling Green, Kentucky received their distinctive battle flags also in January 1862. Made by a local sewing circle from a design by General Simon B. Buckner, these simple flags were also blue bearing a white circle. This circle bore the unit designation of each regiment. There was a white hoist edge. Buckner's Division brought these flags to Fort Donelson when they were transferred there in February 1862. With the rest of the army becoming known as Hardee's Corps, the name of this battle flag has come to be known as the Hardee pattern. Hardee's Corps would use these through 1863 when they were replaced by the rectangular Augusta Depot Southern Cross pattern. From 1864 until the end of the war, however, Patrick Cleburne's Division not only continued to use this pattern, but received two newer versions as the year progressed. Bragg's Corps, which came up from Mobile and Pensacola to Corinth, carried mostly First National flags and upon arrival, General Bragg was informed that his corps would henceforth carry a flag based on the Southern Cross pattern that Beauregard had been instrumental in getting adopted by the army in Virginia when he was there in the fall of 1861. This flag had diagonally crossed blue bars (X) with white fimbration bearing twelve white stars (with six pointed stars) on a red field. Three sides of the flag were bordered in yellow. The flags were roughly square. Made in New Orleans and shipped to Corinth, they became known as the Bragg Pattern battle flag. Polk's Corps had a set made as well but they did not arrive in time for use at Shiloh and equipped the corps after that battle although mostly replaced in August by the second version of the Polk Corps flag. Breckinridge's Reserve Corps (later his division) used mostly First National flags although in May 1862 would also create their own distinctive flags. As the Army of the Mississippi marched from Corinth to fight at Shiloh in early April 1862, staff officers rode the along the marching columns of troops carrying examples of the three main corps flags announcing to them the name of the corps they represented intending to familiarize the men with them to avoid friendly fire incidents. Several years ago at the Franklin, Tennessee Civil War show, one dealer had a Bible/personal flag for an Arkansas soldier of the Hardee pattern. I have never seen one prior to this nor after so far. Polk Corps Bible/Personal flag of S. Duff J. Lewis. The exciting thing about this flag is that it is the first of the Polk Corps pattern that I have ever seen in over twenty eight years of flag research. In my opinion, this adds a great deal to its collectability. Even more unique is the Latin/Christian cross on the reverse side also bears a battle honor for "Shiloh". No Bible/personal flag that I have seen or have files for bear any battle honors although a couple bear the name of the maker or something patriotic. This, too, greatly adds to its collectability. The flag is made of machine sewn silk. The red cross bears eleven embroidered white stars. On the reverse side a white silk cross is sewn to the blue field while the battle honor is also embroidered in a white silk oval. The fly end is feathered rather than solid. Overall, the flag measures 11 1/2 inches on the fly by 7 1/2 inches on the hoist. A small semi-looped attachment is sewn to the upper left corner of the flag resembling ties that would attach a battle flag to its staff. In this case it is only decorative. There is some sort of stain in one quadrant of the flag. A smaller stain looking like it came from the same source is also on another portion of the field. This would need to be seen by a conservator with experience in 19th Century flags to determine what the stain is made from. According to a letter written by an unknown family member after the war, the flag was given to, "veterans of this battle, including my great, great, great grandfather, S.D.J. Lewis, were later presented w/ceremonial battle flags. This is his flag". As has been reported already, Lewis was in Corinth during the Shiloh campaign working for the brigade quartermaster, David Sullins. Quartermasters would go with their brigades as they marched into action making sure that needed supplies were sufficient and that more could be brought forward to the battlefield as it waged. However, as mentioned, at the time of Shiloh, Mullins was quartermaster of the Third Brigade, which was Colonel Statham's of Breckinridge's Reserve Corps. This corps did not use Polk Corps battle flags at Shiloh. So how did such a flag get presented to Lewis? One can only speculate as to how this happened and there is no evidence that has been located to date that can tell us how a flag of one corps made it to a soldier of another corps. Nor do we know how many of these were made or even when they were made or presented. I can theorize that these came in the summer of 1862 at the earliest as it follows the second version of the Polk Corps flag that came out in August 1862. This report will include images of both versions of these flags so that the mentioned differences can be noted. Conclusion: While some questions remain regarding this flag, there is no doubt as to its authenticity due to its line of ownership coming from Lewis' family as proven by the letter of his great-great-great grandson. As stated before, this flag is very unique and will be quite interesting to flag collectors due to it being the only known example of a Bible/personal flag of this pattern. It is exceedingly well made and quite striking with vivid colors, obviously the product of a maker with considerable skill used to embroidery and working with silk.Besides images of the Polk Corps flags, this report will also include the Compiled Service Record of S.D.J. Lewis. Other documents, already in the possession of Case Antiques, will also accompany the flag upon sale. Gregory G. Biggs, Military Historian, December 21, 2018. Bibliography: Connelly, Thomas Lawrence, Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee, 1861-1862 (Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, 1967); Hafendorfer, Kenneth A., Mill Springs: Campaign and Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky (KH Press, Louisville, 2001; )Horn, Stanley F. and others, Tennesseans in the Civil War, Volume One (Civil War Centennial Commission, Nashville, 1964); Madaus, Howard Michael and Needham, Robert D., The Battle Flags of the Confederate Army of Tennessee (Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, 1976); Roman, Alfred, The Military Operations of General Beauregard, Volume 1 (Da Capo Press, New York, 1994); Smith, Timothy B., Shiloh: Conquer or Perish (University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, 2014); Sword, Wiley, Shiloh: Bloody April (Revised Edition) (Morningside Press, Dayton, 2001); The War of the Rebellion, A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume X, Part Two (Government Printing Office, Washington, 1884). Other Sources: Greg Biggs Flag Files, Clarksville, TN; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers who Served in Organizations From the State of Tennessee, 12th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion, Duff Lewis File (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 109, Microcopy M268, Roll 53); Compiled Service Records of Confederate Generals and Staff Officers and Nonregimental Enlisted Men, Samuel T. Bicknell File (NARA, RG 109, Microcopy M 331, Roll 23); Compiled Service Records of Confederate Generals and Staff Officers and Nonregimental Enlisted Men, A.L. Hamilton File (NARA, RG 109, Microcopy M 331, Roll 115); Compiled Service Records of Confederate Generals and Staff Officers and Nonregimental Enlisted Men, David Sullins File (NARA, RG 109, Microcopy M 331, Roll 239). (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.) CONDITION: Fraying to right edge. Surface stains, largest 2 1/2" x 1 3/8". Scattered tears, largest 3/4", with few minute holes. Loop is torn in half. [See more photos →]

Civil War era brass frame revolver .36 cal, six shot, serial numbers 1646 on cylinder, barrel, and brass receiver. Serial number ending in 26 on lever, brass trigger guard, wedge, and wooden grip. Roman numeral “II” above tear down wedge for barrel. Similar to a Model 1851 Navy type percussion revolver manufactured by Samuel Griswold in Griswoldville, Georgia. Barrel length: 7 3/8″. Provenance: Gatlinburg, TN collection. Condition: Cylinder not advancing properly, unable to remove barrel from frame cylinder possibly due to rust, replaced screws, indention marks around tear down wedge (both sides), brass frame with minor marks, tip of wooden grip handles with minor losses. [See more photos →]

Confederate Baton Rouge, Louisiana Arsenal Made Model 1855 Rifleman's Pattern Leather Cartridge Box. Brown leather, single stitched with scalloped edge to outer flap and lunate interior flap over implement pouch with tab closure. Interior flap marked "C.S. ARSENAL" over "BATON ROUGE.LA.". Possible initials to outer flap. Includes closing tab, brass finial, one piece tin liner, and two belt loops. 6 1/4" H x 8 3/8" W x 2 3/8" D. Provenance: Mike Martin Collection. Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. Note: This Cartridge Box is pictured in "Collecting the Confederacy" by Shannon Pritchard, 2005, page 89. CONDITION: The box is in very good condition. The leather is strong with no tears, the stitching is tight. No provision is present for an over the shoulder sling. [See more photos →]

Four (4) Civil War Confederate officer staff buttons. 1st item: Tennessee brass coat button, 2-piece construction, depicting the Tennessee state seal, a scene with symbolism of agriculture and commerce, a plow, sheaf, cotton plant, and river boat. Blank back with depressed rounded channel, en verso. Approximately 21 mm dia. 2nd item: Virginia brass coat button, 2-piece construction, depicting the Virginia state seal, Virtus slaying the tyrant with sword down. Manufacturer’s marks Steele & Johnson stamped, en verso. Approximately 22 mm dia. 3rd item: North Carolina brass coat button, 2-piece construction, depicting the North Carolina state seal, the goddesses Liberty and Plenty. Manufacturer’s marks S A Myers Richmond VA embossed, en verso. Approximately 23 mm dia. 4th item: Kentucky brass coat button, 3-piece construction, depicting the Kentucky state seal, two figures shaking hands on a lined background. “Superior Quality” embossed, en verso. Approximately 22 mm dia. Provenance: The collection of internationally known ragtime pianist and historian Johnny Maddox, Gallatin, TN. CONDITION: Overall good, nondug condition with some minute areas of oxidation. All shanks present. 1st item: Shank slightly loose. Areas of tarnish, en verso. 3rd item: Areas of tarnish, en verso. 4th item: 1/8″ dent, center of button. [See more photos →]

Confederate Louisiana Officer's Sword belt with plate on original leather. 2-piece gilt cast brass waist belt plate with round keepers, applied die-struck tongue medallion depicting the state seal of Louisiana, a pelican feeding her young, surrounded by concentric rings to wreath. Partially illegible tag affixed to the inside of the belt which indicates capture at Shilow (Shiloh). Includes retail listings from Shannon Pritchard, Old South Military Antiques and Cliff Sophia, CS Arms with additional photographs. Plate approximately 52 mm (2.05") (53 mm tongue (2.09")) x 92 mm (3.62"). Wreath height Ð 57 mm (2.24"). Belt length approximately 31". Provenance: Shannon Pritchard, Old South Military Antiques. Purchased from Cliff Sophia, CS Arms. Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. Note: Thought to be made by Dufihlo of New Orleans. See: "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates" by Steve E. Mullinax, 1999, page 151-154. CONDITION: The buckle exhibits fine untouched patina; the belt is solid and pliable but does have two partial tears that have been repaired. The belt originally had sword hangers which were removed at some point. [See more photos →]

Julian Oliver Davidson (New York, 1853-1894) oil on canvas laid to Masonite painting depicting the burning of the USS Congress at Hampton Roads on March 8, 1862, following shelling by the USS Virginia (visible in the distance at center right). Sailors abandon the burning ship and swim or try to remain afloat in the foreground. Signed and dated "J.O. Davidson 92," lower left. Housed in an ornate giltwood frame with brass nameplate. Sight: 58 1/2" H x 34 7/8" W. Frame: 69" H x 45" W. Literature: This painting along with a watercolor and photogravure of the same theme, is listed as number 5 in the general inventory of the estate of the artist as recorded by the Rockland County, NY Surrogate's Office and included in the supplementary material in Lynn S. Beman's exhibition catalogue Julian O. Davidson 1853-1894: American Marine Artist, p. 61 (New York: Historical Society of Rockland County, 1986). Note: The USS Congress, along with a fleet of Union ships, was attacked in 1862 by the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimac and persistently mid-identified as such). This conflict, known as the Battle of Hampton Roads, resulted in the destruction of the USS Congress. Later, the Union ironclad USS Monitor would arrive and the ensuing battle–the first between this class of armored warships–would significantly impact the course of naval warfare.

PROVENANCE: Private South Carolina Collection, ex-Brunk Auctions, Sept. 12, 2015 lot 228, and November 3, 2007, lot 490.

CONDITION: Overall good condition, with retouching to two areas in smoke at left, plus repair with retouching to net arm, 5" H x 3" W. [See more photos →]

American 38-star flag, linen with printed stars arranged in an unusual floral pattern in the canton. No maker’s marks. Housed under glass in a wooden frame with gilt wood rabbet edge. Flag – 13″ H x 21 1/2″ W. Sight – 14 1/2″ H x 23″ W. Framed – 19 3/4″ H x 28 1/4″ W. Late 19th century. Provenance: Private Crossville, TN collection. Note: Letter in which Jeffrey Kenneth Kohn, M.D., Elkins Park, PA, the original dealer of the flag, writes to the consignor describing the rarity of the flag, stating that “I have never before seen this configuration of 4 clusters of 8 stars between, all encirling a star within a star. There is nothing like it in the Mastai book but if you have the Sotheby’s Mastai Auction catalog there is a similar larger sewn flag that has just 4 clusters of stars but no ‘star within a star'” included in the photos. CONDITION: Overall good condition. 1 1/4″ area of loss, top left of canton. Holes, largest 1/2″, surface of flag. 1/2″ x 1/2″ area of repair, lower center of flag. [See more photos →]

Southern landscape painting, oil on canvas, depicting a view of Cumberland Gap with mountains and log structures. Signed “O.M. ’97” lower left. The painting depicts the evacuation of the Cumberland Gap by the 7th Division of the Army of the Ohio. The Cumberland Gap was occupied by the Confederates until June of 1862. The Union Army then occupied the gap until September, 17th 1863. It is believed that the house in the foreground was the headquarters of Brig. Gen. Absalom Baird of the 27th brigade with the tents surrounding the home belonging to the 14th Kentucky infantry. It is likely that the painting is based off of a Civil War era print. Sight – 21 1/4″ H x 26 7/8″ W. Framed – 26 1/4″ H x 32″ W. Late 19th century. Provenance: Collection of Grace Tankersley, Knoxville, TN., purchased from Carole Wahler. Condition: Cleaned with later frame, blacklighting did not reveal any inpainting or repairs. [See more photos →]

Confederate Richmond, Virginia R. H. Bosher Carriage Works original leather belt with fixed tongue frame buckle. 1-piece enlisted infantry sand cast brass "Beveled Edge" frame buckle on leather belt stamped "W. H. BOSHER CO." over "RICHMOND VA." on the front of the leather below the stitching for the buckle. Includes original retail listing from Shannon Pritchard, Old South Military Antiques with additional photographs. Buckle approximately 67 mm x 57 mm (2.64" x 2.24"). Belt length approximately 36 3/4". Provenance: Purchased from Shannon Pritchard, Old South Military Antiques. Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. Note: See "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates" by Steve E. Mullinax, 1999, pages 94-99, and "Collecting the Confederacy" by Shannon Pritchard, 2005, page 19. CONDITION: Overall the leather is strong; there is scarring on the leather where the points of the belt frame scratched the leather. Buckle in overall good condition. [See more photos →]

Civil War era Confederate first national parade flag, consisting of 7 applied nine pointed paper stars in the canton on silk ground. Includes wooden parade stick with sewn loop for stick to edge of flag closest to canton. Flag – 5 3/4″ H x 10 1/4″ W. Parade stick – 14 7/8″ L. Provenance: Private Ringgold, Georgia collection; among items purchased in the 1960’s from the old location of the A. P. Stewart Chapter of the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy), formerly the Nathan Bedford Forrest UCV (United Confederate Veterans) home, St. Elmo, Chattanooga, TN. CONDITION: Fragile condition with foxing spots, dampstaining, to be expected from age. Areas of loss, largest 2″ H x 1/2″, to white center bar. Total of five stars not present to canton on either side of flag. [See more photos →]

Marlin Model 1893 Engraved Special Order Lever Action Rifle, .38-.55 caliber, serial number 139497, under receiver just behind forestock. Figured and flame grain American walnut straight stock with “A” style checking, serpentine pistol grip stock and crescent buttplate. Factory engraving on barrel and receiver including running elk in a circle surrounded by scroll and border engraving on left side of receiver, and a standing buck deer in a circle surrounded by scroll and border engraving on right side. 26″ octagon to round barrel stamped, MARLIN FIRE-ARMS CO. NEW-HAVEN, CT. U.S.A. PATENTED. OCT. 11. 1887. APRIL 2. 1889. AUGUST 1. 1893. Adjustable sight stamped MARBLE’S GLADSTONE MICH. U.S.A. Lyman front sight stamped PAT. JAN. 29. 79 – MAY. 6. 87. Overall length – 44 5/8″. Black and tan snakeskin case included. CONDITION: Faint case coloring. Divot in top of barrel. Bore is good, no pitting, standard size. Original stock has numerous scattered dents and dings. [See more photos →]

U.S. Navy Morse Dive Helmet, copper and brass, manufactured by the Morse Diving Equipment Company, serial number 4301. Plaque to front of helmet reads "US Navy Diving Helmet/Mark V/ Morse Diving Equipment Co. Inc. /Boston, Mass/No. 668/Date 4/6/42". Collar marked "DROP 311 USN 018528". Inside of helmet marked MORSE BOSTON and MADE IN U.S. 4. The brails and bonnet all marked with the serial #4301. 18 1/2" H x 16 1/2" W. Provenance: Owned by the consignor's ancestor, Francis J (Johnny) Fernandez, born on January 1, 1909 in Taunton, MA. He enlisted in the Navy when he was 31 years old. He died in 1966 in Taunton, MA. CONDITION: Overall use wear with some scattered light denting. Oxidation to metals including green oxidation to brass along with some white patination. Some areas of uneven patina noted to the back of the helmet. [See more photos →]

42-star Cavalry Guidon flag, cotton with printed stars and stencil for 3rd Cavalry Regiment depicting two crossed sabers with “3” above and “C” below, center of field. No maker’s marks. Housed under glass in a burl wood frame. Flag – 18 1/4″ H x 24″ W. Sight – 20 1/2″ H x 28 3/4″ W. Framed – 23″ H x 28 5/8″ W. Circa 1889-1891. Provenance: Purchased from Jeff R. Bridgman Antiques, Dillsburg, PA, in 2002. Private Crossville, TN collection. Note: These flags are thought to have been special ceremony flags used at Fort Sheriden or at the Presidio in San Francisco in dress parades. Regardless, few have ever surfaced and they are all of the same configuration with different cavalry units. 42-stars were official for only two years, 1889-1891. CONDITION: Overall good condition with areas of stains, fraying, holes, largest 1/2″, to be expected from age and manner of use. [See more photos →]

Technical Sergeant George A. Pierce WWII archive. Sargeant Pierce flew 31 missions on the B-17 bomber “Bags Inc.” in the European theater. The leather jacket is decorated with a pin-up girl surrounded by “Bags Inc. Ceiling Zero” with 31 bombs stating the different cities bombed. The jacket is a size 40 A-2 military issued jacket. Included is Sargeant Pierce’s framed bomber wings, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and ribbons for Army good conduct, Asiatic-Pacific campaign, European-Africa Middle Eastern campaign, and his honorable discharge card. Also included is a picture of Sergeant Pierce with his crew standing next to a B-17 and a portrait of him in dress uniform. Medals framed: 10-1/4″ H x 8-1/4″ W. Crew framed: 10-3/4″ H x 12-3/4″ W. Portrait framed: 15-1/2″ H x 12-1/2″ W. Biography: George A. Pierce (1917-1969) was raised in Knox County, Tennessee. He enlisted on January 23, 1941 with his two brothers, Ira S. Pierce and S. Pierce, who were also airmen. Condition: Some overall wear to jacket, fraying to fabric at end of sleeves. [See more photos →]

Civil War era Colt Model 1851 London Navy percussion revolver, .36 caliber, serial #38701, owned by James Nelson III (1828-1907), Confederate States of America (CSA), Morgan’s Raiders. Barrel marked “-Address Col. Colt London -“. Marked “Colts Patent” to left side of frame under cylinder and top of cylinder. Cylinders with engraved ships, walnut stocks, octagonal barrel, ejector rod, standard sights, checkered hammer, iron butt strap and trigger guard. Eight English proof marks, six top of barrel, including “V” with crown, two left side of barrel lug. Serial number matches top of ejector rod, trigger guard, butt strap, cylinder, and frame. Barrel length – 7 1/2″. Overall length – 13″. Also includes a notebook with information about Nelson and his family, including a notarized affidavit from the widow of the previous owner dating November 29, 2017, documenting that the pistol had originally belonged to James Nelson III and had descended in the family until they decided to sell it “to someone who will appreciate its history and continue to care for it”. Also included is a typed transcription of a letter from James Nelson II, the owner’s father, to Elizabeth Thomson, his daughter, dated October 8, 1863. The Civil War era letter mostly discusses Nelson’s health but does mention his son, writing “A word about James Nelson, my son. I done all I could to keep him at home. He was with John H. Morgan in his raid through Indiana and Ohio, was taken prisoner, with a good many others at Buffington’s Island, Ohio. Is now a prisoner of war at Camp Douglaps [sic] Illinois. He wrote me that he reported for duty about the first of April last, that he never enjoyed better health in his life, that he had not taken a dose of medicine this year. The prisoners when captured had many of their clothes taken from them. He writes me he is treated with a great deal of humanity by the officers of the prison. He says they appear to be gentlemen. They let me furnish him money, say five dollars at a time, and I get a friend to furnish it to him as he needs it.” Also included is a check from “The People’s Bank” Lebanon, TN signed by James Nelson III, February 14, 1896. Notebook – 11 3/4″ H x 10 3/4″ W x 1 3/4″ D. Biography: James Nelson III was born on December 3, 1828 in Fayetteville, KY. He attended Bacon College for two years before enlisting in the CSA 8th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry. He fought in the Battle of Hartsville, TN on December 7, 1862. He rode in General John Hunt Morgan’s “Great Raid” in the summer of 1863 through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Nelson was captured at the Battle of Buffington Island, OH on July 19, 1863 with about 700 others. He was imprisoned at Camp Douglas, IL, known as the “Andersonville of the North”. He never took the Oath of Allegiance to the Union and was released in 1865 and returned home to Wilson County, TN where he had bought a farm in 1859. Nelson’s occupation was listed as “Stock Trader” in the Census of 1870. He was elected as 9th District Magistrate (Justice of the Peace) in 1876. By 1886 he owned 470 acres of farmland in Wilson County and was listed as a “Farmer” in the Census of 1900. He attended several local reunions of Confederate veterans. He passed away on December 16, 1907 at 79 and was buried in the Nelson family farm in Lebanon, TN. CONDITION: Overall good antique condition. 50% of original finish to stocks present. Engraved scene of barrels visible. Three screw heads show damage. Action good. Bore is dark. [See more photos →]

Full stock long rifle, .40 caliber. Barrel marked “Solomon Reed” in script lettering. Foliate engraving on lock plate. Walnut stocks, metal frame with iron mounts, octagonal barrel, cigar patch box, wooden ram rod. Standard sights. Barrel length – 45″. Overall length – 60″. Provenance: Private Knox County, TN collection. Note: Solomon Reed was born in 1791 and served as a Private in East Tennessee Volunteers in the War of 1812. In the 1820 census he was in Greene County, Tennessee, producing 20 guns at $20, 40 barrels at $10, using a hand-powered mill (Information according to “Notes on Southern Long Rifles” by Jerry Noble). CONDITION: Lock is converted to percussion. Stock is refinished. 2 3/4″ hairline right side of forestock and old slender patch, various storage dings and surface abrasions. Minor oxidation to barrel and lock plate. Few nails on forestock not flush or missing. Action is good. Bore is dark. [See more photos →]

Winchester Russian Model 1895 musket, 7.62mm Cartridge. Serial number 223501B. Lock plate marked, “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED NOV. 5. 95. AUG. 17. 97. JAN. 25. 98. AUG. 23. 98. AUG 6. 1907.”. Tang marked, “Model 1892 Winchester Trade Mark REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF. & FGN.”. Greek Cross insignia inlaid, left side of butt, compass, right side of butt. Walnut stocks, metal frame, round barrel. Standard sights. Barrel length – 28″. Overall length – 46″. Serial number corresponds to year 1916. CONDITION: Gun has been sporterized by removing front of forearm past the first barrel band. Remaining forearm has been checkered. Name and address of former owner has been applied to the magazine with electric pen. Silver plate with former owner’s name placed in the wrist. Proper butt plate with cleaning lanyard in the butt. Bore is OK but dark. Little original finish remains. Excellent mechanical. [See more photos →]

Union Recruiting Banner, “Army of Georgia. Soldiers Wanted.” with Federal Eagle emblem to center of cloth banner. Housed under glass in a wooden frame with gilt wood rabbet edge. Banner – 21 3/4″ H x 40 3/4″ W. Sight – 25″ H x 44 1/4″ W. Framed – 28″ H x 47″ W. Circa 1864. Provenance: Private Ringgold, Georgia collection; among items purchased in the 1960’s from the old location of the A. P. Stewart Chapter of the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy), formerly the Nathan Bedford Forrest UCV (United Confederate Veterans) home, St. Elmo, Chattanooga, TN. Note: In November 1864, General Sherman created the Army of Georgia from the remaining XIV and XX Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. This army was commanded under Major General Henry Warner Slocum and served as one of Sherman’s wings in the March to the Sea. CONDITION: Overall good condition with foxing spots, stains, largest 2 1/8″ x 1 1/2″, tears, largest 1/2″, to be expected from age and manner of use. Areas of loss, 2 1/4″ x 1 3/4″ to top left of eagle’s wing and 1 1/2″ x 1 5/8″ area top left corner of banner. Top and left edges appear to be slightly cut down. Printed lettering and emblem in very good condition. [See more photos →]

Four (4) Civil War Confederate and one (1) Union officer staff buttons, 5 items total. 1st item: Texas brass coat button, 2-piece construction, depicting the Texas state seal, a flat lone star surrounded by “TEXAS” on a lined background. Manufacturer’s marks Hyde & Goodrich New Orleans stamped, en verso. Approximately 22 mm dia. 2nd item: Louisiana brass coat button, 2-piece construction, depicting the Louisiana state seal, a pelican facing left on a lined background. Manufacturer’s marks Horstmann & Allien N.Y. stamped, en verso. Approximately 22 mm dia. 3rd item: Missouri brass coat button, 3-piece construction, depicting the Missouri state seal, an eagle with two bears around a shield on a lined background. “Extra Quality” stamped, en verso. Approximately 22 mm dia. 4th item: Florida brass coat button, 2-piece construction, depicting the Florida state territorial seal, an eagle over cactus on a lined background. Manufacturer’s marks S Scovill Mfg Co Superfine embossed, en verso. Approximately 20 mm dia. 5th item: Federal Militia general service brass coat button, 1-piece construction, depicting a left facing eagle with blank shield, holding a bundle of 13 arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right talon. Manufacturer’s marks Horstmann & Allien N.Y. stamped, en verso. Approximately 22 mm dia. Provenance: The collection of internationally known ragtime pianist and historian Johnny Maddox, Gallatin, TN. CONDITION: Overall good, nondug condition with some minute areas of oxidation. All shanks present. 4th item: 1/4″ dent, center of button. [See more photos →]

Harper’s Ferry US Model 1803 flint lock rifle. One of 1600 made in 1814, the start of second generation of production. 65 caliber with seven groove rifling, 33-1/2″ long half octagon / half round barrel, barrel stamped sunken “US” and eagle over “P” proof marks. Reconverted to flint lock with reproduction lockplate marked HARPERS FERRY 1803 behind the hammer and American Eagle in front of the hammer. Walnut half stock with cheekrest and brass patch box. Markings on stock include PW 53 in front of the patch box, 53 above the patch box, E P above an E, and V TM on the reverse of the lock. 49-1/2″ total length. Also included is a 19th century leather shot pouch. 5-1/2″ H x 6-1/2″ W. Condition: Overall very good functioning condition. Replaced ramrod and lockplate, reconverted to flint, and patch to the stock above the cheek piece. Leather shot pouch has 1/4 of original strap, and has been resewn in some areas. [See more photos →]

George III regimental painted drum, polychrome paint on oak frame with square nail construction and likely original rope tighteners; the front emblazoned with royal coat of arms and banner reading REGt XXXVI SECOND BATTALION on a green background; side campaign scrolls enclosing oval medallions with gilt lettering "VIIIth COMP." and "No. 1". Bronze colored metal stud design to side. Hide top and pair of wooden sticks. 17 1/4" H x 17 1/4" dia. English, third quarter 18th century. Provenance: a Middle Tennessee estate, by descent from Thomas G.B. Wheelock. Note: Thomas G.B. Wheelock was known as an astute collector of African Art and co-author of the book "Land of the Flying Masks: Art & Culture in Burkina Faso". He also inherited a sizeable collection of Asian, British, and military related antiques from his grandparents, Gilded Age tycoon George Briggs Buchanan of New York, and William and Margaret Wheelock, who owned a Scottish manor home known as Bunker Hill. (Margaret Carmichael Wheelock was also a founding partner of the fashion firm Farquharson & Wheelock in New York). See other related lots in this auction. CONDITION: Paint appears original and mostly intact. Losses, cracks and repairs to hide top. Missing neck strap. Ropes brittle and torn; some ropes may be missing. Hoops loose. Scattered shrinkage cracks. Sticks are mismatched and may not be original to drum. [See more photos →]

Confederate Leech & Rigdon waist belt plate on original leather sword belt. 2-piece sand cast brass plain tongue plate, oak leaf wreath with embossed Leech & Rigdon "reverse L" patterns, top and bottom center. Includes original receipt and documentation from Shannon Pritchard, Old South Military Antiques. Plate approximately 50 mm x 91 mm (1.97" x 3.58"). Wreath height Ð 49 mm (1.93"). Belt length approximately 30". Provenance: Purchased from Shannon Pritchard, Old South Military Antiques. Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. Note: See "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates" by Steve E. Mullinax, 1999, page 35. CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Areas of tarnish to brass buckle. Missing hangers. [See more photos →]

Group of four (4) US. Navy uniform items belonging to Hugh Young Purviance (1799-1882), 6 items total. 1st item: Naval dress bicorn hat or Chapeau with the original custom fitted metal case, comprised of a beaver pelt over a hard shell form with gilt gold hat epaulettes. Retains the original retailer label reading “W. H. Smith & Co./No. 4/Maiden-Lane/N. Y. Hat – 17 1/2″ W x 9″ H. Case – 8″ H x 10″ D x 18 1/4″ W. 2nd & 3rd items: Pair of M1852 US Naval Captain dress epaulettes with gilt eagle button, silver bullion star and silver eagle medallion, housed in the original metal storage case. Case – 6″ H x 9″ W x 6 3/8″ D. 4th item: Collection of U S Navy embroidered insignias including a U.S. (Union) Naval Officers hat insignia, two (2) 1864-1866 Commodore straps and 1 tassel, all house in a red leather folio case. Folio – 7 1/4″ H x 5″ W. 5th-6th items: Two (2) American Military Hats including an American 18th century military tricorne or cocked hat, comprised of felt with gilt band and an Officer’s silk hat cockade with a small gilt eagle under an E. Pluribus Unum banner to the center, (10 3/4″ D x 10″ W), and a Red woolen cap, perhaps a seaman’s cap, with gilt bullion button to the center front above the brim and brass button closures at the neck, 19th century, (10 1/2″ H x 11” W, at widest point). Provenance: Baltimore estates of Virginia Howard Miller (c. 1880-1946) and Hugh Purviance King (1873-1966) passed down to present Living Estate of Virginia Johnston, Lookout Mountain, TN. Biography: PURVIANCE, Hugh Young, naval officer, was born in Baltimore, Md., March 22, 1799. He attended St. Mary’s college, Baltimore, and on Nov. 3, 1818, was warranted midshipman in the U.S. navy. His midshipman service was on the frigates Congress and Franklin of the Pacific squadron, 1819-23, and on the North Carolina of the Mediterranean squadron, 1824-27. He was promoted lieutenant, March 3, 1827; was an officer on the sloop Falmouth of the West India squadron, 1828-30; on the sloop Peacock of the East India squadron, 1833-34; on rendezvous at Baltimore, Md., 1836-37, and on the Brazil squadron, [p.431] where he commanded the brig Dolphin and the sloop Fairfield, 1837-38, and during this service he relieved an American schooner from the French blockade at Salado, River Platte, for which act he received complimentary recognition from the U.S. government. He was on the Brandywine of the Mediterranean squadron, 1841-42; in command of the brig Pioneer on the coast of Africa in 1843, and of the U.S. frigate constitution in the Mexican blockade in 1846. As commander, which rank he attained March 7, 1849, he was on the receiving-ship Consort at Baltimore, Md., 1850-51, and the sloop Marion on the coast of Africa, 1852-55. As captain, to which rank he was promoted Jan. 28, 1856, he commanded the frigate St. Lawrence in the blockade of Charleston and the southern coast in 1861, and captured and sunk the Confederate privateer Petrel when just twelve hours out. He also captured several other prizes and engaged his ship in the right with the Merrimac, March 9, 1862, and in the attack on Sewall’s Point, Hampden Roads. He was retired Dec. 21, 1861; was promoted commodore on the retired list July 16, 1862; served as light-house inspector, 1863-65, and was promoted rear-admiral on the retired list Feb. 25, 1881. He died in Baltimore, Md., Oct. 21, 1882. (source: Ancestry.com). CONDITION: 1st-4th items: Overall very good condition with general wear use and normal age wear. 5th item: Overall mold, spotting, likely faded from original color. 6th item: Scattered insect damage, primarily to the back. [See more photos →]

Confederate Selma, Alabama Arsenal Made Leather Cap Box. Brown leather, single stitched curved outer flap with lunate interior flap. Outer flap marked "SELMA ARSENAL". Includes brass finial, top portion of the closure tab, and wide belt loop. Also includes Shannon Pritchard, Old South Military Antiques retail listing. 4 1/2" H x 3 3/4" W x 1 5/8" D. Provenance: Purchased from Shannon Pritchard, Old South Military Antiques. Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. Note: For a similar example, see "Collecting the Confederacy" by Shannon Pritchard, 2005, page 76. CONDITION: The box is very well made with some crackling. The bottom portion of the closure tab is gone. [See more photos →]

Harpers Ferry Model 1855 Percussion rifle – musket manufactured at the Harpers Ferry, Virginia armory in 1860. The lock has the Maynard tape primer and the magazine door is stamped with an eagle and shield motif. The barrel has a long range rear sight with a folding leaf. The iron block front sight front sight also serves as a stud for a socket bayonet. Walnut stock with iron patch box and numbers in yellow paint on stock in front of patch box “P9″(?sp). The rifle – musket retains the tulip head ramrod and has three barrel bands. The original clean out screw is also retained with the original leather strap. Lock plate is dated 1860 and “U.S. Harpers Ferry” in front of primer magazine. The top barrel flat is dated 1859. The left barrel flat is stamped with “VP” and an eagle head design inspection mark. “US”stamped on the heel of the buttplate in front of the buttplate screw. The left stock flat is stamped with an inspection mark and the barrel bands are stamped with a “U” facing the muzzle. Early crude initials “A B” carved into stock in front of buttplate. Overall length 55 7/8″, 40″ barrel length. Note – this rifle – musket descended through the family of Captain William Geary, 109th and 111th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Condition: Stock, barrel and mounts, and leather strap all retain the original surface. Light oxidation to “National Armory Bright” surface. [See more photos →]

Watercolor portrait on wove paper depicting Captain James Lawrence (1781-1813) of the U.S.S. Chesapeake, shown in naval regalia while holding an apparently German nautical chart, with East abbreviated "O" for Ost, likely first quarter of 19th century. Enclosed in an oval foliate border with American flags, shield, eagle, cannon, anchor, sword, and bayonet at the base. French caption below identifies the sitter as "Capitaine Lawrence," with black border surrounding all. Signed and inscribed "Fredrico [spel?] pinxit," lower right. With 1953 John Hix "Strange As It Seems" newspaper comic relating to Lawrence affixed verso. Housed under plexiglass in a period ebonized wood frame within a gilt and maroon wood frame. Sight: 9 1/2" H x 7 1/2" W. Frame: 12 7/8" H x 10 7/8" W. <br/><br/>Note: While undated, the absence of Lawrence's famous quotation "Don't give up the ship" or any reference to his death from in this portrait suggests the possibility of it having been made during Lawrence's lifetime, between his promotion to Captain in March 1813 and his death in June 1813. According to the American Battlefield Trust, following his exploits in the War of 1812 Lawrence "was incredibly popular…with his peers, superiors, and subordinates," which makes the possibility of his having been represented in an amateur portrait during his lifetime likely. Alternatively, as evidenced by the use of French, this portrait could have been created in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the commandeered USS Chesapeake along with Lawrence's body was taken after his death. <br/><br/>Biographical Note: James Lawrence was born in New Jersey in 1781 and joined the United States Navy in 1798. He served as second-in-command with Stephen Decatur on the USS Enterprise during the raid at Tripoli harbor in 1804. Lawrence served on several other warships for the next decade and was promoted to Master Commandant in November of 1810, taking control of USS Hornet. During the War of 1812, Lawrence distinguished himself through several high-profile victories, including seizing $23,000 in gold from HMS Resolution and sinking the HMS Peacock. These successes earned him a promotion to captain in 1813 and command of the frigate Chesapeake, one of the Navy's most elite vessels. <br/><br/>Sailing out of the port of Boston in June 1813, Lawrence foolishly engaged HMS Shannon commanded by Captain Philip Broke which was at the time blockading the harbor. Although Lawrence's team was largely inexperienced, the crew of Shannon was well-seasoned, and guided by one of the Royal Navy's most accomplished captains. This mistake ended up costing Lawrence both the frigate and his life. Chesapeake was badly damaged and seized by the British, with Lawrence mortally wounded in just a few minutes of gunfire. As he was carried below deck to die, he famously called out a final order to his sailors: "Don't give up the ship!" These supposed final words were immortalized by friend and fellow naval officer Oliver Hazard Perry, who stitched them onto a flag and used it to lead his troops victoriously at the Battle of Lake Erie. (Source: National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior)

PROVENANCE: Private South Carolina Collection.

CONDITION: In overall good condition, colors remain bright. Dampstaining, especially to right edge, plus toning, soiling, and minor buckling. Loss to tip of upper right corner. [See more photos →]

Rare Confederate Enlisted Louisiana stamped rectangular belt buckle with three (3) brazed hooks. Depicts the state seal of Louisiana, a pelican feeding her young above "N.O". Includes a letter of authentication from Nick Periut of Army of Tennessee Relics, Knoxville, TN. 60 mm x 88 mm (2.36" x 3.46"). Provenance: Verbal history states that the buckle was dug in Melrose, Virginia near the location of the Battle of Harrisonburg, fought June 6, 1862. Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. Note: See "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates" by Steve E. Mullinax, 1999, plate 290. CONDITION: Dug condition. [See more photos →]

Confederate Louisiana die-struck rolled brass face waist belt plate. Lead filled with brass belt hooks, soldered directly onto the lead backing. Depicts the state seal of Louisiana, a pelican feeding her young. 55 mm x 77 mm (2.17" x 3.03"). Provenance: Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. Note: This is one of variants found wherever Louisiana troops served from Virginia to the Mississippi River. See "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates" by Steve E. Mullinax, 1999, plate 286. CONDITION: Dug condition. [See more photos →]

Civil War era Confederate Gardner Pattern cedar wood drum canteen with red, white, and blue striped cloth strap, iron bands around the circumference, and three iron sling keepers. Traces of black paint visible to wood and iron bands. Pour spout or stopper are not present. Possible 20th century museum accession number "95.0090" to one band. Accompanying note suggests that the strap was captured from the Union army. 7 1/2" dia. x 2 1/2" W. Length with strap – 29". Provenance: Private Southern collection, purchased from Larry Hicklen of Middle Tennessee Civil War Relics about 15 years ago. CONDITION: Overall good condition with wear, surface scratches to be expected from age and manner of use. Bands and sling keepers are loose with oxidation. Pour spout or stopper are not present. Fraying, fading to strap. [See more photos →]

Confederate Macon, Georgia Arsenal Made "Mule Foot" Leather Cap Box. Dark brown pig leather, single stitched with triangular outer flap and lunate interior flap. Outer flap marked "MACON ARSENAL". Includes lead finial, closure tab, and single wide belt loop. Also includes binder with several pages of research complied by J.R. "Butch" Myers, II, Richmond, Virginia, photographs of a similar cap box in the archives of the Atlanta History Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and a copy of email correspondence between the consignor and Marc Cutler regarding this and other Civil War era items. 4 3/8" H x 4 3/8" W x 1 1/4" D. Provenance: Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. CONDITION: Overall good condition with some checkering. The stitching is tight. The closure tab is in place. [See more photos →]

Colonel John Thomas Pickett Confederate Seal Medallion, ALS to Mrs. Varina Anne Davis, second wife of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, presenting her with the medallion, 3 items total. 1st item: Confederate Seal Medallion, gilt on copper, 1862. Central image depicts George Washington on horseback, encircled by a ring of Southern agricultural crops, the outer ring reading "THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA / 22 FEBRUARY 1862 / DEO VINDICE". Housed under glass in a circular metal frame. Medallion – 4" dia. Framed – 4 1/4" dia. 2nd item: ALS. One page handwritten letter. From W. J. Pickett, relation of Colonel John Thomas Pickett to Mrs. Varina Anne Davis, Memphis, TN, dated November 21, 1873. Pickett explains how he came into the possession of the medallion (see above) and presents Mrs. Davis with one, writing "Respected Madame, Some weeks ago my relation Col John T Pickett of Washington City sent me a number of medals (a facsimile impre[s]sion of the great Seal of the Southern Confederacy, the original being…po[s]se[s]sion-to sell for the benefit of the church orphans Home. Some few were…for complimentary distribution-Among them one for you which I send herewith. My relation Col P., hopes you will kindly receive this medal as a memento of the sacred and "lost cause" with which Mr. Davis and yourself were so conspicuously connected. Very Respectfully Yours, W. J. Pickett It may be of interest for you to know that I have placed the medals for sale for The Church Home, at Clark & Co & Byrd's Jewelry Stores, and Wade Bookstores". Housed and secured by metal clasps under glass. 10 1/8" H x 8 1/8" W. 3rd item: Sterling silver hollow knitting needle or pen with embossed swirl patterns to the top. Unmarked but tests sterling. 5 1/4" L. All items third quarter 19th century. Biography: John Thomas Pickett (1820-1884) was educated as a lawyer at Transylvania University, KY. He was appointed to West Point in 1841. He resigned to accept the post as U.S. Council (West Indies (Turk's Island)). He became a General soldiering with Lajos (Lewis) Kossuth in the short lived Hungarian Revolution. Pickett joined the 1849 Round Island expedition, which he helped organize in New York. He served as Lieutenant Colonel and Chief officer with Col. Theodore O'Hara of the vessel Georgiana during the May 1850 expedition. (Caldwell, Lopez Expeditions, p. 59). After Battle of Cardenas Col. Pickett had a $25,000 reward for his head by Capt. Gen. of Cuba. He was indicted June 21, 1850 in New Orleans for his role in the 1850 Lopez Expedition. (Democratic Review, April 1852, 308). Pickett pledged to the 1854 Quitman expedition (New York Times, 6-22-1854-4). From 1853 to 1861 he served as U.S. Consul to Vera Cruz. When the "Southern War of Rebellion" broke out he was appointed the Confederate Commissioner to Mexico. Pickett served as General John Breckenridge's staff, asst. Adjt. General C.S.A. army. In 1863 he was Secretary of First Confederate Peace mission and from 1864-1865 he was Special envoy extraordinary to Mexico (arranged escape of CSA officials). Towards the end of 1865, John Thomas was selected as Santa Anna's chief of staff. During the later half of 1866 and 1867 Pickett was associated with a failed railroad project of the Louisiana Tehuantepec Company. It had failed because Mexico did not take the project seriously. Pickett was a lawyer in D.C. until end of life. (Adapted from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6041204/john-thomas-pickett). Note: According to a letter excerpt from William Earle to Quitman Marshall, Secretary of State, South Carolina, dated December 22, 1888, John T. Pickett had three copies of the seal of the Confederacy made: "At the time of the evacuation of Richmond when our army was trudging through the mud and fighting its way back to Appomatox [sic], the seal was overlooked in the hurry of packing and one who found it gave it to Col. John T. Pickett, late of this city, a true and devoted Confederate and since the time of the war he sent to England and had these copies made and gave three to me". CONDITION: 1st item: Overall good condition with tarnish to be expected from age. Previously hot glued to frame, traces of glue present to back of medallion. 2nd item: Overall good condition with areas of dampstaining, foxing spots, tears, largest 1 7/8" x 7/8", rendering some parts of the letter illegible. 3rd item: Overall good condition with minute dents near tip. [See more photos →]

Colt Python .357 magnum revolver, made 1965, Navajo made turquoise inlaid sterling silver aftermarket grips. Has trigger shoe. Serial # 43056. Later case included. Barrel length – 2 1/2". Overall length – 7 3/4". Case – 2 1/4" H x 9 1/2" W x 6 1/2" D. Provenance: private Nashville collection. NOTE: Most firearms made after 1898 require passing an FFL background check prior to transfer. Please be prepared with proper identification and information. If you do not reside in Tennessee, an FFL dealer in your state is required to complete the transfer. CONDITION: Gun has seen heavy use and shows edge wear on muzzle and the ejector shroud, on the top of the ramp, front sight, and all around the frame in front of cylinder. Wear on back of hammer and trigger guard. Metal retains less than 80% of original finish. Action is fully functional and locks well on trigger and release. Bore is dirty. Screw hole from adjustable rear sight penetrates the top strap. [See more photos →]

Civil War era album containing fifty (50) cartes-de-visite (CDVs), including thirty-two (32) lithographed images of engravings and eighteen (18) photographic images, depicting Presidents, Presidential Cabinet members, Union and Confederate generals and leaders, and other figures of historical significance, including John Wilkes Booth. Album includes: Presidential related images, including one (1) depicting the Sixteenth President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) and one (1) First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln (1818-1882), including one (1) depicting Lincoln's funeral, one (1) depicting the First President George Washington (1732-1799) and one (1) depicting First Lady Martha Washington (1731-1802), and one (1) depicting the Seventeenth President Andrew Johnson (1808-1875); members of Lincoln's presidental cabinet, including one (1) depicting Secretary of State William Henry Seward (1801-1872), one (1) depicting Secretary of War Edwin McMasters Stanton (1814-1869), one (1) depicting Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles (1802-1878), and one (1) Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Portland Chase (1808-1873); prominent Union Generals, including two (2) depicting Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; 1822-1885), one (1) depicting Philip Henry Sheridan (1831-1888), one (1) depicting Winfield Scott (1786-1866), one (1) depicting George Brinton McClellan (1826-1885), one (1) depicting Benjamin Franklin Butler (1818-1893), one (1) depicting David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870) and more; prominent Confederate leaders and sympathizers, including one (1) depicting Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870), one (1) depicting a composite CDV of Confederate President Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) surrounded by his Generals including Robert E. Lee, Ambrose Powell Hill Jr. (1825-1865), James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart (1833-1864), Braxton Bragg (1817-1876), Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891), John Hunt Morgan (1825-1864), Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863), and Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard (1818-1893), one (1) depicting a satricial image of Jefferson Davis wearing a crinoline while he is escorted by two Union soldiers, and one (1) depicting John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865), the American actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at the Ford Theater on April 14, 1865; also includes six (6) CDVs of unidentifed people in period dress. Fourteen (14) CDVs with handwritten inscriptions from a previous owner identifying the sitter or scene. All housed and matted in gilt edges pages in a brown leather album with gilt blindstamped covers and spine with brass hardware, floral end papers. Album: 6 1/8" H x 5 3/8" W x 2 1/4" D. Private Nashville Collection. Condition: All CDVs in overall very good condition. Not examined outside of mats. Front matter pages with foxing spots. Leather covers with rubbing, wear, bumped corners. [See more photos →]

Turkish Flintlock Musketoon, .72 caliber. Round barrel with body of gun covered in a heavily embellished Middle Eastern style tin overlay, Greek name inscribed to top of breech, plain silver butt plate, left side with two carrying rings. Includes a dagger of like design and metal. Barrel length – 30". Overall length – 44". Blade length – 12 1/2". Overall dagger length – 17". Late 19th/early 20th century. CONDITION: Action is not functioning. Pitting, rust to surface of exposed metal. [See more photos →]

Civil War era U.S. Union Cincinnati Arsenal Regulation Cavalry Shell Jacket, likely belonging to an Ohiosoldier. Comprised ofa navy-blue wool body with yellow gold trim to front, cuffs, and collar, retains nineteen (19) brass buttons, including one (1) Infantry button, bolster "pillows" are present to reverse, eye closure to collar is present, loose-weave gray/brown wool lining to body andwhite linen linings to sleeves.US Inspector's "F. H. SHAFER/U.S./INSP. CIN. O" black ink stamp to top of right sleeve, possible inspector or previous owner "J.H. Scoti/2nd U.ed…" black ink inscription to top of left sleeve. 31" H x 17" W. Provenance: Private Southern Collection, purchased from longtime collector and military historian Lawrence (Larry) M. Strayer, of Ohio, circa 1970s. CONDITION: Overall good condition with wear, restitching and repair to be expected from age and manner of use. Holes and repaired holes with patches to exteriorand interior, largest 1 3/4". Hook closure to collar with not present. [See more photos →]

Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army Revolver, .45 caliber, serial number 151420, all visible serial serial numbers matching. Top of barrel marked Colt's PT F.A. MFG. Co. Hartford.CT. U. S. A.", "45 Colt" to left side of barrel, left side of frame marked "PAT. Sept. 19. 1871. July 2. 72. Jan. 19. 75." with Colt logo, inside loading gate marked "826". Colt checkered hard rubber stocks, round barrel, iron mounted, checkered hammer, standard front sight. Barrel length: 4 3/4". Overall length: 10". Serial number corresponds to year 1893.

CONDITION: Overall good condition. Light pepper pitting, storage dings to iron. General wear to stocks, linear surface scratches to bottom of butt stock. Action holds at half and full cock. Visible rifling to barrel. Nipple and screw below barrel are buggered. [See more photos →]

Confederate, possibly Georgia, D guard bowie knife comprised of aone-piece oak wood grip, brass ferrule, iron D guard terminating in a high quillon, spear point blade. Unmarked. Includes the original, hand stitched brown leather sheath with belt loop. Also includes a plastic stand. Blade length – 11". Overall length with scabbard – 15 3/4". Provenance: private Nashville collection, by oral history descended from a CSA soldier from Georgia. CONDITION: Areas of pitting, nicks to edge of blade. Areas of loss to leather, cracks, largest 1 3/4". [See more photos →]

Two (2) Confederate Leather Holsters, including Richmond, VA Arsenal. 1st item: Richmond, Virginia Arsenal Made Leather Flap Holster for a .36 caliber Navy Revolver. Brown leather, single stitched with blue piping on edge of flap, belt loop stitched with a standard "bullet" type stitching, plug included. 13" H x 6" W. 2nd item: Bridle Leather Flap Holster for a Small Colt Revolver. Brown leather, single stitched with single belt loop and retaining clasp. Old tag attached to closure strap reading "C.S.A. Holster" and initialed "B.P.L" on reverse. 12" H x 5" W. Provenance: Estate of Jim Maconkey, Landrum, SC. CONDITION: 1st item: Exceptionally well made with few cracks to leather. 2nd item: All stitching is strong, there are no breaks or breaks in the strong leather holster. Single belt loop and retaining clasp well stitched to body. [See more photos →]

Civil War era Sharps New Model 1863 breech-loading carbine, .52 caliber, serial number C. 20255 to tang. Top of barrel marked "SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG CO./ HARTFORD CONN." before the rear sight and "NEW MODEL 1863" between the breechblock and the rear sight, rear sight marked "R.S. LAWRENCE/PATENTED/FEB 15TH 1859," left side of the receiver marked "C. SHARPS' PAT./Sept. 12th 1848," right side of lockplate marked "R.S. LAWRENCE PAT/APRIL 12TH 1859" and "C. SHARPS' PAT./OCT. 5TH 1852," left side of barrel before breechblock with "E.A.W" inspector mark, butt plate tang with "W" inspector mark. Walnut stock, round barrel, iron furniture, checkered hammer, slightly curved butt plate, blade front sight and folding rear ladder sight, sling bar and ring mounted on the left side of the receiver. Barrel length: 21 1/2". Overall length: 38 1/2". Manufactured circa 1863-65. Condition: Overall good condition. Action holds at half and full cock. Dings to stocks, with 9" horizontal scratch to right side of butt stock. Light pitting to metal, primarily to end of barrel, hammer, breechblock, and trigger guard tang. Visible rifling to bore. Fading, wear to marks. [See more photos →]

Burnside Contract Model 1865 Spencer Repeating Carbine, .52 caliber, serial number 32550 to rear of the frame near the hammer. Top flat of receiver marked "MODEL/1865/SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE/PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860/MANUF 'D AT PROV. R. I./BY BURNSIDE RIFLE Co." butt plate tang with "W" inspector mark, top of butt stock near butt plate tang with "J.H.C" inspector mark, left side of hammer with "O" inspector marks, left side of frame near hammer with "P" inspector mark, patch box with "B" inspector mark, faded inspector cartouches to left side of butt stock behind sling bar and underside of forearm. Walnut stocks, round barrel, iron furniture, slightly curved butt plate with patchbox, modified raised brass blade front sight and rear sight with sliding "V" notch elevation bar, sling bar and ring mounted on the left side of the receiver, single sling swivel at the bottom of butt stock. Barrel length: 20". Overall length: 37. Manufactured in 1865. Condition: Overall good condition. Action holds at half and full cock. Dings to stocks with 1/4" gouge to left side of butt stock. Minute losses to stocks, primarily to forearm near barrel band, wrist near sling bar, and butt stock near butt plate. Dings and some pitting to metal, primarily to end of barrel, trigger guard, sling ring, and butt plate. Some rusting to rear sight and sling swivel. Bore is dirty with visible rifling. [See more photos →]

German Luger 9mm Parabellum pistol with serial #4682 on frame and barrel, all visible numbers matching. Fitted with wood grips, has one unmarked magazine with circular wood base. "Gesichert" (meaning secured) is visible when the safety is engaged. This example was manufactured between 1920-1922; the "DWM" mark on toggle was used until 1922, and the "Crown over N" mark indicates that it is a commercially marketed Luger produced after 1920. History: The Pistole Parabellum or Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum), commonly known as just the Luger or Luger P08, is a toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm Parabellum. The Luger was produced in several models and by several nations from 1898 to 1949; (this example from the German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Waffen-_und_Munitionsfabriken" title="Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken"> </a>Munitionsfabriken (DWM). The design was first patented by Georg Luger. NOTE: Most firearms made after 1898 require passing an FFL background check prior to transfer. The date of production for this gun makes it subject to FFL rules. Please be prepared with proper identification and information. If you do not reside in Tennessee, an FFL dealer in your state is required to complete the transfer.
PROVENANCE: The Estate of Eldridge "Dit" Shively, White Pine, TN.

CONDITION: Wear to the finish on the frame and wear to the wood grip panels consistent with age and use. Action is smooth and operational; clean bore with shallow rifling. [See more photos →]

18th century Moro (Philippines) Spanish style burgonet helmet, bronze with pierced crown and sides, hinged ear pieces, with receptacle in front for feather or other adornment. 6 1/8" H x 12 " L x 8 1/2" W. CONDITION: One ear cover or flap missing, the other likely a replacement. Old repair patch to left front brim. [See more photos →]

Civil War eraMassachusetts Arms Company 2nd Model (Model 1863) Maynard Patent Breech Loading Percussion Carbine, .50 caliber, serial number 12063, visible totrigger guard tang. Right side of frame marked "MANUFACTURED BY / MASS. ARMS CO. / CHICOPEE FALLS" left side of frame marked "EDWARD MAYNARD / PATENTEE / MAY 27, 1851 / DEC. 6, 1859," left side of butt stock near receiver stamped with two government cartouches, inspector marks tosling bar and rear sight with "J.M"to left side of barrel near breech. Black walnut stocks, round barrel transitioning to an octagonal section at the breech,slightly curved iron butt plate,sling bar and saddle ring on the left side of the breech frame, checkered hammer, iron folding three-leaf rear sight marked "1", "3", and "5" and blade front sight. Barrel length – 20". Overall length – 36 1/2". Manufactured circa1863 to 1865. Provenance: Private Maryville, TN collection. CONDITION: Overall good condition. Action sticky but holds at full cock. Storage dings with some deep scratches to stocks, areas of loss, largest 1/2" to wood near tang. Areas of rust/oxidation to butt plate, end of barrel, and hammer. Visible rifling to bore. [See more photos →]

Two (2) Civil War era swords, likely battlefield pickups near Morristown, Tennessee. 1st item: Confederate "Dog River" Style Cavalry Saber with Union iron scabbard. Curved, steel blade with rounded back, brass guard, and wooden grip. Scabbard with two rings. Unmarked. Blade length – 35 1/8". Overall length with scabbard – 45 1/2". 2nd item: U.S. Model 1840 Cavalry "Wristbreaker" Saber with iron scabbard. Curved, steel blade with rounded back, brass guard, and grip handle. Scabbard with two rings connected by wire. Blade with possible maker's mark, right side of ricasso. Blade length – 35 3/4". Overall length with scabbard – 43 1/2".Provenance: Estate of Anne Harrison Taylor & Joseph F. Taylor, Morristown, TN. CONDITION: Both items in relic condition, with expected rust and pitting, nicks to blade. 1st item: Saber does not fit into scabbard. Breaks to wooden grip. 2nd item: Grip appears to be an old replacement. [See more photos →]

Civil War eraMassachusetts Arms Company 2nd Model (Model 1863) Maynard Patent Breech Loading Percussion Carbine, .50 caliber, serial number 16301, visible totrigger guard tang. Right side of frame marked "MANUFACTURED BY / MASS. ARMS CO. / CHICOPEE FALLS" left side of frame marked "EDWARD MAYNARD / PATENTEE / MAY 27, 1851 / DEC. 6, 1859" left side of butt stock near receiver stamped with two government cartouches, inspector marks tosling bar, barrel near breech, and rear sight. Black walnut stocks, round barrel transitioning to an octagonal section at the breech,slightly curved iron butt plate,sling bar and saddle ring on the left side of the breech frame, checkered hammer, iron folding three-leaf rear sight marked "1", "3", and "5" and blade front sight. Barrel length – 20". Overall length – 36 1/2". Manufactured circa1863 to 1865.Note: These carbines were issued to Union cavalry units during the Civil War, among those regiments were the 9th and 11th Indiana and the 11th Tennessee. Provenance: Private Maryville, TN collection. CONDITION: Overall good condition. Action holds at half and full cock. Normal storage dings to stocks. Some pitting to buttplate. Visible rifling to bore. [See more photos →]