28 Responses to Question of the Week: What Civil War artifacts do you have?
I have various examples of bullets and artillery shells; however, what i consider to be my most prized possession is I have my cousin’s Bible who was mortally wounded on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Courthouse. He would eventually die from his wounds and is buried in Alexandria National Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia.
I have what I believe to be a fragment of a cannonball fired by a Union battery under Captain George W. Durell while the battery was positioned perhaps six hundred feet east of what is today the Appalachian Trail at Fox’s Gap and on the far east side of what I call Miller’s Field in my latest book, Hood’s Defeat Near Fox’s Gap. Durell’s Battery fired 250 shells using timed fuses and most passed over Wood Road, today the Appalachian Trail, towards today’s Moser Road. This resulted in forcing most of Hood’s two brigades about 1,200 to 1,500 feet north of Old Sharpsburg Road, today’s Reno Monument Road. The shell fragment probably was found on the near west side of today’s Moser Road and was preserved by a fellow who lived in that area years ago.
Not really an “artifact”, and actually dates from 1868. It’s the Second Volume of the Official Records of the Impeachment and Trial of Andrew Johnson, published by the Government Printing Office.
My paternal great grandfather, Thomas Bowler, from Ballyferriter, Co Kerry, was a Landsman during the Civil War. (He was 14 but stated he was 16 on his enlistment papers) He served on 3 ships. I have his discharge papers and a number of correspondence that his wife had with the Pension Bureau. He finally received his pension in 1904 but was killed in a quarry accident in Monson Massachusetts 2 years later.
My ancestor’s three years of diaries; Confederate money and a spent minie ball he picked up at Antietam; a slate board and pencil he used; his coffee pot; and his fatigue cap.
A beautifully engraved Confederate One Dollar bill, issued June 1862, signed by what I presume are two clerks. It is in perfect condition.
Also, I have a set of original U.S. company roll records. Years ago the owner, a friend, insisted that I accept the records since I was far more interested in the Civil War than he. After reviewing them and repeatedly asking was he sure he wanted to give them to me, I thanked him and commented that it wasn’t often that you saw such records endorsed with the signature “A. Lincoln.” After enjoying his shocked/regretful expression, I admitted that I was just joking.
My spouse’s relatives have a June 1865 document ordering the release from a POW camp (Fort Delaware) and transport home to Mississippi of their ancestor. The document bears multiple transportation stamps charting his journey back to Newton County, MS. One of the relatives also has an August 1863 letter from the ancestor written while he was held on Johnson’s Island. The relatives graciously shared these original documents for my use in preparing a biography of the man, Captain Matthew John Lucas Hoye, 39th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, Hoye was captured with the surrender of Port Hudson in July 1863 and held until June 1865. (For a discussion of one aspect of Johnson’s Island, see “Fine Dining, POW Style: Johnson’s Island Rat Club,” ECW Guest Post, Posted on September 30, 2024.)
I have an 1863 Springfield rifled musket with bayonet along with a Union cartridge box and assorted Minie balls and shell fragments decorating my bookshelves.
I have my Great Great Great Grandfathers epaulets and a copy of his discharge and a picture of him in uniform. I also have a carte de visit with a picture of him pre war.
Canister from Carpenter’s Battery fired at Payne’s Farm (plus hundreds of other bullets from there); part of Gen. Winfield Scott’s dining room table (courtesy of Lance Herdegen); chunks of shell fired from The Dictator dug out along the Appomattox River.
An over the shoulder b-flat cornet and its carrying case and the soldier that owned it’s picture, and a chess set, carved at Libby Prison in 1864 by Jackson Webster of the 10th Wisconsin, three of his diaries, his “house wife” sewing kit, his shaving mirror and a tintype of Webster and his best friend, John Doughty, also 10th Wisconsin, who died at Danville, Virginia as a prisoner of war. Jackson, and his chess set and diaries made through a stay at Andersonville. Both were captured at Chickamauga. Doughty was at Danville because he had been wounded at the time of his capture.
I have a Confederate $20 bill that had been saved by my great-great grandfather. Apparently, he had saved several paper money which were distributed to the various great-great grandchildren. My great aunt has the two bullets that were removed from my great-great grandfather when he was wounded at Spotsylvania and Fort Harrison. She also has various letters from the war that my great-great grandmother saved.
From my great-great grandfather: a “118th Pennsylvania Survivor’s Ribbon,” likely worn at GAR events … two of his 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps badges – the red maltese cross … one of them is sort of fancy and looks post-war GAR vintage, not sure about the other although it’s old and very plain … and a 1st edition of the 118th’s regimental history.
Just one artifact, a Minie bullet, but it was an unexpected acquisition. I was on a Park Service tour of the historical area in downtown Petersburg, Virginia, and as we passed a storefront the proprietor called us in and gave everyone on the tour a bullet. I wish I had had the presence of mind to check the name of the place so that I could give it proper credit now.
I have buckles, buttons, badges, and photographs from the 30 ancestors and their in-laws – brothers-in-law and cousins of wives – of my family who served in the war, but amongst the best artifacts are the stories from my maternal grandparents about growing up with Civil War veterans in their homes, and their relatives and friends always coming over to drink whiskey and tell stories. I will forever be in awe that I spent 25 years in the presence of people who knew and spoke with Civil War soldiers. Also, I have three great diaries from these men, one of which is the most extraordinary CW diary I have ever seen. It – and these men’s lives – are the subject of my coming book, ‘Till The Stars Appeared.’
Austrian Lorenz rifle musket owned by Wilhelm Helle of the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics.
M1822 Whitney rifled musket, converted to percussion and altered by Miles Greenwood into sighted rifled musket. Carried by George Wade of the Thirteenth Missouri (Twenty Second Ohio) at Shiloh. Wade last his right leg to a cannon ball while carrying this firearm.
M1840 NCO Sword owned by William O’Brian of the Fifth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Shingles and nails from the Rummel Farm on the East Cavalry battlefield at Gettysburg
Pieces of wood from the USS Cairo
Copy of the regimental history of the 116th PVI signed by St. Clair Mulholland and gifted to H.H. Harrison of the 105th OVI.
Plus numerous other signed regimentals.
Just one. A copper “Our Little Monitor” token. About the size of a penny. I may have received it with some other coinage in change years ago when Canada still used pennys. Some of the higher graded ones are for sale online for a significant amount. I have no idea what grade mine is, but there must have been a lot of them made.
I have various examples of bullets and artillery shells; however, what i consider to be my most prized possession is I have my cousin’s Bible who was mortally wounded on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Courthouse. He would eventually die from his wounds and is buried in Alexandria National Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia.
Which side?
I have what I believe to be a fragment of a cannonball fired by a Union battery under Captain George W. Durell while the battery was positioned perhaps six hundred feet east of what is today the Appalachian Trail at Fox’s Gap and on the far east side of what I call Miller’s Field in my latest book, Hood’s Defeat Near Fox’s Gap. Durell’s Battery fired 250 shells using timed fuses and most passed over Wood Road, today the Appalachian Trail, towards today’s Moser Road. This resulted in forcing most of Hood’s two brigades about 1,200 to 1,500 feet north of Old Sharpsburg Road, today’s Reno Monument Road. The shell fragment probably was found on the near west side of today’s Moser Road and was preserved by a fellow who lived in that area years ago.
Several Minié bullets
Not really an “artifact”, and actually dates from 1868. It’s the Second Volume of the Official Records of the Impeachment and Trial of Andrew Johnson, published by the Government Printing Office.
My paternal great grandfather, Thomas Bowler, from Ballyferriter, Co Kerry, was a Landsman during the Civil War. (He was 14 but stated he was 16 on his enlistment papers) He served on 3 ships. I have his discharge papers and a number of correspondence that his wife had with the Pension Bureau. He finally received his pension in 1904 but was killed in a quarry accident in Monson Massachusetts 2 years later.
Nothing major. Just some bullets from a couple of the battlefields.
My ancestor’s three years of diaries; Confederate money and a spent minie ball he picked up at Antietam; a slate board and pencil he used; his coffee pot; and his fatigue cap.
A beautifully engraved Confederate One Dollar bill, issued June 1862, signed by what I presume are two clerks. It is in perfect condition.
Also, I have a set of original U.S. company roll records. Years ago the owner, a friend, insisted that I accept the records since I was far more interested in the Civil War than he. After reviewing them and repeatedly asking was he sure he wanted to give them to me, I thanked him and commented that it wasn’t often that you saw such records endorsed with the signature “A. Lincoln.” After enjoying his shocked/regretful expression, I admitted that I was just joking.
My spouse’s relatives have a June 1865 document ordering the release from a POW camp (Fort Delaware) and transport home to Mississippi of their ancestor. The document bears multiple transportation stamps charting his journey back to Newton County, MS. One of the relatives also has an August 1863 letter from the ancestor written while he was held on Johnson’s Island. The relatives graciously shared these original documents for my use in preparing a biography of the man, Captain Matthew John Lucas Hoye, 39th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, Hoye was captured with the surrender of Port Hudson in July 1863 and held until June 1865. (For a discussion of one aspect of Johnson’s Island, see “Fine Dining, POW Style: Johnson’s Island Rat Club,” ECW Guest Post, Posted on September 30, 2024.)
I have an 1863 Springfield rifled musket with bayonet along with a Union cartridge box and assorted Minie balls and shell fragments decorating my bookshelves.
Eight pistols
I have my Great Great Great Grandfathers epaulets and a copy of his discharge and a picture of him in uniform. I also have a carte de visit with a picture of him pre war.
How wonderful that you have a photo of him.
Two Minié balls, one fired, one not.
CMSRs from NARA.
A few buttons. Sewn ’em on a jacket.
Canister from Carpenter’s Battery fired at Payne’s Farm (plus hundreds of other bullets from there); part of Gen. Winfield Scott’s dining room table (courtesy of Lance Herdegen); chunks of shell fired from The Dictator dug out along the Appomattox River.
Two minie balls, one pristine, one pancaked. I use them in class to illustrate how the slug deformed when it hit the human body. Vivid lesson.
An over the shoulder b-flat cornet and its carrying case and the soldier that owned it’s picture, and a chess set, carved at Libby Prison in 1864 by Jackson Webster of the 10th Wisconsin, three of his diaries, his “house wife” sewing kit, his shaving mirror and a tintype of Webster and his best friend, John Doughty, also 10th Wisconsin, who died at Danville, Virginia as a prisoner of war. Jackson, and his chess set and diaries made through a stay at Andersonville. Both were captured at Chickamauga. Doughty was at Danville because he had been wounded at the time of his capture.
Wow.
I have a Confederate $20 bill that had been saved by my great-great grandfather. Apparently, he had saved several paper money which were distributed to the various great-great grandchildren. My great aunt has the two bullets that were removed from my great-great grandfather when he was wounded at Spotsylvania and Fort Harrison. She also has various letters from the war that my great-great grandmother saved.
From my great-great grandfather: a “118th Pennsylvania Survivor’s Ribbon,” likely worn at GAR events … two of his 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps badges – the red maltese cross … one of them is sort of fancy and looks post-war GAR vintage, not sure about the other although it’s old and very plain … and a 1st edition of the 118th’s regimental history.
Just one artifact, a Minie bullet, but it was an unexpected acquisition. I was on a Park Service tour of the historical area in downtown Petersburg, Virginia, and as we passed a storefront the proprietor called us in and gave everyone on the tour a bullet. I wish I had had the presence of mind to check the name of the place so that I could give it proper credit now.
If they were free, they probably fake
I have a 1863 Springfield w/bayonet, a few union and confederate bullets and assorted items found on camp areas.
I have buckles, buttons, badges, and photographs from the 30 ancestors and their in-laws – brothers-in-law and cousins of wives – of my family who served in the war, but amongst the best artifacts are the stories from my maternal grandparents about growing up with Civil War veterans in their homes, and their relatives and friends always coming over to drink whiskey and tell stories. I will forever be in awe that I spent 25 years in the presence of people who knew and spoke with Civil War soldiers. Also, I have three great diaries from these men, one of which is the most extraordinary CW diary I have ever seen. It – and these men’s lives – are the subject of my coming book, ‘Till The Stars Appeared.’
Austrian Lorenz rifle musket owned by Wilhelm Helle of the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics.
M1822 Whitney rifled musket, converted to percussion and altered by Miles Greenwood into sighted rifled musket. Carried by George Wade of the Thirteenth Missouri (Twenty Second Ohio) at Shiloh. Wade last his right leg to a cannon ball while carrying this firearm.
M1840 NCO Sword owned by William O’Brian of the Fifth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Shingles and nails from the Rummel Farm on the East Cavalry battlefield at Gettysburg
Pieces of wood from the USS Cairo
Copy of the regimental history of the 116th PVI signed by St. Clair Mulholland and gifted to H.H. Harrison of the 105th OVI.
Plus numerous other signed regimentals.
Just one. A copper “Our Little Monitor” token. About the size of a penny. I may have received it with some other coinage in change years ago when Canada still used pennys. Some of the higher graded ones are for sale online for a significant amount. I have no idea what grade mine is, but there must have been a lot of them made.