Fresh out the mail. This 15 pound hunk of shell was fired at Holmes division at Malvern hill. Holmes division came under fire from the Galena and Aroostook, but only the Galena had Parrott rifles aboard
A simple carte-de-visite of a Union sergeant… and on the back, a quiet message that still carries weight more than 160 years later: “To I. E. Austin By his Brother Ben Thompson”
This is Sergeant Benjamin Thompson of Company A, 129th Illinois Infantry, writing to his brother in law, Isaac E. Austin of the 11th Illinois Infantry.
Benjamin was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1832. By 1860 he was farming near Dwight, Illinois, and had married Sarah S. Austin Isaac’s sister. Their only child, Robert Benjamin, was born in January 1861. Sarah died the following May. Three months later Benjamin enlisted as a private. He rose to sergeant and stayed with the regiment until the very end of the war.
Isaac E. Austin, born in Rhode Island about 1842, had already been in uniform for nearly a year when Benjamin joined. He enlisted as a musician in September 1861, later serving as a private in Companies F and C of the 11th Illinois. That regiment was thrown into some of the bloodiest early fighting in the Western Theater.
The 11th Illinois paid a terrible price at Fort Donelson in February 1862, suffering well over 60 percent casualties in a single day of savage fighting. Two months later they stood in the Hornet’s Nest sector at Shiloh. They went on to fight through the Vicksburg Campaign Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hill, and the long siege that finally opened the Mississippi.
Isaac served his full three years and was discharged in August 1864.
Benjamin’s 129th Illinois took a different road. After garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee, the regiment joined Sherman’s army for the Atlanta Campaign.
They fought at Resaca, the battles around New Hope Church and Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and the siege of Atlanta itself. Then came the March to the Sea, the Carolinas Campaign, Averasboro, and Bentonville. Benjamin was still with them when they marched in the Grand Review in Washington in May 1865.
Two Illinois farmers linked by marriage. One fought under Grant in the early, grinding battles that opened the Western Theater. The other marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea and through the Carolinas. Both survived. Both eventually made their way to Nebraska Isaac living in Phelps County by 1890, Benjamin dying in Nuckolls County in 1889 and buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Superior.
A single photograph, a few words written on the back, and two lives that helped decide the fate of a nation.
I deal in pre-1899 antique firearms for a living and I deal with a lot of US Civil War items but I really don't do buttons or any other relics like this
The box was offered to me for $100, what is it worth and should I go for it?
Grandpa’s Guns
Hi everyone – I’m hoping to leverage the group knowledge here.
I recently inherited two older rifles from my grandfather’s estate and am trying to learn more about what I have, where they came from, and what the next steps might be for further research.
Background:
My grandfather was a very well-connected man in terms of his work and personal life, and these rifles were preserved but not documented. I am trying to approach this with some care and ensure that the history is preserved accurately rather than speculating.
Rifle #1 – Stevens
• Obviously a Stevens
• Barrel is marked “Patented August 12, 1913”
• Appears to be a single-shot sporting rifle
• Has a factory-made buttplate with a decorative scroll/wave design
• There is a bright green paint patch on the stock that appears to be an old inventory/rack/institutional marking (not factory)
My primary questions about this one:
• Model identification?
• Intended use market (sporting, training, youth, club, etc.)?
• Any information about the paint marking and its possible meaning?
Rifle #2 – Older / Unmarked (Possibly German)
This is more of a mystery and probably older.
The markings I’ve discovered so far are:
• “SUHL S & C”
• An eagle/bird emblem
• A small anchor mark, found on the metal parts and also stamped into the wood
• A faint German inscription that reads “Gewehrlauf Stahl” (steel rifle barrel)
As far as I can determine, this suggests a late 19th-century sporting rifle from the Suhl region of Germany, perhaps produced under the guild system, but I’d be delighted to hear any further information or corrections from those who know more about these rifles.
Questions about this rifle:
• Does the anchor mark appear to be a workshop or inspector’s mark?
• Is there any further information that might help to narrow down the date range?
• Is there a preferred forum, archive, or expert who focuses on Suhl trade guns?
I have included close-up photos of the markings, stocks, and actions.
I am not looking to sell – my aim is identification, historical information, and preservation. Any information on where I might proceed (forums, books, museums, collectors) would be a huge help.
Thanks in advance – really grateful for any information.
I was going through my great-grandmother’s genealogy records when I came across this discharge certificate.
USCT Cavalryman - 9th Plate Tintype - Possibly John Hammond, 5th Mass. Cav.
Was pleased to add this one to the collection. Sold with a modern ID to John Francis Hammond - 4th USCT Infantry it is likely misattributed given the crossed swords on his kepi. There is however exactly one John Hammond in a Black cavalry regiment, that being the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. The 5th fought in the opening battles of the Petersburg campaign, guarded prisoners at Fort Delaware and was among the first units to enter Richmond. If the subject is indeed a John Hammond (far from a forgone conclusion) it is likely the cavalryman in the 5th. As an aside - I can see what looks like a brass number above the swords, might be a five but difficult to say
Possible ID, aside I’m happy to add this photo to my collection. USCT images are rare, Black cavalrymen rarer still. Had the good fortune to add some USCT pieces to the collection this year, very happy to add this one to the shelf.
Signed simply “Jul. Stahel / Maj. Gen.” The carte shows him standing in brigadier’s uniform, U.S. wreath on his cap, cloak draped over one shoulder, hands resting on a plain steel scabbarded saber.
Born Julius H. Stahel-Számwald in Szeged, Hungary, 5 November 1825. Fought for independence under Kossuth in 1848–49, fled after the uprising collapsed, and reached New York in 1859.
When war came he and Ludwig Blenker raised the 8th New York, the first German-American regiment. At First Bull Run their brigade held formation and covered the retreat while others broke. Promotion followed fast: colonel, then brigadier that same year.
At Cross Keys his men took the heaviest fighting against Jackson and earned front-page praise. At Second Bull Run both Pope and Schenck singled him out. Lincoln later summoned him personally and ordered him to stop Mosby’s raids around Washington. Stahel never caught the Gray Ghost, but he checked him hard enough to earn a second star.
June 5, 1864, Piedmont, Virginia. Shot through the left shoulder, arm already turning black, he had to be lifted onto his horse. Still he led the decisive charge that broke the Confederate line. Hunter wrote that the country was “much indebted” to him. Twenty-nine years later the Medal of Honor followed.
He stood guard of honor the day Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.
After the war he served as U.S. consul in Yokohama, Osaka, and Shanghai ironically becoming friends with Mosby, who once recommended him for Assistant Secretary of State.
Back in New York he lived quietly at the Hoffman House. Younger residents simply called him “The General,” never realizing the title was earned the hard way. He rests at Arlington.
Immigrant revolutionary. Union cavalryman. Medal of Honor. One of the more remarkable lives of the war and a piece I’m proud to have in the collection.
Just got passed down a beautiful Franklin Mint/CWLM John Paul Strain ‘Heroes of the North & South’ Civil War chess set”. I’m missing a single confederate pawn. Any help finding a seller would be appreciated.
Just brought this 1860 production Model 1855 Harper’s Ferry! This one kinda caught my eye as theres a few things that are not original, yet, look to be from the period.
For starters, the rear sight has a peep sight, and i dont think ive seen this on an 1855 before.
Secondly, the ram rod looks to be from an 1861 Springfield. You can see at the screw end where its been crusel chiseled shorter, and where the swell in the rod is for an 1861, this one has been shaved down to fit this rifle.
The mechanism for the tape is no longer present, and it seems to have been converted for use with regular percussion caps.
Overall the condition is very nice given that its 166 years old. Hell, the rifling is still present!
Enjoy!
Oh and its the 165th anniversary of The Battle of Wilson’s Creek!
This is my 1862 Springfield that i brought home with the Harper’s Ferry from my previous post. Has the bayonet with what i can assume to be an original leather scabbard!
This one is also in incredible condition. Id say you could probably fire this if you wanted, but id say this old girl has done enough shootin already!
A neat .32 cartridge revolver from the Civil War. Smith & Wesson No. 2 Army. Just picked up today at a Civil War show in Atlanta.
Happy collecting!
Need help identifying these, the market is in south Africa and I'm new to collecting these
Anyone recognize this design on a powder flask?
While gutting and demoing the separate garage of a newly acquired house I found this cool bayonet! The house was purchased after a man in his late 80’s passed away, the whole house was a time capsule from the early 90’s, and I guess he stopped using and going in the garage years and years and years ago after the roof started leaking and mold and moisture starting getting in. The attic of this old garage had steps built up to the rafters, where the man built and framed a small room! The garage has a peaked roof, so when he built the room, he only framed a square section enough to walk around and have head room. I started demoing the old drywall and water damaged framing and found this bayonet under a pile of wet newspapers from the 50’s alongside a bunch of other old stuff! Wondering if anybody could lead me in the correct direction for dating this piece? My first thought was Civil War era potentially?
Here is my Whitney-ville navy rifle (also known as the Plymouth rifle) wearing a sabre bayonet. Also my Dahlgren bayonet for the Whittney-ville. Why you ask is it not on the rifle? Doesn’t fit flush. I can mount it, but the ring sits about 1/2” forward of the barrel. I understand these were custom fit to the rifle. Picked the bayonet up at a show, took a chance and lost. The Dahlgren is an expensive bayonet, and quite collectible on its own, so now it is relegated to “display”.
I pick up a couple Civil War uniform buttons each time I go to a show. None very rare, just trying to get high condition. I did not track cost over there years. See any higher value ones here?