November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Nice group of Civil War naval related pieces consisting of a telescope and watch, both inscribed to a Civil War Untied States Navy officer. Born in 1833 in Charlestown, Mass., Edward Fesser Devens listed himself as a seaman by occupation. He was Second Lieutenant of Company B, 3rd Battalion of Riflemen, Massachusetts Militia, a unit activated on April 18, 1861 and sent to Annapolis and Ft. McHenry just 2 days later, not even mustering in until May. Devens’s experience made him valuable to the Navy. He was given leave of absence from June 12 and actually appointed Acting Master in USN temporary service as of June 11. In 1863 he was in command of the steamer “Stettin” off the South Carolina coast when he spotted the blockade runner “Aries,” pursued it, forced it aground, and then towed it back out to sea. As reward he was promoted Acting Volunteer Lieutenant and given command of that ship as the U.S.S. Aries, though perhaps only for a voyage to prize court. In June 1863 he was in command of the US Steamer Howqua, submitting a report of officers attempting to arrest a deserting sailor being beaten by a pro-Southern mob at Halifax when they put in for coal: “As the vessel proceeded down the harbor crowds collected on the end of the wharf, cheering for the rebels and Jeff Davis. Men came down and tried to induce my men to desert, while others came around the ship with Secession flags and singing Secession songs…” He was promoted again, to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Commander on February 7, 1865 and is in command of the USS Huntsville at the Philadelphia Navy Yard when he received a 5-month furlough August 30, 1865 in expectation of an honorable discharge, which he received November 19, 1866. He married in March 1865 and died in New Hampshire in 1885. The watch case bears floral and geometric motifs on the case and is marked “Deubner” and “coin” inside. The watch chain is made of brass copies of Liberty dollars dated 1864. The watch is professionally engraved in script on the reverse, “Lt. E.F. Devens / Gulf Squadron / U.S.N.”. The telescope is professionally engraved in script and Old English, “Presented to / Lt. E.F. Devens / May 25 1863 / By his friends.” Below this in script is “Gulf Squadron” followed by “So ATLANTIC SQUAD” and “No. ATLANTIC SQUAD” in differently sized block letters. All 3 differ in engraving style and appear period additions as his assignments changed. CONDITION: The telescope offers a pleasing patina with scattered blemishes from handling and age and crisp inscription. Leather is supple and exhibits creasing throughout. The lower portion is not secured to the body and detaches when the telescope is expanded. Optics are slightly clouded with no cracks on the lens. The watch exhibits a pleasing patina with scattered blemishes from handling and age. This is a very nice pair of engraved pieces belonging to an officer who saw some active service.
Item Dimensions: 15"
Paperwork
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