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From the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military Park FB Page
One of the most interesting artifacts to survive the American Civil War resides at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. It's a violin that is inscribed with many of the names of battles, skirmishes, and encampments while being a part of Company B, 87th Indiana Infantry Regiment. A couple of those actions are the Battle of Chickamauga and Battle of Missionary Ridge.
The Institution states that the old violin belonged to a 24-year-old, Corporal Solomon Conn, who carried it with him throughout the war and did not even know how to play the instrument. After finding a newspaper article from 1893 in The Pharos-Tribune, we find a different story about the existence of this amazing artifact. The violin was purchased by the company at Nashville, Tennessee, on May 1st, 1863. The instrument was entrusted to the care of Lieutenant Richard M. Hathaway, who was a skilled violinist for the company. "During the memorable campaigns of Rosecrans and of Sherman's march through Georgia, its sweetest tones, as drawn forth by the lieutenant's skilled hand, charmed the hearts of the boys while resting, after the weary marches, around the blazing campfires. As the regiment fought its way through different battles, the name of each engagement was carved on the back of the old violin."
After the war, Lieut. Hathaway brought the old violin home with him and sold it. The instrument changed hands multiple times and was lost until R.D. Peters purchased it in June 1891 for $80. Peters exhibited the violin at the Reunion of the 87th Indiana Regiment in Rochester. Some of the surviving members from Company B immediately took possession of the violin, bringing it home with them. Mr. Peters contested the ownership in the courts to recover his property. We do not know what the result of the case for ownership was. The one thing we can confirm is that Solomon Conn, a veteran of Company B, had the violin in his possession at the time of his death in 1926, being most likely one of the last surviving members of the company. It was passed down the line to his grandsons, who donated the old violin to the Smithsonian in 1988. Just think of the beautiful tunes that came from this instrument and the joy the soldiers gained during this transformative time in American History.
Sources:
The Pharos-Tribune Newspaper May 6, 1893
The Indianapolis News September 5, 1892
Violin |National Museum of American History
One of the most interesting artifacts to survive the American Civil War resides at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. It's a violin that is inscribed with many of the names of battles, skirmishes, and encampments while being a part of Company B, 87th Indiana Infantry Regiment. A couple of those actions are the Battle of Chickamauga and Battle of Missionary Ridge.
The Institution states that the old violin belonged to a 24-year-old, Corporal Solomon Conn, who carried it with him throughout the war and did not even know how to play the instrument. After finding a newspaper article from 1893 in The Pharos-Tribune, we find a different story about the existence of this amazing artifact. The violin was purchased by the company at Nashville, Tennessee, on May 1st, 1863. The instrument was entrusted to the care of Lieutenant Richard M. Hathaway, who was a skilled violinist for the company. "During the memorable campaigns of Rosecrans and of Sherman's march through Georgia, its sweetest tones, as drawn forth by the lieutenant's skilled hand, charmed the hearts of the boys while resting, after the weary marches, around the blazing campfires. As the regiment fought its way through different battles, the name of each engagement was carved on the back of the old violin."
After the war, Lieut. Hathaway brought the old violin home with him and sold it. The instrument changed hands multiple times and was lost until R.D. Peters purchased it in June 1891 for $80. Peters exhibited the violin at the Reunion of the 87th Indiana Regiment in Rochester. Some of the surviving members from Company B immediately took possession of the violin, bringing it home with them. Mr. Peters contested the ownership in the courts to recover his property. We do not know what the result of the case for ownership was. The one thing we can confirm is that Solomon Conn, a veteran of Company B, had the violin in his possession at the time of his death in 1926, being most likely one of the last surviving members of the company. It was passed down the line to his grandsons, who donated the old violin to the Smithsonian in 1988. Just think of the beautiful tunes that came from this instrument and the joy the soldiers gained during this transformative time in American History.
Sources:
The Pharos-Tribune Newspaper May 6, 1893
The Indianapolis News September 5, 1892
Violin |National Museum of American History
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