This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
This large grouping descended intact in the direct family line of Edward Danner until released by his granddaughter in 1965. Danner served in the Civil War and later organized and commanded the “Linganore Guards,” Co. C 1st Infantry Maryland National Guard. Included is material from his Civil War service, post-war National Guard service, G.A.R., fraternal and masonic material, as well as personal papers. Included along with documents, manuals, insignia, and photographs, are a Colt pocket revolver, 2 swords, an inscribed drum from the Linganore Guards, and their 38-star flag framed with the original 1881 silver presentation plaque from its staff, as well as 2 storage trunks with painted Linganore Guard identifications. Danner enlisted in Co B, 7th Maryland Infantry, U.S., in October 1862, was promoted to Regimental Commissary Sergeant and served with the unit until June 1, 1865, transferring briefly to the 1st Maryland Vet. Volunteers before muster out on June 12. The regiment served at Baltimore, Williamsport, and the defenses of the upper Potomac in the 8th Corps until joining the Army of the Potomac in July 1863, serving in the 1st Corps until Spring 1864 and then the 5th Corps. It saw action in 1863, but particularly hard and continuous service starting with Grant’s Overland Campaign, fighting at Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and the pursuit of Lee, including the Battle of Five Forks, losing 79 officers and men killed in battle and another 110 who died of wounds or disease. (A) The Colt Pocket has mismatched 4" barrel and lacks a loading assembly, but other parts with matching 28511 numbers indicate 1852 manufacture. Barrel is brown and gray, good address, worn sight. Markings are clear. Metal is smooth. Grips have good varnish and fit. There are light traces of case on the frame and substantial remnants of silver. Cylinder with numerous dings, no scene, but good patent and serial number stamps. Mechanics good. Slight wear to grips around lower edges. CONDITION: Fair. (B&C) 2 swords are included: 1852 US Navy officer’s sword and a pre-war Indian Princess pommel militia sword. The navy sword is standard configuration, good condition, no maker’s marks, but with gold sword knot. Hilt good, but slightly loose, wrap in place, wire binding present, but loose. Blade etching with standard USN motifs is light, but visible. Blade shows nicks along the forte. Scabbard is good, drag is loose and will slide once the sword is unsheathed. Mounts with standard knotted rope ring mounts and sea monster drag on obverse, plain on reverse. Blade is engraved with unknown owner’s initials “J.G.B.” just beyond the fuller. The Indian Princess pommel sword dates 1821-1850 and has silvered hilt and scabbard. No maker marks. Silver wash excellent on hilt and very good on scabbard with minor rubbing. Mother of Pearl slab grips bound with 3 strands of silver wire over backstraps. Counterguard with seated Columbia, US shield, eagle, etc. CONDITION: Blade is fair, smooth metal, gray with dark gray spots, but traces of blue with etched martial and floral elements. Edge and point good. Scabbard with one middle and two upper carrying rings. Engraved with bands and floral motifs at the carrying rings, semicircular border designs, floral motifs at drag with button tip. Throat present, but loose. Reverse plain. Minor dent just below upper rings. Likely a family sword, its counterguard and scabbard are visible at Danner’s side on parade with the Linganore Guards about 1881. Civil War material also includes a typical Civil War soldier’s housewife sewing kit and 1863 rifle and infantry tactics manual with his name several times inside in pencil and a post-war copy of wartime image of Danner and a corporal Wilson in uniform. Post-war material includes a half-dozen military manuals and notebooks, as well as the First Sergeant’s roll book, the initial enrollment roster of the Linganore Guards, an arms list, his 1881 Captain’s commission, officer’s sword belt with plate, his captain’s epaulets and shoulder straps, a large photo of his company on parade with tissue paper overlay noted with some identifications. Danner also retained a small triple-twist brass bugle and short brass snare drum, painted on the bottom head: “LINGANORE GUARDS / No. 1 / M.N.G. INF’Y.” This comes with a card identifying it as belonging to Merton Peare, 1 of 2 company drummers, who is pictured and identified in the company photograph with the drum. Drum is complete, with heads, rims, snare, 2 drum sticks, and has a waistbelt with plain rectangular plate tucked behind the tension rods. Additional material includes 2 Company C, 1st Infantry hat badges and a few images of men in the company. Prominent in the collection and a fitting background for its display is the 38-star flag of the company, mounted in wood frame that uses the original script engraved silver presentation plaque from the staff as its label “Presented to the Linganore Guards by the Ladies of Unionville and Vicinity June 6, 1881.” The flag is silk, painted with gold green-edged five-pointed stars arranged 5-7-7-7-7-5 in the canton and framed folded so as to show the full canton, eight full stripes and portions of the ninth. The flag shows numerous small tears and some shredding to the silk close up, mostly in the second and fourth (white) stripes, but as folded and mounted shows off very well. The upper edge of the frame shows holes for hooks. The gold flag cord, in excellent condition, is among Danner’s uniform items, along with gold chinstrap for a kepi. Papers in the archive include a short biography of Danner, various church and masonic papers, and some GAR material, including an 1888 Gettysburg ribbon for the dedication of Maryland’s monuments, invitations from other National Guard companies, blank discharges from the “Frederick Riflemen,” etc. Miscellaneous objects include a surveyor’s chain and cased compass, a small set of apothecary or gold scales, a green silk baby’s bonnet with note on its Danner family use, a POSA/12 cap for a member of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America around 1900, and 2 pocket watches, one with “E.D. Danner” engraved on the front and the other of Civil War date engraved on the front with a Union officer, perhaps General Franz Sigel. This is an impressive archive with a depth seldom seen in today’s market.
CORRECTION: The Model 1852 sword is no longer included with this lot, and correctly belongs with the flag that belonged to John William Bennett in Lot 1226.
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.Item Dimensions: Each Trunk: 36" x 20" x 20". Flag 62" x 41"