BINOCULARS AND CASE OF COL. L.M. DAYTON, SHERMAN'S AIDE DE CAMP.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022

Very fine set of officer's binoculars and case belonging to one of Sherman's right hand men: his aide-de-camp and adjutant general, Lewis M. Dayton, whose name appears on many top-level orders and communications, was brevetted for the campaigns of Atlanta, Savannah and the Carolinas, is shown in photos of Sherman and staff, including images in fortifications of Savannah after Sherman took that important city and presented it to Lincoln as a Christmas present in 1864, and was Sherman's military secretary after the war when he was General of the Army. The inside lid of the case and one eyepiece are marked "DUCATILLON / OPTICIEN / INGENIEUR" with address as well inside lid, "Boulevart des Capucines 29. en face du Grand Hotel." Black enamel metal body with leather wrap. "12 VERRES" engraved in script on bridge. Case is green leather with purple velvet lining. Maker is gilt embossed on underside of lid. Hinge and spring button lock intact. 4 loops for carrying strap in place. Handle on top is missing. Gilt blind-stamped on top: "COLONEL L.M. DAYTON" and "CINCINNATI OHIO U.S.A." CONDITION: Very good. Slight scuffing to top of case. Slightly loose side seam. Eyepiece with address has crack. Other eyepiece plain, possibly replaced. Leather tube wrapping shows wear spots, but is intact and secure. Lewis Mulford Dayton (1835-1891) was a clerk in a Cincinnati machine shop when the war started. He was commissioned a Captain and Aide De Camp in the US Volunteer service 3/11/1863 and served as Aide-de-Camp on Sherman's staff. Promoted Major and Asst. Adj. General 12 1/12/65 and brevet Lt. Colonel 13/13/65 "for meritorious service in the recent campaigns of Atlanta and Savannah, Ga. and in the Carolinas." He mustered out of the volunteer service 9/1/66, having received a commission in the Regular Army as 2nd Lt in the 2nd Infantry 7/24/66 and was promoted Captain in the Custer's 7th US Cavalry 3/6/67, but served as Lt. Colonel and Military Secretary to Sherman 8/11/66 to 3/8/69 and as Colonel and ADC to Sherman 3/8/69 to 12/31/1870, having received regular army brevets to 1st Lt., Capt. and Major 3/2/67 for gallant and meritorious service in the Atlanta Campaign and to Lt. Colonel on the same date for gallant and meritorious service in campaign through the Carolinas. He was honorably discharged at his own request 12/13/1870 and returned to Cincinnati where he was in the mercantile business until his death in 1891. A very historic set of binoculars belonging to an officer at the very center of some of the war's climactic battles and campaigns.