Another Good Flea Market Find

[kevikens]

As some readers may know I haunt the flea markets and garage sales for militaria. It's as much fun as deer hunting, I can leave the .30-.30 at home and there's no mess for the wife to complain about. Anyway this morning I picked up a document of the war, an acknowledgement sheet signed by 12 troopers of the first US Cavalry dated 9/26/ 1864 wherein they note what articles of clothing and gear they are being issued by Major C.C. Brown of the 22nd NY Cavalry (whose penmanship is worthy of Palmer). It's fascinating to see where the individual soldiers were issued all kind of clothing, including ponchos and shelter halves. At some point in its provenance it was framed by the Greene Gallery in New Rochelle, NY (no zip code given). Most of the gilding on the frame is now off the wood and brown paper on the back is peeling off but the document itself remains undamaged. This was around the time of Sheridan and Early battling it out in the Valley near Winchester and maybe these men had lost some equipment there as both regiments were in the valley at the time of issue. One thing did surprise me, that is, a Major of a state regiment, the 22nd NY, issuing equipment to a US regiment. Sorry I cannot post things on the net. For those readers who might want to try finding artifacts this way, it is, in itself, a fascinating pursuit. By the way also this morning I found (and passed up) a Belgian flintlock smoothbore, probably an African trade gun, and a repro Phila, derringer. Both pretty cheap but of no interest to me.

If anyone is interested, these are the names of the twelve troopers and as I write down their names here I wonder what their fates would be and what lives, long or brief, they had yet to live. So, to paraphrase Thucydides, this is how I can honor their memory for this Memorial Day weekend , by giving them the "honor of remembrance" right here: Major C. C. Brown, 22nd NY Cavalary, Troopers John Lerouson, William Lawrence, Robert B. Secrist, Felix R. Neale, Wm. Byrnell. Wm. Homelsburg, David B. Skoff, Henry Smith, James Ross, Peter A. Tarrant, Peter Smith, Frank Dawson, all of the First Regt. of United States Cavalry. And all of this witnessed by Major George Briggs, regiment not noted. And so, for as long as someone speaks your name, you are not completely gone.

 

[Private Watkins]

And so, for as long as someone speaks your name, you are not completely gone.

Very well said for this Memorial Day remembrance weekend...

 

[MRB1863]

Very well said for this Memorial Day remembrance weekend...

I second that thought!

 

[PeterT]

I second that thought!

Ditto

 

[AndyHall]

Great find!

 

[missourian]

Amazing the stuff that turns up in the least likely of places. Congrats on the find!

 

[kevikens]

Amazing the stuff that turns up in the least likely of places. Congrats on the find!

That's very true and as Pawn Stars and American Pickers demonstrate just looking for the stuff is a fun hobby (or business for some) in itself. If one is willing to learn what to look for, where to look for it and has the patience and persistence to pursue the quest of creating a museum of memorability (not just of the Civil War, either) one can put together a very credible collection that puts one in a physical connection to the past. Just looking at and handling this material is evocative of the most significant moments of our ancestors' lives and the tangible link to a not yet completely vanished world. Another way of giving the past the honor of remembrance, by cherishing its creations.

 

[Waterloo50]

That's very true and as Pawn Stars and American Pickers demonstrate just looking for the stuff is a fun hobby (or business for some) in itself. If one is willing to learn what to look for, where to look for it and has the patience and persistence to pursue the quest of creating a museum of memorability (not just of the Civil War, either) one can put together a very credible collection that puts one in a physical connection to the past. Just looking at and handling this material is evocative of the most significant moments of our ancestors' lives and the tangible link to a not yet completely vanished world. Another way of giving the past the honor of remembrance, by cherishing its creations.

Your statement is very true, nothing quite beats the feeling of holding a piece of history in your hands, I'm sure that old artefacts have an energy about them, collecting really is a fascinating interest to have and as you have said, ' Another way of giving the past the honor of remembrance'

 

[hcheetham]

very nice find.

 

[lelliott19]

Major C. C. Brown, 22nd NY Cavalary, Troopers John Lerouson, William Lawrence, Robert B. Secrist, Felix R. Neale, Wm. Byrnell. Wm. Homelsburg, David B. Skoff, Henry Smith, James Ross, Peter A. Tarrant, Peter Smith, Frank Dawson, all of the First Regt. of United States Cavalry. And all of this witnessed by Major George Briggs, regiment not noted. And so, for as long as someone speaks your name, you are not completely gone.

Obituary including military service located here:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66502944

 

[kevikens]

View attachment 101369
Obituary including military service located here:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66502944

How kind of you to research that soldier. I am glad to hear that he survived the war and lived a full life afterward. I will record that information on the back of the document. Thanks you very much for taking the time to do that.

 

[lelliott19]

How kind of you to research that soldier. I am glad to hear that he survived the war and lived a full life afterward. I will record that information on the back of the document. Thanks you very much for taking the time to do that.

I tried all of them @kevikens , but Neale is the only one I was able find for sure and verify as 1st US Cavalry. Glad to be of assistance. Nice find! Thanks for preserving it!

 

[missourian]

That's very true and as Pawn Stars and American Pickers demonstrate just looking for the stuff is a fun hobby (or business for some) in itself. If one is willing to learn what to look for, where to look for it and has the patience and persistence to pursue the quest of creating a museum of memorability (not just of the Civil War, either) one can put together a very credible collection that puts one in a physical connection to the past. Just looking at and handling this material is evocative of the most significant moments of our ancestors' lives and the tangible link to a not yet completely vanished world. Another way of giving the past the honor of remembrance, by cherishing its creations.

Couldnt have said it better, i feel the same way. Im reminded of that scene in the movie "National Treasure" when the 3 principle players had stolen the Declaration of Independence and they had rolled it out on a table to look for some kind of clue and the lead character Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) had to stop for a moment, even though they were being chased by the bad guys, to kind of catch his breath when realizing what was in his hands and the room they were in at the time and when his friends asked whats wrong Gates says..."its just that, the last time this (the document) was here is when it was being signed" a huge WOW moment for the character. So yes, i too love when i can touch something of significance from the past.