November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Grouping consists of 3 items relating to Marylander Charles Collard Ross (1822-1869) who served in the Mexican War and the Confederate Army in the Civil War. (A) Maryland honorable discharge certificate for Ross as “private of Company [E] Capt. Geo. W. Brown Md & D.C. Regt of Volunteers,” listing his date of muster in, 26 July 1846, and muster out, 18 July 1848. “United States Service / Maryland Volunteers / in the Mexican War” at upper center with military vignettes and portraits in cartouches, names of officers on scrolls fastened around palm trees at lower left and right, a stand of arms and flags, etc. Faded red seal at lower left, 1855 dated signatures of Governor, Secretary of State, and Major General at lower right. CONDITION: Very good. Some wrinkling and soiling. 2 or 3 small holes not affecting content or presentation. (B) Sixth plate cased ambrotype of Ross in simple fatigue blouse, worn open at collar to show bowtie. He wears a waistbelt with oval plate (detail obscured) and the butt of a holstered pistol showing at his side. Accompanied by wartime Maryland patriotic envelope with period pencil notation: “Uncle Charlie likeness from a Charleston Harbor Gallery 1861 sent to mother.” CONDITION: Very good. Solarization to edges of image only affecting lower arms of sitter. Minor rubs. Some crazing to emulsion not affecting figure. (C) Ross’s 1865 certificate of release as POW from Pt. Lookout, Maryland, with signed oath of allegiance June 30 and July 1 US Provost Marshal stamp. CONDITION: Very good. Maryland and DC furnished 2 units of volunteers: a battalion (May 1846 –May 1847) and a regiment (May/June 1847 – July 1848.) Ross’s date of muster in on the document implies service in both units. The battalion served on the Rio Grande and was at the storming of Monterrey. The regiment, organized after discharge of the battalion was posted to Vera Cruz, saw some action at National Bridge and against guerrillas, and then garrisoned Jalapa. Ross clearly liked military adventure, making his way to South Carolina to enlist in Captain Winder’s battery of South Carolina Artillery at Castle Pinckney 16 April 1861, immediately after the bombardment of Fort Sumter. This battery subsequently became Captain Child’s Company South Carolina Artillery and in November 1862 became Company C of Lucas’s Battalion of Heavy Artillery. Notes on his Sept.-Oct. 1861 muster roll mention detached service at Fort Sumter, which may indicate he was part of the Confederate garrison of the fort. In any case, he was in the Charleston defenses for most of the war, which were repeatedly engaged and besieged by U.S. forces. He made corporal in 1863 and sergeant in 1864. He applied to transfer to the Maryland Line in April 1864 and his records indicate a transfer, but Hartzler’s notes indicate a lack of transportation kept him in South Carolina forces, which seems confirmed by his unit designation throughout the war.
Paperwork
Folder of Research