December 15, 2020 Edged Weapons, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2020
Extremely rare service escutcheon of Civil War U.S. Marine Robert Brunt (1834-1909,) on the U.S.S. Congress in March 1862 when it fought the CS Ironclad Virginia, formerly the U.S.S. Merrimac. These armorial service records were popular among Civil War veterans, but those for Marines are extremely rare, and none more than for a leatherneck with an active combat record and who fought the Merrimac. The format is standard, with American eagle over a wreathed shield with the individual’s name in scroll at bottom, but with the seal of the Navy Department instead of a state at center, and appropriate branch insignia. Brunt’s service record is filled out by hand in gold on the three gold-bordered red arms that divide the blue shield. In summary, he enlisted in the USMC as a private in Philadelphia 20 August 1861, was assigned to the USS Congress at the end of February and in the famous battle of March 8. The ship was battered by the Confederate ironclad and her consorts and was aground and on fire when her magazine exploded. Over one hundred of the crew were killed, including the ship’s commander. Blunt did duty at the Navy Yard in Washington at various points, mixed with active service on the sloop of war “Port Royal,” service on James River and in the attack on Fort Darling, in the Marine Battalion at Cairo, Ill., and Fernandia, Fl.; on board sloop of war “Keystone State” and in ironclad attack at Charleston January 1863; in the night attack on Fort Sumter in August; in the assault on Fort Fisher in December and duty in the “experimental battery” below Washington. He was discharged 24 August 1865. A native of New Jersey and painter by profession, he lived in Woodstown when he enlisted, and Somerville from 1868 to his death in 1909. CONDITION: Excellent. Vibrant color. Matted, framed and ready to hang. Civil War U.S. Marine material is very scarce.
Item Dimensions: 32" X 24"