November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
5th Model Burnside Single Shot American Civil War-era percussion carbine with 21" round barrel in .54 caliber with folding 2-leaf carbine rear sight and blade front. 2-piece walnut stock and forearm complete with single barrel band, staple with saddle ring, sling swivel, and military-style buttplate. Martial sub-inspector marked on major parts with left wrist of stock bearing a faint cartouche. Frame is serial number 28409 and breechblock is numbered 37987. Stock is deeply engraved "J. WELCH" on right side with a sharp instrument, likely a knife. Accompanying this gun is a brief handwritten note with provenance attributing the carbine to John L. Welch, who carried this captured Burnside percussion breech loading carbine. Hartzler collection notes quote John L. Welch: “I had among my luggage a captured Burnside carbine. I had to obtain cartridges from the enemy, it was not with me when I was captured by Averill’s division.”. Welch was from St. Mary’s County and served in Company A, 2nd Maryland Cavalry, CSA. Some records cite his enlistment as May 1863, the formation of unit, which was Gimor’s partisan battalion, though he may have served earlier in the 1st Maryland Infantry, where a John L. Welch of St. Mary’s County served from May 24, 1861 to June 9, 1862, which would place him at First Bull Run, and he may be the J.L. Welch serving in the Weston Guard, which had become part of that regiment. It is also possible he had earlier, unrecorded service with Gilmor, who had commanded a company attached to the 12th Virginia in 1862 before organizing his battalion, mostly Marylanders, which operated behind Union lines, sometimes along with other Confederate commands, launching raids on railroads, supply trains, telegraph lines, etc., and by late 1863 reached 6 companies in strength. Gilmor retained an independent command in the Shenandoah in 1864, fighting against Union forces under Sigel and then Hunter. Welch was captured at Piedmont, Virginia, on June 5, 1864, when Hunter’s forces clashed with those of Imboden as part of the Lynchburg campaign. The battle was a Union victory. Confederates stymied pursuit, but of an estimated 5,500 men lost, 1,500, including General “Grumble” Jones, were killed, and 1,000, including Welch, taken prisoner. Welch was sent to Camp Morton, Indiana, and released on his oath of allegiance on May 23, 1865. CONDITION: Good, with virtually all of the original bluing turned a freckled light gray patina. Frame is an even gray-blue patina. Stock is in fair condition with heavy handling marks throughout and buttstock has turned dark with time. Mechanically fine. Bore is lightly frosted with crisp rifling.
Paperwork
Folder with Collection Notes