WE ARE OFF TO WASHINGTON STATE !! We are on the move just now and the good news is that once settled at our Yelm headquarters will have lots of new to the market inventory treasures to offer that packing of fifty plus years of accumulation have brought to light as well as potential offerings from our personal collection (see a small sampling of that at MaineLegacy.com ) as Father Time calls for a paring down. While on the move we will continue to respond to your shopping requests on all currently offered items so brows and let us know of any selections and come back frequently for new postings from our new Washington location.


 

important! identified Spanish American War – UNIFORM , JOURNAL & PERSONAL GROUPING This desirable grouping is of Spanish American War veteran Pvt. Ernest M. Swett of Co. D, 1st Maine Volunteer Infantry. The group consists of the following military issue and personal items: Pvt. Swett’s uniform CAP, 5 button SACK COAT, issue TROUSERS, issue LEGGINGS and his issue DRESS GLOVES. Swett’s personal items include: his service period Journal, knit wool Socks, shaving Mirror, lab / Scalpel Kit, period map of Cuba, his Presidential Service Certificate, family Bible Registry Pages and news clippings to include a mustering in roster of Swett’s Co. D, an account of mustering out and other miscellaneous related paper.
Best described here by our photo illustrations, suffice it to say Pvt. Swett’s regulation issue uniform cap, sack coat, trousers and leggings remain in all original and pleasing condition, without mothing or other objectionable condition issues while offering good evidence of period use and age. Like these items, a look at our illustrations will best describe Swett’s personal relics with the exception of his journal offering a firsthand account of the horrors Georgia’s Camp Thomas. Swett’s journal content is highlighted here:
Covering his primary period of service from the April 25, 1898 decision to go to war to his discouraged July 25 entry dirt and dust, no use writing anymore then a single August 21, 1898 notation expressing the dejection of a postponement of leaving the Chickamauga camp, Swett’s penciled journal is easily read as it offers the reader a sample snap-shot of a simple time in American history. A time not too unlike the Civil War military camp experience. Foraging for food one of the fellows got us a goose, heat of the South, a packages of goodies from home, drilling, more drill, eagerness to get into the fight, sickness, death, fighting among troops in camp, court martial and execution, more sickness, then more military life despair at Spanish American War, Camp Thomas, Georgia near the old Chickamauga Civil War battlefield. In his simple, short on words, country style, Pvt. Swett chronicles the atrocious living conditions in a place that would become known in American history as one of the most abusive military facilities ever to be maintained in this country. As related to camp life worse conditions than experienced by troops of the Civil War. Swett notes drinking water so dirty that one could not see the bottom of his dipper. Hard-tack and rotten meat was the usual mess. Overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions result in camp wide dysentery. Pvt. Swett sets up at night with his ailing Captain while he himself suffers from the same malady. Recording the death and shipment home of his Captain’s body Swett seems to fall to despair as he weakens in his own battle to survive. At one point (July 25, 1898) he is so weak and discouraged that closes his daily record with No news, dirt and dust, no use writing anymore. It is not until Aug 16th that Pvt. Swett is moved to write in his journal Tomorrow we are to have the largest review since the Civil War. There will be over 40,000 soldiers in line. Shortly after, a train with 178 sick boys of the 1st Maine will be sent home. Swett’s entries become sparse after this with rumors of being sent home, typhoid fever. Finally on Sunday, August 21 the discouraged soldier makes his last journal entry, They say we are not going home until Thurs. Probably something will come up to prevent us going then. It is offal hot here now. Earlier notations in the back of the little book leave record of the serial number of his issue Mod. 1884 Springfield trap-door rifle, a list of letters received, addresses and the like.
A newspaper clipping, hand dated Oct. 31 1898, records the mustering out of Pvt. Swett’s Co. D, 1st Maine Volunteer Infantry at its home armory in Norway, Maine. The paper records our Pvt. Swett as unable to be present on account of sickness.
One could consider Pvt Ernest Swett a casualty of a war he never got to serve in directly as he seems never to have regained the young man’s health and vigor lost at Camp Thomas, Georgia. Records of the National Soldiers Home at Togus, Maine document his death as a patient there some years later.

This historic Spanish American War grouping will come with our research notes to include the following Ernest M. Swett pertinent site links:

historic 1838 / 1839 - Aroostook Border War EPAULETTE A rarely surviving example of the period common practice of wearing a single epaulette as insignia of rank by military officers both militia and Regulars*, this silver Captain of Infantry epaulette is accompanied by a Sergeant’s epaulette, both offered here as set aside decades ago with the notation from Father’s uniform 1839 Aroostook War Lizzie J Longley Rines. Our research finds Lizzie J Longley Rines as the 1843 Bangor, Maine daughter of Aroostook War** participant then Captain of the Old Town, Maine Militia Capt. Stover Rines. [As an aside Lizzie Rines died in 1849 at her home in Boston.]
* After the Revolution the American system was that General to Major wore two epaulets while others wore one. Captain on the right, Lieutenant on left with silver designating infantry and dragoons with gold for artillery. Sergeants frequently wore an abbreviated epaulette held by a button on the right shoulder .
The Aroostook War occurred in 1838 and 1839 and was centered around a dispute between the U. S. and English over the international boundary between the British colony New Brunswick and the state of Maine. Simmering over a number of years a second and in the time equally paramount was the issue of navigation rights on the St. John River. Largely lost in time is the fact that earlier on these issues were responsible for the establishment of a US Army barracks in Hancock, Maine and the service of Robert E. Lee there as an Army surveyor. In 1839 Capt. Stover Rines and his company of militia was part force of some two hundred men who marched to Aroostook to arrest and imprison trespassers on state land. Capt. Rines and two other key figures leading the Maine force were ultimately taken captive and jailed in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The action inflamed both sides. Additional State troops were authorized and the US Congress raised 50,000 men to repel any actual invasion of American soil. The Aroostook War ultimately came to a bloodless end when General Winfield Scott was successful in negotiating a settlement between the parties. One of the officers serving under Gen. Scott at Headquarters, Eastern Division, United States Army, Augusta Maine was Robert Anderson later Major Robert Anderson of Fort Sumter fame.
While a Google search of Capt. Stover Rines Maine will offer considerably more detail on Capt. Rines and his service on the Maine frontier, we did not find an account of his earlier militia service thus can only assume that the included sergeants epaulette is a remnant progression through the ranks.
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Civil War 15th Maine Infantry – Regimental BADGE Retaining its nicely hand engraved (and frequently robbed) 5th Corps Badge suspension while sporting the early style T-bar fastening pin, this regimental badge remains complete and in pleasing original condition while offering lots of untouched natural age patina (will polish away but we wouldn’t), this hand engraved period silver badge is of the long suffering Maine 15th Infantry Regiment. Raised primarily from the most remote part of the state, the 15th Maine mustered into U. S. service and left Portland, Maine for Ships Island, Mississippi in January 1862 not to muster out until July 5, 1866. Unaccustomed to deep South conditions and the close living of military life, the Maine back-woodsmen suffered greatly from malarial diseases losing nearly 300 of their original 962 number to disability and death within their first year of service. Despite these challenges the 15th would survive to participate in Gen. Banks' expedition to Texas rendering conspicuous service in the capture of Fort Esperanza, in Matagorda Bay and form part of the Red River expedition, during which it marched more than 700 miles in two months, and participated in the battles of Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, Cane River Crossing, and Mansura Plains. A desirable remnant with a history, this regimental badge will lay well in any quality Civil War grouping or display well alone.
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period - Confederate 1st National Flag – cookie cutter Illustrated here with a quarter for size comparison this period 1st National Confederate Flag cookie cutter was hand fashioned of lead soldered, tinned sheet iron and measures approximately 4 1/8 X 3 inches. Admittedly priced here for the deep dish Confederate enthusiast with an eye toward the eclectic, this unusual offering remains in exceptional, even used, condition while showing good evidence of age and originality.
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Civil War vintage MICROSCOPE A nice cased Civil War era simple microscope, attractive for display with lots of age but functioning and complete with good lenses and mirror all nestled in its original traveling case. A nice item from the low tech 1860s when a personal microscope was valued for entertainment as well as educational application with advertisements appearing regularly in national publications. Will go well with the Civil War era medical or scientific instrument grouping.
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mid 1800s – India Rubber Comb Co. – Ladies HAIR PIN BOX Measuring approximately 3 inches long by 1 inch wide this little pasteboard box remains in solid original, untouched condition and is marked The India Rubber Comb Co., N. Y. - Sole Manufacturer of Goodyear’s India Rubber and Gutta Percha Combs - 1 Doz. INDIA RUBBER HAIR PINS - No. 2. A neat item for the India Rubber collector, (see: India-Rubber & Gutta-Percha In The Civil War era by Mike Woshner ) or a pleasing addition to include with a period ladies personal grouping. Not a big deal we suppose but to those of us who especially appreciate such seldom surviving personal items, this little pasteboard rubber hair pin box will be a delight to have.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!

 

Francis Lord collection- post Civil War HOUSUM ZOUAVES belt plate. Acquired several years ago when we were fortunate enough to purchase several groupings from the personal collections of our longtime friend, Dr. Francis Lord, this just post Civil War militia piece was noted by Lord as a waist belt plate of the HOUSUM ZOUAVES worn by John C. Gerbig. (Will come with our letter to preserve its origin.) A quick google search found John C. Gerbig and the Housum Zouaves in the 1902 Pennsylvania Adjutant General Report where the following is offered on page 421:

Capt. John C. Gerbig He was a private in Chambers Artillery, April 1860. Pvt. Co. A 2nd Penn. Vol. Inf. three months service, 1861. Quartermaster Sgt. under Capt. P. L. Pearse, Co. A, 2nd Maine Infantry to 1864. Sergeant, Housum Zouaves August 13, 1868. 2nd Lt. Co. C 8th Regt. Infantry, Oct. 6, 1882. 1st Lt. Aug. 2, 1883, honorably discharged June 19, 1884.

A pioneer Civil War collector from a day when nearly no one else paid much attention to the details of many now valued Civil War collectable categories, Francis had an abiding interest in all manner of 19th century military equipage. His primary interest was in Civil War however and led to his widely known, multi volume, pioneer reference, Lord’s CIVIL WAR COLLECTORS ENCYCLOPEDIA. While a lot of detailed knowledge has been gained as the interest and value of Civil War collectibles increased so dramatically over the years, Dr. Lord’s first and second volumes in particular and his Civil War Sutlers & Their Wares continue to offer valuable and reliable reference to Civil War collectors. (Use Lord in our search feature to find other Lord collection items.) As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !


 

mid 1800s advertising checkerboard – SNOW & BROWN – MOBILE, ALABAMA This outstanding Civil War era advertising game board was put out by SNOW & BROWN, 29 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama. The board measures 12 inches square when open and remains in excellent condition, strong at the hinge with a game surface that remains bright and nearly as new. The back which is exposed when closed, remains in pleasing condition while offering wear as good evidence of age, originality and period use and carrying. While we have not been able to date the establishment of the partnership of Snow & Brown at 29 Dauphin, Street, we found that Snow (J. H. Snow) commenced business at that address in 1855 and that the partnership business of Snow & Brown at the same location burned in 1874. One period description advised that the Dauphin Street establishment ’was an elegantly arranged and handsomely fitted up temple of music filled with pianos, organs, and musical instruments’. Equally well known in Mobile as a music teacher, Snow was a prolific publisher of popular Confederate sheet music from this same address on Deuphin, Street. (see: CONFEDERATE SHEET MUSIC by E. Lawrence Able) Among the several such was the JEFFERSON DAVIS GRAND MARCH published in 1861. An exceptionally nice item to set in with any Civil War era gaming or personal grouping, this neat old advertising game board will be of special interest to the collector of period Southern items. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!


 

c. 1800s miniature - Salesman Sample Rubber Boots A highly collectable matched pair of salesman sample rubber boots each maker marked CANDEE and each remaining in excellent original condition, pliable with no flaking, tearing or other issues yet offering good evidence of age and originality. Illustrated here with a quarter for size comparison, these miniature boots were intended as a sales sample for boots by L. Candee & Co., Rubber Works established in New Haven, Connecticut in 1842. Leverett Candee (1795-1863) manufactured the new-fangled rubber boots under licenses held by Charles Goodyear and was first in the world to manufacture rubber footwear. An interesting collectable in a number of Americana categories. (see: Bart & Hickcox: India Rubber & Gutta Percha Goods 1860 catalog) Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!


 

mid-19th century Sail Maker’s Ditty Bag with ORIGINAL CONTENT A wonderful remnant of the heyday of sale, one has to be impressed with just how this mid 1800s sailmaker’s artifact survives intact with a full complement of craft essential components such as binding and stitching lace of varying material and gauge , hemp and cotton cord, a small paper bound skein of raw cotton yarn, and an interesting mix of odd job remnants such as leather drum tugs, period recovered grommets for re-use, bees wax for treating lacing and thread, even a leather cap visor ready for application. Tools of the craft of sail making and repair, include a small measuring scale, a lignum vitae seam rubber, a heavy hand stitched roping palm, two stitching palms, a heavy 6 inch needle and a splicing and seam knife maker marked IBBOTSON GLOBE WORKS. (closed in 1845) All best described by our photo illustrations it is important to note that the bag and content are period original one to another and as found after decades of Maine sea coast, attic storage. A remarkable remnant of the mid-19th century artificer.
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Rose Farm - GETTYSBURG excavated Confederate Bayonet Scabbard Tip Acquired at the Gettysburg Civil War show back when such excavated items were considered trinkets (those were the days) this classically constructed sheet iron with lead finial Confederate bayonet scabbard tip was recovered from the Gettysburg battlefield’s Rose Farm. Recovered by Gettysburg resident John Cullison who excavated relics on the field from the mid-1930s through the late 1950s, Cullison was one of the last diggers to work the battlefield and is well known among collectors today as a primary source to the famed Rosensteel Gettysburg artifact collection. The collection of artifacts graced the old Gettysburg Visitors Center until sadly, it was largely broken up in the 1990s.
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Civil War era traveling - Fire Starter Kit Measuring approximately 4 ¼ inches in length and about 1 ½ inches wide, this little pocket or haversack size traveling fire starter is hand fashioned from tinned sheet iron with lead soldered lap seams. The cover offers a built in coal oil starting fluid reservoir with screw cap and the body retains its period content of Civil War vintage Portland sheet matches, a period hand dipped candle and the remains of an original PORTLAND STAR MATCH wrapper likely saved and included as quick catch aid. With clear evidence of the rigors of age with period use and carrying, this all original and as found Civil War vintage personal utility will lay in well with any quality period grouping.
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19th century turned maple - Whistle Illustrated here with a U.S. quarter for size comparison, this neat little period turned rock-maple whistle remains in excellent original condition with good evidence of age yet with no flaws, or condition issues. Turned in the classic configuration of the Civil War era, this whistle will lay in well in any period personal grouping. A nice period item without spending a lot!
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!




 

Civil War Veteran G. A. R. uniform of Brig. General Stephen H. Manning – 1st & 5th Maine Best described here by our illustrations this exceptionally nice Grand Army of the Republic uniform consists of trousers, vest, coat and slouch hat complete with War time wool 6th Corps device as stitched in place by then Civil War veteran Bvt. Brigadier General Stephen Hart Manning. Emanating from direct descendants of the General along with his ink signed CDV as Col. & Chif. Q. M. Dept. of Texas and family lore regarding the 6th Corps device, this magnificent GAR uniform offers the General’s identification in the right shoulder lining along with the label of the General’s home town Lewiston, Maine clothier.
Born in 1834 to a family of poor patronage Stephen H. Manning was largely self-educated until 1858 when the industrious Lewiston, Maine youngster entered Bowdoin College as a sophomore in 1858, leaving college in April 1861 to join the 1st Maine Volunteer Infantry. Entering service as a Private Manning would be named Quarter Master Sargent of the 1st Maine and would, notwithstanding his absence, be awarded a full diploma from Bowdoin’s class of 1861. In September 1861 he was Commissioned by the Governor as 1st Lieut. and Regimental Qr. Master of the 5th Maine Infantry a position held until August 1862 when he was appointed acting Quarter Master, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac. In October 1862 the fast rising Manning was named acting Chief Q. M. of the 6th Corps’ 1st Division and on November 26, 1862 was Commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln as Captain and A. Q. M., U. S. Volunteers, a position he held until May 1864 when he was appointed acting Chief Quarter Master, 6th Army Corps. Brevetted Major by Lincoln for faithful and meritorious service in the campaigns before Richmond and in the Shenandoah Valley, Manning would continue his rise to Lieut. Colonel and Chief Q. M. of the 6th Corps then Chief Q. M. Provisional Corps Army of the Potomac. Appointed Colonel and Chief Q. M. Dept. of Texas. Breveted to Brig. General to date from March 13, 1865, upon his mustering out on October 5, 1866 Gen. Manning had participated in all the Civil War battles of the Army of the Potomac in which the 6th Corps had been active. Some short time after the Civil War Gen. Manning located in Wilmington, North Carolina where he operated a merchandising business until 1874 when he was elected Sheriff of New Hanover County Gen. Manning eventually returned to his family home in Lewiston, Maine where he was an active member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the Grand Army of the Republic and the 5th Maine Regimental Association. He died in 1911 at age seventy-six.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!