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 Confederate Artifacts

3103 - FINE TWO PIECE CS BUCKLE DUG IN LOUISIANA, Manufactured by Leech & Rigdon, Memphis, TN. CS Tongue and Wreath design. Dug at a camp site in St. Landry Parish, LA on the banks of Bayou Bourbeux near Grand Coteau, LA. The Battle at Bayou Bourbeux was fought on November 2/3, 1863 during the Teche Campaign where the 2nd Brigade of Walker's Texas Brigade consisting of the 11th & 14th Texas Infantry, the 28th and 6th Texas Cavalry fought a Union force that included the 1st Louisiana Cavalry (Union). It is quite probably that this buckle was worn by a Texas soldier. The right belt loop is slightly bent back due to being bent by the weight of the sword on the belt. The finder of the buckle in January 2008 reported that both pieces were found no more than 18" apart on a slope on the bayou bank, a nice example found in Louisiana...............................................$2,575.00

3233 - CONFEDERATE HOSPITAL CRUTCH FROM FLORENCE, ALABAMA, 7.5" X 50" single stem walking crutch with 7.5" arm brace with the original linen wrappings still on the crutch. Originated from a house in Florence, AL on Wood Street that was used as a Confederate hospital during the war. Just purchased from a Tennessee Doctor's collection of medical items. Crutch stem has been carved from a larger branch by hand. Extremely rare Southern medical item.............................$495.00

3234 - CONFEDERATE MEDICAL WOODEN CANTEEN, 7" x 8" wooden barrel canteen with two iron rings. 1.5" spout carved wooden platform, dual openings with original stoppers with iron carrying handle. Original "orange" painted finish mostly intact. A smaller version of the larger ones carried on ambulances. Military canteens were often painted solid colors for identification back to the Revolutionary Period. This one found in Crump, Tennessee. Just purchased from a Tennessee Doctor's medical collection. Great Tennessee item..........................................$695.00

2271 - IDENTIFIED KNIFE TO A MEMBER OF THE 1ST TEXAS INFANTRY, A MEMBER OF THE FAMOUS HOOD'S BRIGADE, 19" blade, 24" overall. Spanish style wooden handle with brass guard and fittings. Two thirds of the original double stitched scabbard accompanies the knife missing the throat. Old linen cloth label states the owner to have been "M. C. Noble Texas". Lt. M. C. Noble was a Company F, 1st Texas Infantry, Woodsville Rifles, which was part of Hood's Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia and later in the Army of the Tennessee. The blade and handle is in excellent condition and is typical of the array of knives used by Texas soldiers with a Spanish influence from nearby Mexico. This had just come out of the "backwoods" and is a new find. The 1st Texas Infantry was one of the core regiments in "Hood's Texas Brigade", arguably the most celebrated infantry brigade in the Confederate Army. It was the only Texas unit in Gen'l Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The 1st Texas was recruited largely from East Texas in April 1861 after the opening shots of the War Between the States, and was the only regiment in the Confederate Army comprised of twelve companies. The regulations called for ten. All of the companies made their way piecemeal to Virginia in the spring and summer of 1861. Later that fall with the arrival of the 4th and 5th Texas, the 1st Texas and its Colonel, Louis Trezevan Wigfall, (being promoted to brigadier-general), was assigned to the new Texas Brigade. The tree regiments were brigaded together for the first time on November 13, 1861, when the 4th and 5th joined the 1st at Dumfries, VA, roughly 25 miles south of Washington City. Thus the frontier Texans, who were admired as the best riders and riflemen in the army, began their almost matchless and unsurpassed march across the pages of history. The 1st Texas Infantry, nicknamed the "Ragged Old First," experienced its day of glory in the cornfield at Sharpsburg, MD on September 17, 1862, suffering 82% casualties - the highest of any regiment North or South during the war. A great knife and scabbard from a great unit.....................................$1,995.00 SOLD

3237 - BATTLE OF SHILOH, 3.5", Confederate usage foreign made bayonet scabbard tip, excavated near Shiloh. Very fine details.................................$28.00

3238 - BATTLE OF SHILOH, 3.0", Confederate made sheet iron bayonet scabbard tip, rolled steel design, oxidized but very solid, tough to find intact due to the iron construction...........................................$30.00

3239 - BATTLE OF SHILOH, 2.5", Confederate made rolled brass bayonet tip, nice surfaces. Very fine........................................$32.00

3240 - BATTLE OF CORINTH, 2", Confederate made bowie or Sheffield scabbard tip, rolled brass design. Fine......................................$28.00

3241 - BATTLE OF CORINTH, 2.5", Confederate made brass unfinished bayonet tip, crude roll design with unfinished edge. Very fine...................$35.00

111000 JEFFERSON C. DAVIS, A specimen of his hair encapsulated in a small gold frame. A colored print of Davis seated. Overall 12" X 18", in a gold frame. Accompanied by a Butterfield & Butterfield provenance certificate as to the origin of the hair specimen. Just purchased from a New Orleans estate sale..................................$395.00 SOLD

61001- TEXAS CAVALRY BUTTON BY T. MILLER, T. Miller of Houston. 1 piece cast Texas locally made Cavalry large coat button recently found near Brazos, TX. Face is excellent with some gold gilt remaining within the lines surrounding the large C. The known casting flaw Miller had in some cavalry buttons is evident with the pin-hole size gap to the right of the "C". Guaranteed to be authentic to the Civil War and not a Miller post-War edition. Extremely Rare..................................................$795.00

Fabric from the Chair of President Jefferson Davis taken during the Fall of the City of Richmond, April 3rd, 1865

The period note that was attached to this souvenir fabric remnant attests that it was removed from the Presidential chair of Jefferson Davis in the Confederate House of Representatives on April 3rd, 1865 as Union troops and support forces entered the city. The note is written by George D. Murray and states, "A piece of the covering of the Pres. Chair in the House of Representatives taken at the time of occupation of Richmond by the Union troops, April 3rd, 1865 by George D. Murray." Federal records show a George D. Murray, Co. F, 5th Connecticut Volunteers. As the 5th did not pass through the City until later in the month, either Murray was detached from his unit and entered the city with another unit or was one of the many civilian participants who entered the City with the advancing troops such as Sutlers, Sanitary Commission workers, and Doctors. Since the fabric originated from a Connecticut Estate sale which contained other war souvenirs, we feel it is more likely that this George D. Murray was from the 5th Connecticut Infantry and not a civilian in Richmond.

11" X 14" - 3 dimension display, Gray mat with Florentine gold trim. Fabric is housed in a magnified box. We have 16 to sell in total. The display comes with a certificate of authenticity. A wonderful relic from the last days of the Confederacy with excellent provenance. Price is for and unframed display..................................$250.00        Custom framed....................$300.00

**Please note that the thickness of this display requires a deep frame of 3/4". The magnified box is 1.5" X 1.5".

THE 1861 NEW ORLEANS HALF DOLLAR

The majority of the United States half dollars that were struck in New Orleans during the year 1861, were struck under CONFEDERATE authority after the mint was captured after secession by the State of Louisiana. Of the over 2 million struck in 1861, only 330,000 were struck under US authority. Half Dollars were struck into 1862 until the existing dies broke down and silver bullion stocks disappeared. We have several examples of this popular coin in stock at present.

1861 NEW ORLEANS HALF DOLLAR, Liberty seated on obverse, large eagle with spread wings with mint mark "0" below eagle. (a) very fine..........................$175.00        (b) VF - EF.......................$195.00        (c) EF - AU....................................$295.00        (d) Fine CSA die break before the 6..............................$195.00

CONFEDERATE EGG SHAPED VARIETY, Mullinax #136, 55mm X 89mm. CS with oval, die struck no fill. Continuous iron wire belt hooks made from telegraph wire soldered on the back. 95% of hooks remain which is unusual for this light wire. Some professional restoration. A typical Western front manufactured buckle. The buckle has a nice appearance. Excavated in SW Louisiana. A nice inexpensive example at only.....................................$1,495.00

CONFEDERATE CS ROPE BORDER, Mullinax #141, 54mm X 88mm. CS die struck rope bordered buckle (Army of the Tennessee). All original hooks being light-weight folded brass. Excavated Port Hudson, LA. Some professional restoration makes this scarce buckle quite attractive. Usually a $2,300 buckle. This one for only...............................$1,495.00

CONFEDERATE OLD ENGLISH I INFANTRY BUTTON, Coat, CS #177. 2 piece with border, Isaac Campbell, London. Nice brown patina with shank, English I on lined field, excavated...........................................................$195.00

CONFEDERATE LOUISIANA, Pelican feeding young, LA #6. Coat issue with shank, Scovill Mfg. Co. Excavated in New Orleans. Nice brown patina, slightest push that does not distort the face in any way. An inexpensive dug Louisiana example. Usually seen at $300+. This one for only.........................................$195.00 SOLD

THE 5TH TEXAS INFANTRY "THE BLOODY 5TH", HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE, The 5th Texas Infantry was part of the famed "Texas Brigade" formed in Richmond in 1861 mainly from three Texas Regiments; the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Regiments. Later this famed unit was known as "Hood's Texas Brigade" commanded by General John B. Hood. The 5th gained its nickname "the Bloody 5th" at 2nd Manassas where it destroyed two New York Regiments and continued to drive fresh Federal troops in retreat. This heroic action made the unit a favorite of General John B. Hood. As part of the Texas Brigade, the 5th Texas fought in both theaters of War; the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia in the East and in the Army of Tennessee in the West. It fought with distinction at Antietam, 2nd Manassas, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and at the Wilderness. The unit surrendered at Appomattox. During the 2nd day at Gettysburg, the 5th fought bravely during the fight at Devil's Den. In the Wilderness, the 5th as part of Hood's Texas Brigade, was instrumental in saving Lee's army by holding a position against overwhelming forces loosing 565 men killed or wounded out of 800 men engaged at the Orange Plank Road. For this the unit won Lee's everlasting thanks. The flag remnant originated from a battle flag of the 5th Texas Infantry. The copy of the carte de viste of the Texas battle flag shows the flag intact during the War. Both the flag remnant and the carte de viste belonged to Ensign W.C. Clarke, the flag bearer of the 5th Texas Infantry. The term "Ensign" in the Confederate Army was a term assigned to a flag or color bearer in 1864. A copy of his "Ensign" appointment in the 5th Texas Infantry is included with the statement of provenance provided. The flag remnant, carte de viste, and appointment came from Clarke's effects....................................................................$350.00   11"X14", unframed 1 LEFT FRAMED

THE LAST CONFEDERATE NATIONAL FLAG, John O. Foster was a Methodist minister attached to the 24th Army Corps and is said to have preached the first sermon following the fall of Richmond, April 4th, 1865. Foster landed at City Point on April 2nd, 1865 at 2 PM and upon his arrival helped tend to the wounded from both sides that had arrived by train nearby. Foster also had the opportunity to watch the bombardment of Petersburg. That evening Foster watched Richmond burn, and was later given a pass to enter the city. On April 3rd or 4th, Foster, undoubtedly the first Union chaplain in the city, was given a section of the enormous Confederate flag which flew over the Confederate State House. On April 5th, his diary states, he visited the Confederate Treasury. He noted: "Promises to pay [bonds] in ton lots -- told help yourselves -- did so...". Foster obtained as many varieties of bonds and Confederate money as he could and glued the sections of the Confederate flag he obtained onto them. A label was later affixed to one section stating: "Confederate money valuable as curios, pieces of flag floating over Capital at Richmond on day of capitulation". Foster then preached under guard at the Presbyterian Church to an audience composed of mostly liberated slaves. The flag remnant above is from the flag taken from the Confederate Capitol with the edge turned to show a portion of a Confederate bond or banknote Foster removed from the Treasury and glued thereon. The photo shows the missing Confederate flag and nearby is the flag of the United States that had been hoisted up by Union soldiers. A truly historic relic. Sold unframed, 11"X14".................................................................$295.00

CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG OF FORT MORGAN, BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY, The Battle of Mobile Bay was a naval battle fought on August 5th, 1864. Commanding the Union forces was Admiral David Farragut, while Admiral Franklin Buchanan led the Confederate fleet. The battle took place off the coast of Alabama, at the mouth of Mobile Bay, which was defended by two Confederate forts, Fort Morgan, and Fort Gaines, and by a torpedo field (in modern terms, a minefield) that created a single narrow channel for blockade runners to enter and exit the bay. The biggest challenge for Farragut was entering the bay. With eighteen vessels, he commanded far greater firepower than the Confederate fleet of four. The Union fleet suffered the first major loss when the USS Tecumseh was critically damaged by an exploding torpedo after it wandered into the field. Within three minutes, the vessel was completely submerged. 94 men went down with the ship. Under fire from both the Confederate fleet and Fort Morgan, Farragut had to choose between retreating or risking the minefield. He then issued his famous order, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!". Farragut took his flagship through the minefield safely, followed by the rest of the fleet. When Union fleet reached the bay, they defeated the Confederate flotilla led by the giant ironclad CSS Tennessee. Buchanan surrendered to Farragut aboard the USS Hartford. After several weeks of bombardment from land and sea resulting in severe damage to Fort Morgan with the citadel being burned and the walls severely damaged by shot and shell, the Confederate Commander General Page surrendered Fort Morgan on August 23rd, 1864 to Federal forces. This flag relic came from a small section of the Confederate flag shot down over Fort Morgan and retrieved by Fleet Surgeon James C. Palmer upon entry into the Fort by Union forces and is authenticated by his note seen on the accompanying certificate. 11" X 14", unframed............................................................$350.00

THE OLD LIBBY PRISON IN RICHMOND, VA, Libby Prison was built in 1845 by John Enders in Richmond, VA and was used as a warehouse. It was located at Carey and 18th Street and the James River. In March, 1862, it was used as a military prison by the Confederate Government. In 1864, a group of over 100 Union Officers attempted an escape. Over half made their way to freedom. After the war, the building was dismantled in 1889 and shipped ot Chicago to be used for a Civil War Museum. In 1898, it was again dismantled and a large portion sold to an Indiana farmer who built a stock barn with the timbers and brick. In 1963, the building was torn down and sold to Charles Mercer of Spencer, Indiana who intended to build a museum with the materials. In 1995, the materials were sold to Rod Wampler of Gosport, Indiana where they lay until sold at auction in October, 2006. The majority of the materials are being returned to Virginia where they will be re-constructed at a famous Civil War museum. This small section of tide water cypress originated from a beam from the Libby Prison materials. One photo shows Libby as a Confederate prison. The Confederate commandant stands in a rare pose in front of the building. The other view is the reconstructed Libby Prison interior in Chicago when it was a museum showing the cypress beams. 11"X14", unframed........................................................$100.00

CONFEDERATE BLOCKADE RUNNERS OF THE CIVIL WAR 1861-1865, Soon after the beginning of the Naval Blockade of the South, the birth of the "Blockade Runners" allowed precious supplies to be brought into Southern ports by these fast and sleek ships. The relics below are from the "Georgiana" and "Minho" which sank off the South Carolina coast. The "Georgiana" sank trying to enter Charleston in March 1863. The "Minho" sank off Sullivan's Island in October 1862. From the "Georgiana" are ceramic buttons and pins destined for the homes of the South, and from the "Minho" are brass percussion caps and a British Enfield bullet with the original wooden plug intended for the use of Confederate troops. Displayed in a 5" X 7" Riker box...........................................................$85.00

THE FALL OF PORT HUDSON, LA - 1863, The fortifications at Port Hudson, LA protected the river artillery batteries that menaced the Union warships on the Mississippi River and stretched nearly 4 1/2 miles. The Union siege began on May 23rd, 1863 when 30,000 men under General Nathanial Banks surrounded the 6800 Confederates. Two furious attacks were made on May 27th and June 14th, 1863. During these attacks, Black regiments made their first assault on Confederate lines and distinguished themselves. General Franklin Gardner held out in spite of a lack of ammunition and food, but decided to surrender his garrison when the news of Vicksburg's surrender on July 4th, 1863 reached him. On July 9th, 1863, Gardner surrendered his garrison and the Mississippi was finally open. Below from left to right is a Union button excavated near Port Hudson as well as two different bullets from the Port Hudson area.............................................................$75.00

VICKSBURG CAPTURED 1863, Vicksburg's capture was a huge blow to the Confederacy as the position of the City on the Mississippi River allowed whoever occupied to the City to control the Mississippi River. The campaign to capture Vicksburg began in 1862 by bombardment from the Mississippi River and continued into 1863 when Grant led an army south and finally surrounded the City after a siege that forced both civilians and soldiers into caves for safety with little food and some resorted to eating rats to survive. Finally General Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 4th, 1863. From left to right: a Union Army button and two different bullets, all recovered from the Vicksburg Campaign battle sites. The map is a copy from the May 23rd, 1863 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer showing the Military movements around Vicksburg just before the final attack by Grant. When Port Hudson fell within a few days after Vicksburg, the entire Mississippi was opened to both civilian and military traffic again....................................................$75.00

THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg. On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both side. On July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil's Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet's and Hill's divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culp's and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell's divisions. By evening, the Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell's men. During the morning of July 3rd, the Confederate Infantry were driven from their last toe-hold on Culp's Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. On July 4th, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles. The photo above shows the dead at Gettysburg taken by Alexander Gardner. Three different bullets from the Gettysburg Campaign. Confederate Gardner, Confederate Round ball, and Three-Ring Minnie. Displayed in a 5"X7" Riker box.................................................$75.00