Percussion long rifle and 1903 Vicksburg comission pertaining to John C. Cate (1842-1914) of the 31st Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States of America, captured at Vicksburg. 1st item: Percussion Long Rifle, .44 caliber. Tiger maple stocks, octagon barrel, double set triggers with brass trigger guard, brass butt plate and thimbles, wooden ramrod, front and rear sights. Barrel length – 44". Overall length – 63 1/2". American, early/mid 19th century. Descended in the family of John C. Cate (1842-1914). 2nd item: Document Signed by Tennessee governor Benton McMillin, commissioning John C. Cate to be a member of the Vicksburg Commission, dated January 19, 1903. The document states, "…By an act of the General Assembly of 1901 the Governor is authorized to appoint a commission from the Tennessee organization in the campaign and defense of Vicksburg and J. C. Cate of the 31st Regiment having been recommended". 17 1/4" H x 11 1/2" W. Provenance: descended in the family of John C. Cate. Note: Cate enlisted as a private in Company F. of the 39th Tennessee Mounted Infantry, C.S.A. on March 17th, 1862. He was detailed to the military post office in Knoxville on May 8, 1862, then detailed to similar duty at the military post office in Vicksburg, Mississippi on Jan. 9, 1863. He was captured with the men of his regiment at Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4th, 1863. He was paroled on July 9th, 1863, after taking oath to never take up arms against the United States again, and appointed to serve as a Tennessee representative to the Vicksburg Commission in 1903. CONDITION: 1st item: Action is not functional. Bore dirty with rust, rifling evident. Stocks with storage dings. Not finish present on barrel or metal, pitting/rust to lock plate. 2nd item: Good condition, has tack holes around the edges of document, some fading of pencil.