online catalog

• What's New
• Reduced Price Items
• Artillery
• Books
• Bottles
• Buttons
• Confederate
• Contemporary Artist Prints
  • Framed Prints
  • Unframed Prints
• Currency, Bonds & Tokens
• Documents & Paper Goods
  • Art
  • Broadsides
  • Commissions
  • Discharges
  • Letters
  • Newspapers
  • Signatures
• Edged Weapons
  • Bayonets
  • Knives
  • Scabbards
  • Swords
• Firearms
  • Carbines
  • Cartridges & Gun Tools
  • Handguns
  • Holsters
  • Longarms
• Gettysburg Items
• Identified Items
  • Accoutrements
  • Edged Weapons
  • Firearms
  • Personal Items
  • Photography
  • Uniforms & Cloth
• Medical Items
• Military Accoutrements
  • Buckles/Plates
  • Canteens
  • Insignia & Badges
  • Leather
    • Belts
    • Cap & Cartridge Boxes
    • Haversacks / Knapsacks
    • Holsters
    • Scabbards
  • Spurs
• Personal Items
  • Amusements
  • Cooking
  • Jewelry
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Sewing
  • Smoking
  • Writing
• Photography
  • Albumens
  • Albums
  • Cabinet Cards
  • CDVs
    • Identified CDVs
    • Unidentified CDVs
  • Hard Images
    • Ambrotypes
    • Daguerreotypes
    • Tintypes
  • Stereoviews
• Relics
• Stock Items
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Riker Cases
  • Shell Bases
  • Wood Display Cases
• Uniforms & Cloth
  • Flags
  • Headgear
  • Sashes & Hat Cords
  • Uniforms
• Veteran Memorabilia
  • GAR
  • UCV
• WWI / WWII
  • Equipment
  • Posters

SCARCE FOUR-SCREW “KENTUCKY COLT” MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER WITH CONFEDERATE OFFICER ID

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

This pistol falls among a group of 1200 pistols purchased by the State of Kentucky, with 1,000 delivered on Aug. 25 and 200 more on Sept. 10, 1862, a purchase that included 600 shoulder stocks. Pate (2017) knew of just 35 pistols from this group. These were quickly issued out, with six known going to the 3^rd KY Infantry, 130 to the 1^st KY Cavalry as early as Aug. 31, with others to the 10^th and 11^th KY Cavalry and others perhaps to home guards and “troops who entered government service.” It appears the majority of these pistols were drawn from the Colt’s “inventory of condemned pistols and those not good enough to submit to army inspectors” (Pate, 317 ff.) and were a mix of three-screw and four-screw patterns – this is a second model with four screw frame and capping groove. This meets the criteria for pistols taken from inventory to fulfill the order in having a “0” subscript added to the serial number on the triggerguard and the buttstrap (but not elsewhere) and having the .44 Cal. stamp on the triggerguard shoulder. It shows no inspector acceptance cartouche on the grip. The serial number is #28118 except on the cylinder, which is numbered -5752 and has a large C condemnation stamp applied over the tail end of the number. Pate illustrates #28118 from this same group of Kentucky pistols and notes it was as added to Colt inventory on Jan. 31, 1862. With Colt production at about 1,000 pistols a week, this would date our pistol to about the first week of February.

The pistol rates good plus for condition, with original parts, generally smooth metal, and sharp markings- barrel address, Colt’s patent stamp on the frame, serial numbers, caliber marking on the triggerguard, and cylinder scene, which is quite good, with good Colt patent and patent date stamp, though the last two digits of the serial number are obscured by small dings and the C stamp. The metal some faint blues on the barrel assembly and stronger hints of mottled case color on the frame and plum brown on the cylinder. The backstrap is a thin brown. The brass has medium patina. The metal is generally smooth, but there is some fine pitting forward of the cylinder and some small dings near the wedge- pretty common from firing and disassembly. The hammer shows some color. The trigger has some good blue. The buttstrap shows three broad Xs lightly scratched in it, as does the lower backstrap. The grip shows some rounding to the edges, a slight gap at the frame and some dings on the butt. The mechanics are good. A family letter with the pistol says it was sent to Dixie Gun Works for cleaning at some point, which shows somewhat on the wood, but has good color and surface.

The family letter, dated 2024, indicates the pistol descended from Lt. James T. Shelton of the 53^rd Virginia. Born in 1838, Shelton appears in the 1860 census living with his widowed mother Mary, age 53, on a farm in Pittsylvania County, VA, along with a family named Oliver, perhaps in-laws. He enlisted at Pittsylvania Court House 21 August 1861, becoming First Sergeant in a company commanded by Capt. Penick. This seems to have been formed from the 101^st VA Militia of Pittsylvania County, and was mustered in at Richmond and ordered to Williamsburg to join Montague’s Battalion of Virginia Infantry, where it was designated Company E with the nickname of the Davy Logan Guards. This battalion was consolidated with other units to form the 53^rd Virginia Infantry Regiment on 12/1/1861 with the company redesignated as Company G in that regiment. The regiment served under Magruder’s command at various points on the Peninsula. In May 1862 it marched to Suffolk \where on May 5 it reorganized to serve two years or the war, with new elections of officers, with Shelton elected First Lieutenant of Co. G. At the end of May they were sent to Richmond, and as part of Armistead’s brigade of Huger’s Division took part in the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks) on May 31 and June 1 and during the Seven Days Battles saw action at Oak Grove and at Malvern Hill losing 3 killed, 27 wounded and 6 missing out of just 128 going into action.

After the Peninsula the division was commanded briefly by A.P. Hill and then by Anderson, under whom they saw action in the Virginia Campaign against Pope, with skirmishing at White Sulphur Springs that cost them 5 killed and 30 wounded before taking part in Longstreet’s devastating attack at Second Bull Run that rolled up Pope’s line. In the Antietam Campaign they were part of the force occupying Maryland Heights in the taking of Harpers Ferry and then cross the river at Shepardstown early on Sept. 17 to form in line of battle and support McLaws on the Confederate left, west of the Hagerstown Road, in the West Woods near Dunker Church.

Along with Lawton’s brigade they were assigned to cover Lee’s retreat as a rearguard at the fords near Shephardstown under Pendelton, who had 44 guns available but few cavalry and just 600 or so infantry to the two brigades. On Sept. 19 Pendelton generally fumbled the task: both brigades were routed by Federal probes across the river and a greater Federal pursuit the next day was only turned by A.P. Hill’s division the next day.

The regiment camped at Martinsburg until September 26 and then about 18 miles south, near Clearbrook from Sept. 29 to Oct. 29, during which time Company G was assigned to provost guard duty. They marched again October 30, reaching Culpeper on Nov. 2 after a difficult march with many of the men barefoot- Armistead even trying to have them men improvise moccasins out of cowhides from slaughtered cattle. The brigade was officially transferred to Pickett’s division on November 6.

Shelton submitted a letter of resignation on November 7. Family tradition held that he resigned to care for his aged mother. The letter is rather more specific in stating there were “no white persons living on the place to aid or assist her at all. She has a large family of young negroes to take care of & manage & my mother is getting very old and has no overseer.” In forwarding his letter, however, the regiment’s Major notes, “Charges for misbehavior in the presence of the enemy were made out against this officer at Falling Creek which were never acted upon. I think on the whole it would be best to let him get out of service.” Armistead and Pickett approved; Longstreet did not; but the resignation was accepted by the Secretary of War and Shelton returned home.

It is unclear to which engagement “Falling Waters” refers, but we suspect it was the September 19 rearguard action at the Shepardstown fords. Morale was apparently low to begin with and Pendelton’s inept handling of the affair added to it. Apparently aware of his own role in the debacle, Pendleton himself did not try to transfer blame too much: ‘worn as were these men, their state of disorder … was not, justly, to be met with harshness.” If Shelton “misbehaved” on the occasion, he was not alone, and ultimate responsibility lay higher up, likely accounting for the lack of repercussion and the acceptance of his resignation. According to the family history, he died in 1918.  [sr][ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire »