GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE INCLUDING CASED PAIR OF INSCRIBED PRESENTATION COLT NAVY'S TO COLONEL GUSTAVUS SNIPER, 185TH NEW YORK "HERO OF QUAKER ROADS", ONE OF THE LAST ACTIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR FOUGHT UNDER GENERAL JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN. COLT/COLT 1851 111188/111225 36 Cal. 36. On March 29th, before the afternoon was half gone, a Rebel brigade of 4 regiments was encountered on the Quaker Road, about ten miles southwest from Petersburg. The 185th regiment, under the command of Colonel Sniper, went into battle with less than 600 officers and men. This fight is a memorable one in the history of the regiment. Coming suddenly upon the rifle pits of the rebels, the fighting was at close quarters. The color-bearer was twice wounded; the sergeant of the color company, in whose hands the colors were placed, was killed; and one of the color guard, who seized the colors as the sergeant fell, lost his hand; the captain of the color company, with the colors in his grasp was also severely wounded. The colors were then seized by Colonel Sniper, and a final charge was made. The 185th, in the short period in which it was engaged, lost more than 25% of its men. During the brief time of the engagement, 30 were killed and nearly 180 wounded, some ten of the latter mortally. The dead were buried upon the spot. Some were afterward removed to the Petersburg National Cemetery. Sniper was breveted Brigadier General for his gallantry. After initially serving in 51st NYSM, General Sniper has a gallant Civil War history. He was commission into the Field and Staff of the 101st NY Infantry as a Captain, promoted to Major February 1, 1862 and Lt. Col. on November 11, 1862. He went on to become Lt. Col. of the 185th NY on September 23, 1864 and Col. of regiment on March 10, 1865 before his glorious and meritorious action. This beautiful matched pair of Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers are identically inscribed "PRESENTED TO MAJ. G. SNIPER 101ST REGT N.Y. VOLS BY HIS / LATE COMMAND CO. E 51ST REGT NYSM". These pistols show honest wear and use, and there is little doubt Sniper used this pair throughout the war. While serving under Joshua Chamberlain where on March 29, 1865 at the fight at the Quaker Road, Chamberlain himself was shot and so bloodied when taken to the rear was erroneously reported killed by news reports. Chamberlain, in his official reports of the action, mentions Sniper's gallantry several times and these letters should be read in the accompanying provenance file. "This action lasted nearly two hours before any support reached us. I need not speak of the severity of the engagement, nor of the conduct of my officers and men...but I may be permitted to mention the fact that more than 400 of my men and 18 officers killed and wounded marked our line with too painful destructiveness... The unflinching tenacity of Col. Sniper at his perilous post, and the desperate bravery with which he rallied his men, seizing his color after it had fallen from the hands of 3 color bearers and a Captain and bearing it into the very ranks of the enemy..." Sniper's action was noted in a war time sketch published in Harper's Weekly, April 22, 1865, of him rallying his men, holding the colors. A life-size equestrian statue of General Sniper was erected in Schlosser Park, Syracuse, NY in honor of his war time heroism. Accompanying archive consists of framed oil escutcheon (measuring 37" x 31"), 20 orig war time letters and documents, along with his obituary, reunion ribbon and a document holder. Also accompanying is a large archive of bound documents concerning history of this grouping. PROVENANCE: Sniper Family Estate; Vin Caponi Collection; Tom Carter Collection. CONDITION: Guns are both very good to fine, all matching. Crisp markings and edges. Traces of finish found in protected areas, though overall a smooth grey. Frame on 111188 shows stronger traces of muted case colors than its mate. Both guns retain about 10-20% silver plate and several screws retain some traces of fire blue. This is truly a fine matching pair with nearly identical surfaces and patina, rolled cylinder scenes are 60-80% discernible, one gun retains 6 crisp safety pins and 111188 has 5 safety pins. Grips are sound and well fit, retaining over 90% orig varnish with moderate edge wear. Mechanically, both guns function well with crisp bores. Accompanying casing is sound and solid with soiled and worn lining, externally wood has normal cosmetic blemishes and a blank brass shield in lid; retains a "COLTS PATENT" slanted spout flask with panoply of arms, retaining much of its orig darkened varnish. Mold, L-shaped tool are matching, retaining over half of their orig finish. Matching cap tins have discernible labels with with damage to labels as seen in photos. Orig pack of 6 cartridges is sound with tear to bottom left of label. Accompanying key is non-functional. 50970-1 JS (30,000-40,000)