This is a great piece of prison camp art made by an officer in one of the best-known Union regiments while confined at Libby Prison in 1862. Carving was a popular pastime during long periods of forced inactivity in military prisons with bones from meat rations providing a natural material. The end result might be something traded to a guard or visitor, but in this case was a keepsake, the letter “G” carved in Old English, made with a small loop at the top for suspension by a pin, likely symbolizing his membership in Company G of the 42^nd Pennsylvania - the Bucktails. He made it out of prison and the piece was subsequently preserved in a now broken thermoplastic photographic case with a wonderful, period brown ink note reading, “Made in Libby prison / by Lieu T B Winslow.” There is only one candidate: Lt. Thomas Benton Winslow (sometimes “Thomas Hart Benton Winslow” or just Benton Winslow.)

Also known as the 1^st Pennsylvania Rifles, “The Kane Rifle Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps,” 13^th Pennsylvania Reserves, as well as the 42^nd Pennsylvania, the regiment is best known as the “Pennsylvania Bucktails” from the bucktails worn on their hats as sign of their marksmanship as hunters in civilian life. They began recruiting immediately after Fort Sumter and Winslow, a blacksmith, was instrumental in recruiting a company in Elk County, calling themselves the Elk County Riflemen and electing him Captain. The company was of three journeying to Harrisburg by raft, where they consolidated with another company to muster in. Winslow at that point stepped aside as an officer in favor of another with service in the Mexican War and mustered on May 29, 1861, in as a private, accepting a commission as 1^st Lieutenant Jan. 11, 1862, after he had gained enough experience.

In late May 1862 Winslow’s company was one of four assigned to act as a battalion in conjunction with Union cavalry who led Fremont’s pursuit of Jackson in the Valley. They were heavily engaged at Harrisonburg on June 6, tangling with Confederate cavalry and two regiments of infantry, but held their ground, losing about 50 men and inflicting about as many casualties on the enemy, including Gen. Turner Ashby. Winslow is reported as wounded in the fighting at Harrisonburg. This was likely not serious since he is also reported as narrowly escaping a shell fragment that tore his pants two days later at the Battle of Cross Keys, though we suspect the accounts may reflect one incident.

He was likely in command of the company for about a month after Harrisonburg since his captain commanded the battalion until about August 19. Three days later he was captured at a picket post at Catlett’s Station, where the battalion was part of the guard, when Stuart launched a surprise attack during a fierce nighttime storm on August 22. It was soon after this, while confined at Richmond, that Winslow used his time to carve this badge.

He was released on Sept. 24 and sent to Camp Parole in Maryland to await exchange. He seems to have returned to the regiment by Oct. 31, when he is reported as acting commander of Co. K. About six weeks later he was wounded by a bullet in the left hip at Fredericksburg on December 13. The wound was reportedly a flesh wound, but slow in healing, placing him on recruiting duty in Pennsylvania and Washington until mustering out with the regiment June 11, 1864. He returned to Pennsylvania and in the 1870 census is listed as a stone mason. He does not appear to have married and died at age 39 in July 1876 at Benezett, Elk County, PA. We show a wonderful full length image of him in uniform from the Library of Congress.  [sr][ph:m]

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