This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
An absolutely incredible Civil War Confederate States Navy grouping consisting of a revolver, ambrotype, and 7 diaries from to George Pielert. The group includes a Beaumont-Adams Model 1854 single action percussion revolver featuring a 6" octagon barrel, Kerr patent rammer, blade front sight, and non-adjustable frame notch rear. 1 piece checkered walnut grips. Frame and cylinder serial numbers match. English proof and view markings on barrel and over each chamber of cylinder. The pistol is accompanied by an archive of Pielert’s original diaries, transcripts, and a very rare, world-class, cased image of him in CS naval uniform holding a short sword/cutlass. According to Hartzler’s notes Pielert, born in 1840, emigrated from Germany to Catonsville, Maryland, and by 1860 was working at the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond. He enlisted there on July 7, 1861, as an artificer in the 3rd Company of Washington Artillery, listing his occupation as farrier. He was present at the Battle of Blackburn's Ford on July 18 and Manassas on July 21, his diary indicating he was stunned by shell fragment on July 18 and had his sword scabbard dented by a bullet. His entries are both intriguing and chilling, as he describes the horrors of the battle “I have often read the reports of olden times of the Battle of Waterloo or the massacre at the Bridge of Lody, but as I now behold it with my own eyes, it runs through my brain like a disagreeable dream, but it is stern reality. The crys of the wounded and the groans of the dying around me are not to be reckoned among visions. Woe be unto him who is the cause of all this sorrow. Woe be unto him wo caused the existence of so many widows and orphans. Close to me lay a Georgian who prayed for his wife and children. At his side lay a Texan who was crying for the mother he was about to leave alone in this world. This night I slept on the battlefield and made a fire of broken pieces of artillery.”. Compiled service records list him as transferred to the Maryland Line June 15, 1862, and he is picked up as private in the 2nd Company Maryland Artillery, the “Baltimore Light Artillery” as “Peilot,” joining June 13, 1862, for “three years or the war,” and as “Piclent,” absent without leave in December. Some of his diary entries are made in a Yankee journal captured in the Seven Days Battles in front of Richmond, confirming his continued Army service. Hartzler indicates he was captured returning from a visit to Baltimore in February 1863, which likely explains his absence without leave, and was exchanged in March, after which he joined the CS Navy and saw service on the CS steamers Torpedo and Drewry. Hartzler’s notes also indicate he surrendered in North Carolina with Johnston’s forces. Pielert married in 1866, fathered at least 6 children, the last of whom died only in 1970. In his later years he resided in the Maryland Line Soldier’s Home. A 1925 newspaper clipping shows him as 1 of the last 10 residents of that home. He died in 1927. A 1969 affidavit states that these artifacts were purchased from the last surviving son of George Pielert in 1956. Pielert’s diaries make excellent reading, as he describes the battles he was present for in great detail, from troop maneuvers, gear, and the carnage around him. Other entries are lighter in nature and describe his duties, daily routines, an interesting altercation between two officers who attempted to conduct a duel after a fiery argument, camp life, the condition of his health, and his friends. He also talks about various wounds and illnesses regarding his friends and officers, as he discussed who was wounded and when, who became ill, died of wounds, in battle, or of illness. Pielert seemed to be a skilled craftsman, as he often writes about how he constructed spurs, he records the construction of his artillery regiment’s battle flag, and grinding Bowie knives, some of which have a more human aspect to them. In December 1861, he makes several entries regarding the crafting of Bowie knives from Yankee bones. On December 15, 1861 he writes “Today Christ, Opel, Walter, Dan, and myself were on the battlefield. A great many human bones were lying about. I brought two shinbones of a New York Zouave to camp. I seen the skeleton of a horse which fell under Christ. Not far from the house in which Mrs. Henry was shot, is Francis Bartow tombstone on which are these words inscribed – “Francis Bartow-All My Boys Are Dead-But Never Give Up The Field” – it is white block of Marble about 10 inches in diameter about 3 ½ ft. high, and on the same spot where he fell. Christ found a coat with a letter in it. It belonged to a South Carolinian. On December 18, 1861 he writes “Opel got a knife from me with a Yankee-bone handle to it…” These entries are interesting and chilling, providing the reader with a different insight to the war. The later diaries are quite intriguing, especially for early naval historians, as Pielert recorded in detail his duties aboard the ships he served on, as well as their day-to-day operations. The diaries were mostly transcribed in the 1990s and offer excellent primary source material. Confederate naval material is exceedingly scarce and this is a top-notch identified Civil War Confederate Navy grouping that would be tough to upgrade, especially considering the diaries and the ambrotype. The grouping is accompanied by a folder of research regarding Pielert’s service, and scans of pgs. 311-312 of “Confederate Presentation and Inscribed Swords and Revolvers” as well as scans of pgs. 189-190 of “A Band of Brothers: Photographic Epilogue to Marylanders in the Confederacy” in which this grouping is featured. CONDITION: Fair, with iron components covered with a heavy brown chemically blended patina with crack on right side and weld on left side of frame near rear of cylinder. Grips are fair with minor crack near grip cap, scattered areas of checkering worn flat, and grip screws rusted in place. Hammer will not stay back when cocked. Bore is dark with visible rifling. The diaries all exhibit blemishes that are typical of old paper, including some with slight water damage, fading ink, creases, tears, and other wear from handling and age. Despite the imperfections, most writing remains legible. Leather covers are somewhat fragile. Image exhibits scattered scratches but remains clear.
Manufacturer
Beauomont-Adams
Paperwork
Extensive Provenance including diaries, newspaper articles, Image