September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2023
An interesting Civil War archive attributed to Sergeant Abraham Brown (April 1840 - January 1914), who was a farmer in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, when he enlisted in the 139th Pennsylvania Infantry on 8/1/1862 and mustered into service on 9/1/1862, serving to its muster out 6/21/1865. He had married about 1860 and left behind his wife, Mary, and a 1 year-old daughter, Matilda, who died just 9 days after his muster in and rapid departure with the regiment for Washington in the wake of the Union defeat at Second Bull Run. The couple would ultimately have 10 children, only 5 of whom survived to adulthood. The regiment served in the 4th and 6th Corps in the Army of the Potomac, with 3 months in the Department of West Virginia in early 1863. It lost 10 officers and 135 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and many more who were wounded but recovered to some degree, in battles such as Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, Mine Run, and were hit particularly hard in Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign at Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and fighting against Early at Fort Stevens, Opequon, Fishers Hill and Cedar Creek, before returning to the Petersburg front. Brown made Corporal 6/12/63, Sergeant 9/10/64, and First Sergeant (senior NCO of the company) 3/11/65. He mustered out with the regiment and returned to farming in Beaver County, where he died in 1914. The archive consists of an M1861 musket by William Mason, who manufactured about 30,000 of these Model 1861 rifle muskets between 1863 and 1864 for the government during the Civil War. Round rifled barrel with bayonet lug/front sight mounted on top near muzzle and 2-leaf rear sight. Left side of breech stamped "V / P / (Eagle's Head)". Flat percussion lockplate dated 1864 at tail, stamped "WM. MASON/TAUNTON." in center. Standard Model 1861 steel furniture. Plain walnut stock. Steel ramrod. Complete with triangular socket bayonet marked "US" at top of blade. Barrel and all steel components exhibit a gray patina with some scattered areas of pitting. Stock exhibits wear, including scattered dents and scratches. Bayonet retains a light grey patina with some wear and marks. Also included is an M1840 Type II artillery saber, with unmarked ricasso. Blade exhibits a gray patina with mustard patina to hilt and intact grip with nice leather and tight wire. Scabbard exhibits a heavier chocolate patina. There are also several pieces of leather gear, including a leather frog with partial belt, exhibiting areas of loss and surface cracking, M1874 belt plate and leather belt with supple leather that exhibits cracking. Belt marked "2" on reverse of plate. M1855 cartridge box, unmarked, complete with tins, and added artillery insignia on flap. Missing securing strap. Leather is supple. M1874 McKeever cartridge box, unmarked with embossed US on front, with canvas shell holders. There are also 2 flasks, 1 leather and 1 copper, copper flask appears to be a recast. Lastly, there is a tintype in thermoplastic case of an unidentified man (broken enclosure), presumably brown. Enclosure is broken. The items are attributed to Brown by a card that states the items were obtained from Brown's grandson. CONDITION: Varying, with all items exhibiting blemishes typical of Civil War pieces. Fair-good.
Accessories
Sword, Bayonet, Box of gear.
Caliber/Bore
.58 Percussion
Manufacturer
William Mason