Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

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Confederate weapons are prized finds for militaria collectors
It's the details that reveal to historian Jack Meyer whether the antique gun is Civil War replica or the real deal. Meyer is the author of two books, one of which focuses on Columbia's Palmetto Armory, which built muskets, pistols and swords used by the Confederacy. And Palmetto Armory weapons were among the most wanted relics at the recent Land of the Sky Gun Show and Civil War Show at the State Fairgrounds - Muskets, swords, flags, letters, and slave collars and shackles, were all for sale. At a manufacturing disadvantage with the North, Southern-made weapons are more difficult to find.
by thestate :: 2008-06-17 :: Weapons: Rifles, Muskets - Civil War

Civil War soldier's collection going up for sale
The militaria collection of civil war soldier John Renshaw was kept together by his family for 143 years, but now they are selling it. The collection includes his Civil War musket, his Union cap, a bullet mold, his portrait, a congratulatory certificate signed by Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and a photo taken at the 25th reunion of the Battle of Little Round Top at Gettysburg, which Renshaw attended. Antiques dealer Norm Sauer said it's unusual for all these items to stay together, therefore he is selling the group as a whole for $2,850. The items are from his time with the 31st Maine from 1864-1865.
by monroenews :: 2008-04-04 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Civil War items for sale: Firearms, swords and silk Confederate battle flag
A significant single-owner collection of Civil War items and other rare American historical artifacts will be sold in Atlanta, Georgia. Vintage firearms and swords dominate the militaria collection, although there is also a marvellous silk Confederate battle flag - framed and over 130 years old - that is sure to excite the crowd. The crossed-bars and 13 stars flag (the one most often associated with the Confederacy) is in a fine state of preservation. Firearms include a rare cased Petingil revolver - the Confederacy imported them from England during the Civil War. Swords include an original Civil War Major's sword with etched blade and scabbard.
by ecommwire :: 2008-01-31 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

H.L. Hunley commander's 18-karat gold watch no smoking gun
When researchers opened the watch belonging to the H.L. Hunley commander 3 years ago, they believed they had the key clue to why the Confederate submarine sank. But the 18-karat gold watch now seems to raise even more questions despite the fact that watch did not slowly wind down but stopped quickly. "All of us were thinking the watch pointed to the crucial moment. But I would say instead of the smoking gun, it's more of the smoke that keeps you from seeing," said Glenn McConnell. Hunley rammed a black powder charge into the Union blockade ship Housatonic on Feb. 17, 1864, becoming the first sub in military history to sink an enemy warship.
by physorg.com :: 2007-12-19 :: Hunley Submarine - Civil War

The Rebel and the Rose: What happened to the stockpile of Confederate gold
In the early 1990s, Gerald White became intrigued by the story of James A. Semple and lost Confederate gold. While researching he met Wesley Millett, who was also gathering information about Semple and the gold. Eventually White and Millett decided to collaborate on a book, and their project, "The Rebel and the Rose" has recently been released. It traces Semple's story. He was a Navy paymaster who, in May 1865, was entrusted with all the gold in the Confederate treasury: $86,000 in coins and bullion, the equivalent of $2M today. After hiding the treasure in the false bottom of a carriage, he and another man Edward M. Tidball disappeared.
by hnn.us :: 2007-11-22 :: Treasure Hunt: Lost Civil War Gold

Rare Gen. George Armstrong Custer items displayed
The Monroe County Historical Museum is displaying the Trevilian Station exhibit, with rarely seen items from General George Armstrong Custer. The items were captured by the Confederates during the Battle of Trevilian Station. The display includes items like the brigadier general uniform Custer was wearing when he wed Elizabeth Bacon, as well as special saber. The Trevilian battle was considered the largest all-cavalry battle of the war. The battle became known as "Custer's First Last Stand" because he and his men were surrounded by the Confederates in a way similar to how they were surrounded at the Battle of Little Bighorn years later during Custer's Last Stand.
by monroenews :: 2007-11-14

Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's sword draws $1.6 Million at Civil War auction
A gold and silver, diamond-adorned sword once owned by General Ulysses S. Grant brought a winning bid of more than $1.6 million in an auction of Civil War items. The sword given to Grant by citizens of Kentucky in 1864 to honor his promotion to General-in-Chief of all Union forces was one of the star items among the 750 to be auctioned by Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas. Another showcase item was Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer's frayed battle flag, which went for $896,250. Another item of note was a "Bonnie Blue" flag carried by the 3rd Texas State Cavalry - $47,800.
by abcnews :: 2007-06-28 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Legions of toy soldiers engage in history's wars
Article no longer available from the original source.
For Ray Butara, his nephew Bob, and Bob's 3 sons making history come alive happens on a very small scale. The Butaras are poud owners of a collection of more than 5,000 tiny toy soldiers from various historical periods. "It's not only a hobby; it's also a passion they take seriously," said history buff Ray, who served in WWII and passed his interest in history on to his nephew and great-nephews. The collection began 17 years ago with the purchase of 25 toy soldiers in Gettysburg. Today there are at least 3,000 soldiers in their American Civil War collection alone, and another 1,200 from the Napoleonic Wars.
by therecordherald :: 2007-06-21 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Grant's sword, Custer's flag are expected to be sold for $2 million
The tattered silk is stained, chunks are missing, and a blue section has faded into more of a gray. But someone might pay more than $2 million to get their hands on the fabric. That's because General George Armstrong Custer carried the flag during the last days of the American Civil War. A jewel-encrusted sword of Ulysses S. Grant is expected to draw the same amount. Those 2 items are the featured pieces in an auction that will be held in Gettysburg June 24-25. Texas-based Heritage Auctions expects hundreds of collectors, dealers and Civil War enthusiasts to attend what the gallery is calling "the most important Civil War auction in history."
by yorktownsquare :: 2007-06-11 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Battlefields Relic and Memorabilia Show: Appraise Civil War-era items
John Cummings hopes people will dust off their old Civil War-era photos and items and submit them to an expert's gaze. An "Antiques Roadshow"-type appraisal process is a part of the Spotsylvania Battlefields Relic and Memorabilia Show - sponsored by the Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields. Collectors will set up sales tables, and exhibits will explore aspects of Civil War military and civilian life. "There are countless images of soldiers who fought here, but it is extremely rare to see photographs of the local civilians..." Though military items are the most commonly collected relics of the Civil War, everyday civilian items are important, too.
by fredericksburg :: 2007-05-25 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Confederate collectibles captivate collectors
After writing about the rising value of Confederate money from the Civil War, I received stacks of mail telling of items they owned. Many started their letters with, "I'm not a collector, but..." They went on to talk about their cherished letters, currency, militaria... Of course, there are collector owners and collector seekers. Seekers keep going back for more. They are the ones often found at markets and antique shops searching for more hidden treasure. As far as Civil War artifacts, a collector might find the site of a skirmish and uncover bullets or an old uniform button. Of course, most all major battle sites have long been off limits to treasure hunters.
by creators :: 2007-05-07 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Civil War memorabilia: 1861 Springfield rifle from Battle of Gettysburg
An 1861 Springfield rifle found on the Gettysburg Battlefield is among Civil War items for sale at a Mt. Holly Springs auction house. The rifle, discovered by Uriah and Adam Keefauver, is original and has been authenticated by the curator of the Gettysburg Museum. Other Civil War memorabilia to be auctioned include a sharpshooter's frock, buckle and saber belt, a preacher's coat, a ladies' wool waist cape, tintype photographs, a set of chaplain's shoulder boards and a $5 Confederate bill. The sharpshooter's frock was green (the original camouflage) but has turned black over time. It has no collar, because that would have interfered with firing a weapon.
by cumberlink :: 2007-04-27 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Burns' series boosted Civil War memorabilia sales
By a "stroke of luck," Dan Stice started dealing Civil War artifacts at the same time Ken Burns captivated audiences with a 5-night series about the "War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865." "The market on Civil War stuff really skyrocketed in 1990 with Ken Burns. I couldn't keep it in my shop. I'd go to shows on the weekend and by Tuesday, two days after I brought it home, everything was sold. It was amazing to me how much of an impact that 5-night series Ken Burns put together had on the market. It just made a world of difference in prices. That's good, and here's why: The more valuable it is, the better the care."
by nilesstar :: 2007-04-06 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Auction of Civil War Collections
Highlights from the Civil War session included: Weapons from the era piqued the interest of the crowd. A Colt .44 caliber Dragoon pistol (2nd model, 1850) rang out for $19,000. Also, an over-and-under .40 caliber shotgun, side hammer with patch box, signed in two places (Griswalt, Casedega, N.Y., circa 1840) hit $2,400. A Civil War-era slave's leg iron with ball and chain commanded $1,400; a reunion badge for the Forest Cavalry Corps $750; and an actual slave tag went for $700. There were so many lots to sell over the course of the two days, not all of them came up for bid, so the spillover will be part of Stevens Auction's next sale, on April 21st.
by clickpress :: 2007-03-27 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Newly found Hunley dime coin a highly valuable relic
The silver is gone, eaten away by corrosion, but the words "U.S. Dime" remain etched on what is the second coin recovered from the H.L. Hunley submarine since the $20 gold piece was found 6 years ago. The coin, roughly the size of a penny used today, was minted in 1841. The Lady Liberty on the front of the coin is barely visible. "U.S. Dime" on the back and the date can be clearly made out. The only other coin discovered onboard the submarine was a gold coin that is believed to have saved the life of Lt. George Dixon, the sub's commander during the Battle of Shiloh. A bullet hit the coin, which Dixon engraved to read: "Shiloh April 6, 1862 My Life Preserver."
by nationalgeographic :: 2007-03-23 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Two lifetime collections of Civil War memorabilia for sale
Two lifetime collections of American Civil War memorabilia will kick off a huge, 2-day sale to be held March 16-17 by Stevens Auction Company. The collections of two Civil War enthusiasts, one from Tupelo, Miss., the other from Savannah, Tenn., will come up for bid. Hundreds of items will be offered, to include long-barrel firearms and black powder guns (a provenance tracing them to actual Civil War battles); battle swords; daggers and other knives; handguns; cadet uniforms (a provenance); caps; photographs; ammunition; and additional Civil War-era items, such as pottery and first-edition books.
by news-antique :: 2007-02-26 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Lifetime collecting Civil War memorabilia - hearse carried Lincoln
Jerry Sibert dreamed of small Western town and he spent a lifetime collecting Civil War-era memorabilia. Faced with declining health, and being robbed 5 times, he gave up and sold the antiques. A New Jersey man sent assistants to pick up many of the items, including a hearse that Sibert says was used to take Abraham Lincoln from the White House to his funeral train. Sibert had the hearse evaluated by historian D.L. Allebaugh, who wrote that on April 15, 1865, the hearse (Compound Unit No. 1) carried Lincoln. The coffin was wrapped in a flag and escorted by military personnel.
by herald-mail :: 2007-01-13 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Artifact Amnesty draws collectors and curious
A push to get the public interested in Florida's historical sites and artifacts is trying to unite archaeologists and collectors - groups that have long argued over who owns remnants of the past. About 50 people gathered for 'Artifact Amnesty Day'. Many local artifact collectors showed up to let experts document their finds, which ranged from buttons to bullets. The 'amnesty' title of the event was meant to draw in collectors - letting them know their artifacts wouldn't be reclaimed and they wouldn't be judged for taking them. Miller said the event was a success - 30 items were donated to the camp and 100 more were photographed.
by jaxdailyrecord :: 2006-11-10 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Treasures of cargo and story found in shipwreck
Priit J. Vesilind weaves together a history of Civil War-era shipping and a treasure hunt in "Lost Gold of the Republic: The Remarkable Quest for the Greatest Shipwreck Treasure of the Civil War Era." Greg Stemm and John Morris had spent 12 years researching the resting place of a steamship that had sunk off the coast of Georgia, loaded with $400,000 in gold and silver coins. Deep-water shipwreck recovery is a high-dollar, high-risk line of work, and one subject to a variety of complications. Is it salvage or archaeology? Should artifacts from shipwrecks be sold or regarded as objects for academic study?
by heraldtribune :: 2006-10-18 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Bronze cannons stolen from Civil War memorial
For the second time in 144 years, thieves disarmed the Sumner H. Needham Memorial - the final resting place of Lawrence's famous Civil War soldier. By stealing the two bronze cannons - replicas of the originals stolen from atop the 7-foot high monument more than a half century ago - they also dishonored the grave site of one of the nation's first soldiers to die from combat wounds in the War between the States. Debate rages as to who was the nation's first Civil War soldier to die in the line of duty. Anyway, Needham was the first Lawrencian to die while fighting for the Union army.
by eagletribune :: 2006-10-13 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Map that shows march of General Sherman donated
J. Kim Abdallah has donated a map used by the Union Army during the Civil War to the Wayne County Museum. The map shows the coordinates of Union General William T. Sherman's famous march through Georgia and the Carolinas -- a march that ended at Goldsboro. He told he felt the map belongs in Goldsboro, a key railroad junction that was Sherman's destination when he left Charleston, S.C., at the head of 60,000 men. Goldsboro eventually was occupied by Sherman's troops. The map will be placed in a display case at the museum.
by newsargus :: 2006-10-13 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Man hunts for Confederate treasure in Danville
What if government records of the Confederacy were discovered underground? Add to that tantalizing possibility: Gold, silver and jewels that would now be worth millions. It might just be fantasy. However, Todd Hall believes he's located the lost Confederate Treasury. "Through the years of research, I've pretty much decided it's here, right here in Danville." In the final days of the Confederacy -- in April, 1865 -- the Confederate Treasury was loaded onto a train in Richmond. It's an accepted fact that the train made it to Danville. Was that the end of the line? Or did it reach Georgia?
by wdbj7 :: 2006-10-08 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Amherst antiques show with 5th New Hampshire regiment
Amherst's 11th annual Antiques will be hosted by the Historical Society of Amherst on the Village Green from Sept. 9. This year, the 5th New Hampshire, a Civil War re-enactment regiment, will set up an encampment, wandering through the antique show in full dress uniform and answering questions about New Regiment's involvement in battles. The regiment was highly regarded in the Army of the Potomac as being well-drilled and led, and was often assigned to the most difficult positions. The regiment suffered more combat casualties, including its commander, Colonel Cross, at Gettysburg, than any other regiment.
by nashuatelegraph :: 2006-08-23 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Woman claims to have historic Gettysburg Address copy
Mary Montalvo may be adding to its history - with a connection to Abraham Lincoln. She has a lithograph copy of the Gettysburg Address. She claims President Lincoln commissioned the use of the Bliss copy, the only autographed copy of his famous speech. She found an old trunk full of memorabilia in the attic of an old boarding home that has since been torn down. It included the framed copy of Gettysburg Address and some glass negatives which show Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln's personal body guard, and his slave Bob who drove the President's carriage. "So I realized now I had something."
by wthr :: 2006-07-07 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Rediscovered Artifact: Civil War enthusiasts and tattered flag
Rob Swinson believes he has found a Civil War treasure. It's a regimental Confederate Civil War flag that flew in the western theater of the war in five major battles. It fell at the Battle of Franklin, was taken as a souvenir by a 17-year-old Union soldier and spent 130 years stuffed in a cigar box. Swinson bought the flag at auction in 2002. He had no idea whether it was authentic. But he had a feeling. He paid $3,600 for something that most people would have thrown away. After learning who carried it and who fought under it, he's selling it for $160,000.
by charlotte :: 2006-05-16 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Ornate silver watch belonged to the Confederate President
Did their ornate silver watch once tick in the pocket of Confederate President Jefferson Davis? A Medford couple, who paid a bundle for it at auction, believe it did and soon will head south to put it on display at the First White House of the Confederacy in Montgomery. The watch's authenticity hangs on the tale of a cobbler, Robert Balfour, where Davis fled when bailed out of a Virginia prison two years after the Civil War. Davis was destitute and bartered the watch for a new pair of boots - so goes the story, which was documented by descendants in the ensuing 140 years but not by Davis himself.
by mailtribune :: 2006-05-15 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

Sharing Civil War Treasures
Mike Clarke always has been fascinated by the Civil War. Even as a boy, he said, he collected uniform buttons, field gear and other artifacts. "I just fell in love with the period," he said. "I had an interest in history, and this is a piece of history." Today, Clarke's collection of Civil War memorabilia encompasses thousands of items, including uniforms, rifles, caps, swords, pistols, boots, belts, canteens and cartridge boxes. The collection is valued at nearly $1 million.
by westchase.tbo :: 2006-04-14 :: Relics and Memorabilia - American Civil War

American Civil War in the News is a edited review of American Civil War related news and articles, providing collection of hand-picked 1861-1865 era history.