This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
A fine Kentucky Percussion rifle made by Daniel Marker Jr. with an interesting history that is accompanied by an unmarked Confederate cavalry saber, both of which were carried by the same “Rebel Welch”, or, as he is known in the records, Warner Griffith Welsh. Daniel Marker worked in Sharpsburg, Maryland circa 1830 to 1891, which is roughly 34 miles from Libertytown, Maryland, where the owner of this rifle originated. Rifle has 40 - 1/2" octagonal .45 caliber rifled barrel with rifle sights signed in script "D. MARKER". Rifle has an "M.M. MASLIN / WARRANTED" marked lock that was originally flint, now converted to percussion, with single trigger control. The initials "W G W" are scratched crudely on trigger guard. Original hardwood ramrod. Walnut fullstock with 2-piece takedown feature and brass hardware including a Maryland style 4 piece patchbox engraved with floral pattern on lid, 3 piercings, "pinwheel" side plates, and floral finial, with coin silver oval plate on cheekpiece with a Federal Eagle engraved on it. An old strip of linen paper attached to the cheekpiece reveals the backstory of this rifle. “Taken from the Rebel Welch at Winchester, Va. Nov. 13th 1861 after being fired at Col. Ledlie.” The note may refer to James Hewitt Ledlie, Major, Lt. Colonel, and Colonel of the 19th NY (later 3rd Artillery) and allude to an incident their regimental history records as taking place in July 1861 when that New York unit expected to march under Patterson to Winchester and attack Johnston, but instead was ordered to Charlestown, allowing Johnston to join Beauregard at Manassas: “One night, while here, Major Ledlie’s life was attempted by a Rebel farmer. While posting pickets on a hillside, the farmer fired at him with a shot gun, but fortunately missed his aim. Our pickets promptly arrested him and sent him to camp.” (Cayuga in the Field, 63.). Hartzler collection notes identify the shooter with Warner Griffin Welsh (a not uncommon alternate spelling of the name,) whose cavalry saber he acquired separately, and who served as Captain of Company D, 1st Maryland Cavalry, and was also accused of firing on Union pickets as bushwhacker at Winchester, though in 1863. Welsh was 39-year-old merchant in Hayattstown when he enlisted and mustered into Company G, 7th Virginia Cavalry as a private on July 1, 1861. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant Company F, 12th Virginia Cavalry on April 10, 1862, and discharged for promotion, mustering in on September 20, 1862, as Captain, Company D, 1st Maryland Cavalry at Winchester, where he was also captured on May 10, 1863, accused of volunteering to “bushwack the pickets at Winchester.”. Welsh eventually escaped from Fort McHenry, Maryland, on June 10, 1863, and rejoined the regiment, serving to the end of the war and taking the oath of allegiance on May 1, 1865 at Salisbury, North Carolina. He lived in Libertytown, Maryland, after the war and died in 1895. He spent much of his early service in the Shenandoah, but the 1st Maryland took part in the Gettysburg campaign in 1863 and other actions around Richmond until mid-1864, when they took part in Early’s raid around Baltimore and Washington, and the burning of Chambersburg, before returning to the Valley to face Sheridan. CONDITION: Metal surfaces have turned a pleasing brown patina with lock showing plugged with lead holes from conversion to percussion. Unpolished brass surfaces with most exhibiting a golden patina. Wood has usage dings and marks with some shrinkage around the lock and a stress crack between lock plate bolt heads. Wood exhibits traces of original finish with no visible restoration. Dark bore with visible rifling and crisp mechanics. (B) The saber that is attributed to Welsh is an unmarked heavy cavalry saber, and noticeably Confederate in appearance. The saber features a hilt, constructed of brass, with a rather large and plain mushroom style pommel that secures a cone shaped, grooved wood grip that is wrapped with black leather and a single strand of iron wire. The D-shaped knucklebow accommodates a cloth saber knot, and is marked with the number “7” with the pommel bearing the same numeral. Cavalry style guard with 3 bands and open slots, with small open counterguard that terminates with a crudely teardrop shaped quillon. The blade is also crude, slightly curved, and features a flat spine with a single, stopped fuller. Bearing the same crude features as the saber, the scabbard is constructed of iron and was formed by iron sheets wrapped around a standard core, hammered into place, with the edges being lapped. The seam is explicit and appears to have been soldered with a lead type material. The scabbard features brass mounts, with the upper and middle mount accommodating an iron carry ring, each of which are crudely shaped with off center opening. The tip features a large brass drag which was soldered in place. The mounts are gilded and exhibit pleasing casting flaws. CONDITION: The blade exhibits a dark gray patina with freckling and fissure lines from delamination. There are a few small chips along the edge. Guard exhibits a pleasing patina with generous amounts of original gilding. Grip exhibits scattered patches of leather loss with an obvious seam from crafting with a splotch of glue from a repair. Scabbard exhibits a heavy chocolate patina with scattered small dents. Mounts exhibit liberal amounts of their gilding. The upper mount exhibits a later repair. Although crude, the saber exhibits the pleasing characteristics of a genuine Confederate weapon. The saber is featured on page 333 in “Confederate Presentation & Inscribed Swords & Revolvers” as well as page 185 in Dan Hartzler’s book “Band of Brothers”. The rifle and saber are accompanied by a folder of research which was compiled by Hartzler. This is a very nice pair of weapons with an interesting history pertaining to a rebel Marylander.
Paperwork
Folder of Research, Photograph