Gettysburg - A Night with the Artifacts

[rob63]

The Gettysburg Foundation just had a presentation where they brought some artifacts out of storage and allowed attendees to see them up close.

General Meade's campaign hat and presentation sword.

Jefferson Davis's smoking jacket.

U.S. Grant rank insignia and cigar case.

The pen Lincoln used when signing document promoting Grant to Lt. Gen.

Cigar belonging to Jefferson Davis, and MOH given to Major Alfred Sellers of 90th PA.

 

[Salterr]

I'm jealous! Getting to witness such unimaginable greatness is so exciting. Even though these people aren't here anymore these items hold such power and are so much more then what they are. Just imagine what it would be like if that pen never signed Grant's promotion.

 

[Pollaco]

Where can these artifacts be viewed?

 

[Kurtlg]

That smoking jacket looks like something from Liberace...... or Sgt. Pepper.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

These are impressive displays of significant artifacts.

The actual photographs are impressive too for the presentation of details and clarity. (Thought the quality of these pictures adds to the appreciation of these historical objects).

 

[rob63]

Where can these artifacts be viewed?

Generally speaking, they can't. The event was a one night only affair offered as a fund-raiser by the Gettysburg Foundation. It may be repeated, but it's hard to say what might be on display, if so. These items are normally kept in storage.

The speaker, Wayne Motts, said that the museum at the Gettysburg Visitor's Center has about 1,000 items on display, while they have around 1.2 million items in storage! The biggest issue preventing a regular rotation of items is staffing. The park service has exactly one paid person on staff for the museum. The remainder is made up of volunteers from the Gettysburg Foundation.

Yeah, I know, I wish these were always on display, along with whatever else is in storage! He said that they have virtually the entire collection that used to belong to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, almost all of it is in storage and includes items from a large number of prominent Union officers.

A few other items that were there last night:

A letter written by a soldier wounded during Pickett's charge. He would die from his wounds a couple of weeks after writing this letter.

A wooden plaque that was once nailed to the tree marking the location of General Reynold's death.

General Meade's HQ flag from when he commanded 5th Corps.

A pass to enter the East wing of the White House. The significance being that the date is the day Lincoln's body was on display.

A lock of Lincoln's hair that has provenance to someone that worked in the WH. (I have already forgot who, and failed to make note of it.)

 

[CavRTO]

1.2 million!!! That boggles my mind. So much to see still in storage. Add to that what all of the other ACW museums have in their possession!

 

[rob63]

1.2 million!!! That boggles my mind. So much to see still in storage. Add to that what all of the other ACW museums have in their possession!

Yeah. I assume that much of it is surely small items like minie balls or documents, but it is still mind boggling, just insane. He said that they get calls all of the time from people wanting to donate stuff, and the standard answer is NO!

 

[mdk220]

Thanks so much for the pictures - General Meade's presentation sword is outstanding!!!!

 

[Nathan Stuart]

A letter written by a soldier wounded during Pickett's charge. He would die from his wounds a couple of weeks after writing this letter.

The stoic and reassuring tone, in consideration of parent's concerns, read in soldier's letters like this one, are always moving.

As a postscript. 1st. Lt. James Ball Miller, Co. A, 18th. VA. Infantry, was wounded on July 3 and died from an infection to his wounds on Aug. 5. He was originally buried at Chester Rural Cemetery, Chester, PA, then removed and reburied in a mass Confederate grave at the Philadelphia National Cemetery, PA, in 1891.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Sellers citation: "Voluntarily led the regiment under a withering fire to a position from which the enemy was repulsed."
Here is photo of Sellers wearing his Medal of Honor.

CMOHS

 

[nc native]

That smoking jacket looks like something from Liberace...... or Sgt. Pepper.

It's a combination of Hugh Hefner and Sgt. Pepper I do believe. I wore some loud clothes back in the day when I was young and dumb, hitting all of the area nightspots where I live but that would have been a bit too garish for me.

 

[Kurtlg]

It's a combination of Hugh Hefner and Sgt. Pepper I do believe. I wore some loud clothes back in the day when I was young and dumb, hitting all of the area nightspots where I live but that would have been a bit too garish for me.

Of all the Civil War era clothing images I've seen this is the most surprising. Yes probably Hefner. Liberace would have had rhinestones .

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for sharing. One gorgeous sword / scabbard.

 

[Salterr]

1.2 million!!! That boggles my mind. So much to see still in storage. Add to that what all of the other ACW museums have in their possession!

They should at least share with us!

 

[Drumfish420]

Very cool. Wonder how much that sword is worth today? Impressive craftsmanship.

 

[Salterr]

Very cool. Wonder how much that sword is worth today? Impressive craftsmanship.

I would have to imagine 6 figures possibly 7. Grant's presentation sword went for $1.6

 

[tmorr]

Was it the Rosensteel collection, or a part of it, that was displayed at the "old" Gettysburg Visitor's Center? I remember walking around that old brick building for hours as a kid marveling at the thousands of artifacts/relics that were on display- almost haphazardly at times. Electric map in the basement…. Lots to see back then. Been to the new VC 3-5 times and it's nice but a bit "sterile" for lack of a better word. These pics you share are fantastic and I hope to see more of what's in storage down the road.

 

[R. Porter]

Was there a catalog of the collection of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in Philadelphia? With something like that we could get an idea of what is not displayed. There may be all kinds of information hidden in that collection.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

It certainly makes you wonder how certain artifacts got into the collection, like Davis' smoking jacket! Like who donated or acquired that in such wonderful shape? I never, ever expected it to be so colorful!