March 15-17, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/15/2022
Oak lap desk or storage box belonging to Joseph G. Grimler (1839-1906,) lieutenant 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteers. This went from the family to a western Pennsylvania Civil War collector and includes serveral photocopies of wartime documents and letters, including a short letter written to his parents from the battlefield of Gettysburg written on July 4 behind their breastworks to let them know he is okay and referencing General Vincent. Original pieces include an 1864 Army and Navy pocket dictionary with his name in pencil in the front; a family CDV album containing mostly civilian 1870s images, an 1858 pocket bible with a girl's name in it, a 1912 cemetery document with another name on it, an 1890s photo locket, an unmounted photo of "the Grimler house" and an 1890s cabinet card of camping party with one figure identified in period pen as "J.G.G.," a small brass pocket compass (missing needle,) and a nice 1880 copy of Upton's infantry tactics inscribed in ink, "Compliments of A. Kurtis to Jos. G. Grimler in favor of Bates Post No. 83 G.A.R." Grimler enlisted at Erie at age 22 and mustered into Company C of the 83rd as a corporal August 12, 1861. He was promoted sergeant and then 2nd Lieutenant October 31, 1862. He was present at Gettysburg, wounded at Wilderness May 5, 1864, and mustered out September 20, 1864. Photocopies include his discharge and service notes that he was hospitalized for spinal pain from late May 1864 to his discharge. He seems to have been an inventor later in life. The box contains a brass or copper model of a wheel hub with a metal tag noting "Box Hub" and "J.G. Grimler / Erie Pa / inventor."
Item Dimensions: 16" x 10"