Lot 629: Civil War CSA Saddlebags & Socks, Bledsoe Co. Family

Civil War era Crow or Y-Strap leather saddlebags, comprised of double bags and connecting yoke with cow hair on flaps and blue ticking interior. Flaps close with a "Y" shape billet, a characteristic of Confederate construction as illustrated on page 111 of the book CONFEDERATE SADDLES AND HORSE EQUIPMENT by Ken R. Knopp. Similar to other known saddlebags made by T.D. Moore of Bristol, VA. 12" x 14" x 42 1/2". Circa 1860. This lot also includes a pair of hand made and darned wool socks which was found inside the saddlebags. Provenance: private Southern collection, purchased from a descendant of Leander Billingsley, Bledsoe County, Tennessee, 1843-1927, who fought with the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry Company F (CSA). (Source: U.S. Civil War Records and Profiles). It is thought these saddlebags may have belonged to him. A group of photographs from the family accompanies this lot. It is unknown if Leander Billingsley is among the subjects. This lot is also accompanied by a copy of The Historical News newspaper (published Bledsoe County, April 2023) with reprint of Billingsley's Civil War Questionnaire (Form 2, circa 1920) containing details of his life before and after the Civil War. The reprint contains Billingsley's discussion of life growing up on the plantation started by his father, a justice of the peace and state legislator who built a 12 room brick house, and relations with their 40 slaves. He reports engaging in battle at Mill Springs, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga, and relieving Morgan's command in Kentucky before being taken prisoner.

PROVENANCE: Collection of John Cooper.

CONDITION: Some surface cracking and crazing, especially on cross piece, wear and small areas of loss, leather somewhat dry.