ARILLERY TANGENT SIGHT FROM THE GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD AND MILLER POST #551, YORK SPRINGS, PA

$4,500.00

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Item Code: 286-1342

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This Civil War artillery tangent scale, or sight, is completely original and was once held by Miller G.A.R. Post 551, Department of PA, located in York Springs, here in Adams County, who were obviously in a very good position to acquire relics from the battlefield. It has an original, brown ink label applied to it reading simply, “Gettysburg.” A number of other relics bearing Gettysburg tags like this one, and some unlabeled but also likely from the field, were purchased from the family of David Starry in the 1970s by well-known Maryland antique and Civil War dealer Tom Gordon and his father. Starry had been the Post Adjutant and the Post Commander in 1919 at least, at which time the post was down to just seven “comrades” and would disband sometime between that date and February 1924. As a post officer and reportedly also its youngest member, Starry became custodian of its relics. We have handled a number of pieces from this collection over the years.

The tangent sight was a rear sight made of sheet brass with a flange on its curved base so that it could sit on the cannon’s base ring. The edge is cut in a series of steps marked with degrees of elevation required for specific ranges for the piece. This is in very good condition, with the surface a mix of brown and green, but the markings legible and no bends or breaks. This was still a standard artillery implement in the Civil War, though the pendulum hausse had largely replaced it for use as a rear sight. This one could be either CS or US used.

The Miller Post had been chartered (or “mustered”) July 2, 1887, and was named after a member of the 30th Pennsylvania killed at South Mountain, and was disbanded sometime between 1919 and February 1924. David Starry had served twice in the Civil War. Born Feb. 10, 1847, in Adams County, he was a farm laborer when he lied about his age to enlist October 16, 1862, as a substitute for Rufus King, overstating his age by three years, mustering into U.S. service at Gettysburg November 6 as a musician (drummer) with Co. A, 165th Pennsylvania Infantry and was honorably discharged with his company July 28, 1863, in Gettysburg. This was a regiment of “drafted militia” and Starry went in as a substitute, so there may have been some cash involved.

He enlisted a second time February 1, 1864, mustering in as a Private in Co. B of 21st PA Cavalry on February 3, 1864, and mustering out with the company July 8, 1865. This was the second iteration of the regiment, which had originally organized for just six months in 1863. This time they saw service first as infantry in the 5th Corps, fighting at Cold Harbor and at Petersburg with significant losses, then at Jerusalem Plank Road, the Mine Explosion, Weldon Railroad, Peebles Farm, and Poplar Spring Church. It was mounted again in October, and saw continued action in Gregg’s Division at Boydton Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, and Hatcher’s Run. Men who had lost their horses by this point were returned to infantry service at Petersburg and the remainder took part in Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks, Amelia Springs (where they lost 98 of 234 engaged,) Sailor’s Creek and Farmville. In little over one year of service they had lost 4 officers and 147 men killed, mortally wounded or died of disease, and another 14 officers and 253 men wounded.

Starry returned to Adams County after the war, married in 1868 and reared twelve children. His six sons acted as pallbearers when he died in June 1925. Two of them lived in York Springs, but we note that his obituary states he died at the home of a daughter. Whether he was living there, with one of his sons, or on his own is unclear, but it was a large family. By Tom Gordon’s recollection the house was on Hanover Street. We know from the February 1924 obituary of another former member of the Miller Post #551 that the post had disbanded by that point and the family knew that Starry had been entrusted with the relics as the youngest member of the post. Ironically, he was outlived by at least one other member, who died in 1931, reportedly as the last survivor.  [sr][ph:m/L]

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