During the Civil War, this fine personal writing accoutrement belonged to Private Edwin A. Roulstone, a 25 year old stable worker from Charlestown, MA.  On 9/1/62, Roulstone enlisted in Captain Drew’s company of the 5^th Regiment, Massachusetts Foot Militia, which was later designated Company H, 5^th Mass Infantry, one of the 9 month regiments.  Roulstone was mustered into service on 9/16/62 and served with his unit until mustering out on 7/2/63. 

The 5^th Massachusetts organized at Camp Lander, Wenham and mustered in by company.  Companies A through F moved to Boston on 10/22/62 and then boarded the steamer “Mississippi” that same day and traveled to New Berne, NC on the 27^th and on to Washington, NC by 10/31/62.  There the 5^th was attached to the 3^rd Brig., 1^st Div., 18^th Corps until June 1863.  The regiment participated in Foster’s Expedition to Williamstown, NC in Nov. 1862 and to Goldsboro, NC on Dec. 1862.  Saw action at Kinston on 12/14; Whitehall on 12/16; and at Goldsboro on 12/17/62.  Saw further service in the operations on the Pamlico 4/7  - 4/10/63; the expedition to Kinston, 4/27 – 5/1; Wise’s Cross Roads, 4/28; Kinston, 5/20 – 5/23; and Gum Swamp on 5/22/63.  Left for Boston on 6/22/63 and mustered out on 7/2/63.  The regiment lost 16 enlistedmen by disease.  Private Roulstone mustered out at Wenham and returned home to  Charlestown where he eventually married.  He died on 6/30/1906.  

Item accompanied by military and pension records from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.