This group of items all came together with two wonderful old handwritten tags testifying to the fact that they all belonged to Private James W. Pierce of the 11^th Massachusetts Battery.

All the items in this group show uniform wear and age and have no doubt been together since the war. They also exhibit uniform surface dirt from long storage that adds to their charm. Also, many of the items have Pierce’s name either stenciled or scratched on them. All items are in good condition unless otherwise stated.

First there is Pierce’s Army issue cup. It meas. approx. 4.25 inches tall x 4.08 inches across the bottom. It is made of tin and has a wire reinforced handle. The cup has some minor dents and has blackened a little on the bottom and sides from use. There are some scattered specks of rust but nothing concentrated and there are no holes. This cup looks very much like an old veteran.

Next is a tin plate with raised edges. Plate meas. approx. 8.75 inches across the top and 6.75 inches across the bottom and is 1.50 inches deep. The lip has two tiny holes across from each other. These holes were purposely made and are not from damage. The patina on the tin of the plate matches that of the cup. Scratched into the bottom of the plate is “JAMES W. PIERCE, 11^TH MASS BATTERY.”

Next in the group is a knife, fork and spoon set. The spoon and fork are made of tin and the knife of cast steel. They match the cup and plate in condition and patina. The knife has a crimped handle that allows the spoon and the two tined fork to slide into it for storage when not in use. The knife has a worn Patent mark that reads “NOV. 12, 1861, CAST STEEL.” Attached to the set is a very old handwritten label that reads “DIPPER, KNIFE, FORK AND SPOON, PLATE CARRIED BY JAMES W. PIERCE IN THE CIVIL WAR, FURNISHED BY GOVERNMENT. 11^TH MASS. BATTERY.”

The next piece in this group is a great smooth side canteen with sling. The canteen body is uncovered and matches the patina of the other metal items in the group perfectly. The body of the canteen is in very good shape with just small, scattered dents from use. All three sling keepers are present. Cork stopper is present and near perfect. Stopper is connected to the canteen by a chain that anchors to one of the sling keepers. The sling itself is dirty and curled from use and age. There is a knot tied in the sling to shorten its length. These knots are often encountered on ID field used canteens. Sling is stenciled “J.W. PIERCE 11^th MASS. BATTERY.” The canteen really has a great look to it and is solid despite the wear to its surfaces.

The last two items in the group are Pierce’s Model 1851 saber belt and knapsack. The leather on the belt is mostly dry and starting to become stiff. The actual belt itself is complete with both the brass keeper and the rectangular eagle plate with small tongue. The leather surfaces of the belt are very dirty and there is some surface finish loss on the back section. The plate is very dark but good with the applied wreath intact. Both saber drops are present with the belt but one is broken near the top. The shoulder support strap is also completely present though broken into three pieces.

The knapsack has a wooden frame and is covered with a fragile painted canvas. The knapsack is held closed by three straps sewn to the outer flap. All three straps are present but one is broken in half. Two of the three roller buckles are present on the bottom. The missing one corresponds with the broken strap. The outer flap of the knapsack doubles as an outer covering and as part of an inner bag. This bag has a tie down closing flap on the inside. Three of the four white tie-downs are present. The wood frame forms a pocket on the inside and has four flaps to close it. Two of these flaps have roller buckles and two have adjustable straps. All are present though one strap is coming loose. The back of the knapsack has the leather shoulder straps that appear to be complete. The leather is in poor condition being dry and crackling but it is holding together. The rear flap has painted across the top in white “11^th MASS BATTERY.” The letters “M” & “B” meas. approx. 2.25 inches high as do the numbers. The other letters meas. approx. 1.25 inches high. The canvas material of which the knapsack is made has some splits and tears. Most of this damage is on the outside top corner near the painted number “11” and scattered among the natural folds of the material. All in all the knapsack is holding together well and with proper care and handling should stand up over time. With the knapsack is an old handwritten label that reads “KNAPSACK, BELT, CANTEEN (UNREADABLE) GLASSES USED BY JAMES W. PIERCE IN CIVIL WAR.” No glasses of any kind came with the group.

James W. Pierce was born in Dorchester but was living in Boston when he enlisted as a Private on August 25, 1862. The 25 year old was working as a piano maker at the time of his enlistment. He went with his battery to Centerville, Va. where they spent 9 months on Picket duty. They returned to Boston and were mustered out on May 25, 1863.

Pierce was again mustered in with his Battery, this time as a Corporal, on January 2, 1864 for three years service. They became part of the 9^th Corps, Army of the Potomac and saw action at the Wilderness, North Anna River, Weldon Railroad and the Siege of Petersburg. In the final stages of that siege the Battery was active in repelling the Confederate attack at Fort Stedman and in the pursuit of Lee’s Army to Appomattox. Pierce was mustered out at Camp Meigs in Readville, Massachusetts on June, 16, 1865. After the war he was a member of Paul Revere Post #88 of the GAR in Quincy. He died August 15, 1921.

This is a wonderful opportunity to own almost a complete set of equipment with an ironclad ID to a soldier who took a very active part in General Grant’s Overland Campaign that included some of the hardest fought battles of the war.

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