$2,995.00 SOLD
Quantity Available: None
Item Code: 88-207
This is a complete Model 1863 Springfield rifle-musket that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, "saw the elephant" May 31st to 12th 1864 and we know who recovered it, where he recovered it and when! The word "relic" is used far too often in the trade to describe items that are not relics (The noun relic is derived from relinquere, Latin for "to leave behind." A crumbling Roman wall is a relic of a once-great civilization... Whether it's an object or an idea, a relic is a remnant of the past. Religious relics are items, such as Buddha’s tooth or St. Anne’s wrist bone, that have been preserved and venerated). In this case, we have a true documented relic described as follows. Made early in 1864 this .58 caliber rifle-musket is dated 1864 on the lock and 1863 on the barrel. The barrel retains its rear sight with 2 leaves. The bolster of the barrel has the eagle clearly visible. A fired percussion cap still sits on the nipple. The lock still functions at half and full cock! It has been cleaned lightly exposing not only the date but the eagle and "US SPRINGFIELD". The breech of the rusty barrel has been cleaned lightly exposing the date 1863 the eagle head and "VP". All other metal components are covered in rust, as they were found, including the still attached bayonet and intact ramrod. 99% of the original stock is intact and 2 inspectors' marks are still visible on the flat opposite the lock plate.
This relic was originally acquired by The Horse Soldier as a portion of the contents of a defunct New York state GAR Post. A 1 1/2 by about 1 3/4-inch remnant of a 19th century ink inscribed tag survives. What remains clearly reads: "Cold Harbor" over "Nov. 1865" over "W. W. Wynkoop" over "Post...". 7 months after the June 1864 battles Mr. Wynkoop, a veteran of that fight, found this rifle-musket on an early pilgrimage back to the scene of carnage (or acquired it from one who recovered it in the later clean-up. See attached). Private William W. Wynkoop enlisted in the 4th New York Heavy Artillery in 1862 and mustered out in 1865. "SERVICE: Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March 1864. Action at Lewinsville, Va., July 6, 1862, and October 1, 1863 (Detachment). Rapidan Campaign May-June 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spotsylvania May 8-12; Piney Branch Church May 8 (2nd Battalion); Laurel Hill May 10 (3rd Battalion); Spotsylvania May 12-21; Landron's Farm May 18 (1st Battalion); North anna River May 23-26. *COLD HARBOR June 1-12*. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23, 1864. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream's Station August 25. Poplar Springs Church, Peeble's Farm, September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. Reconnaissance to Hatcher's Run December 9-10. Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkin's House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher's Run or Boydton Road and White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Washington, D. C., May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Duty in the Defenses of Washington till September. Mustered out September 26, 1865, and honorably discharged from service."
This is a truly amazing relic. There is no question that the soldier who carried it, Union or Confederate, was a casualty of the terrible struggle at 2nd Cold Harbour aka Grant's Picket's Charge. [pe] [ph:L]
Pick up at the shop is recommended; extra shipping charge required.
DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!
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