Little Round Top – KIA – Confederate Lt. Col Benj. F. Carter – MEMORIAL LITHOGRAPH

Description

Desirable for sure and clearly an important Little Round Top, Gettysburg item, this original memorial by lithographer J. Baillie is a bit of an enigma as it is inscribed to Benj. F. Carter of the Fourth Virginia when in fact Lt. Col. Carter is well known to Confederate collector /historians as the hard-fought hero of the 4th Texas infantry.  Carter was mortally wounded on July 2nd 1863 as that regiment took on the Union left flank and the 20th Maine Infantry.   A head scratcher for sure, our own extensive research effort produced but a single Lt. Col. Benj. F. Carter serving the Union or Confederacy.  A deeper look offers a plausible scenario with respect to Carter’s regimental designation as the 4^th Virginia on this memorial.

Seriously wounded on July 2, 1863, when struck by shell fragments, the clearly mortally wounded Colonel was left behind   To alleviate his further suffering, he was left at a private home where he was captured and taken with other prisoners to Chambersburg, PA.    It was here that one of the Civil War’s more personal nonpartisan and  heartfelt occurrences took place when the astor of a local church, Rev. Dr. Samuel Fisher and his wife Naomi requested that the Colonel be brought to their church for care.  It seems that when Naomi’s son by a previous marriage (Capt. Mark Kerns U.S. Army) had been killed fighting against Lt. Col Carter’s 4th troops at 2nd Manassas.   Col. Carter who had been so impressed by Kerns’ courage that he had his remains buried on the battlefield in Carter’s own coat.  Naomi who had been made aware of the Colonel’s action toward her son wished to return the kindness by care for him.

A lengthy and convoluted story but one that offers a plausible reason for the Virginia / Texas mix up by a less than familiar Yankee  calligrapher. Bolstered by our acquisition of the memorial near Chambersburg lo those many years ago when such treasures might be picked at on site sales.

It seems most plausible that as the Confederate Colonel’s memorial emanated from a Chambersburg home it has a connection to Rev. Fisher and his wife Naomi who had a personal connection to Carter. A long-convoluted account but a plausible one. worthy of preservation with this desirable relic.

All in pleasing condition save a chip at the lower right corner of its original12 3/8 X 16 3/8/inch mid-19th century frame, this offering will come without glass.

Buy with confidence! Like all of our direct sales this item will come with a three-day inspection provision with reimbursement of item price upon return as purchased.  Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!