Lee,
Jimmy Braswell from Fort Branch. I was the first to contact you about your gun. Yes we have found out a lot about your gun. First it's serial number is #137 and ours is #138, they are sister guns. We have the names of 5 men from Fort Branch that were captured at Weldon NC from our Garrison on April 4, 1864. We are confident that they were following orders from Braxton Bragg and moving all possible military equipment west when captured, the most accurate, most powerful but easiest to move gun we had to the railroad in Weldon when captured. The only US unit in the area on that date was the 1st NY Mounted Rifles which was mustered from South Eastern NY and South Western Conn. These five men were all imprisoned at the 1st. NYMR home base in VA. We believe that our men and gun went back to the 1st NYMR base camp and because it was so close to the end of the war they were allowed to take this gun ( From Fort Branch) back home as a war trophy. Placed in a park and then passed on to your father in the manner you relayed to me. A very neat story! Hold on to it! It would be very nice if it could come back home!
If you would like the the names of the men, email, message, or call me....or contact Dr. Babits and we will get you the info.
Jimmy Braswell
President
Fort Branch Historical Society