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Historic Civil War Era R.R. Moore Heavy Barrel Percussion Sharpshooter Rifle with Case, Scope, and Accessories Identified as
Owned by Union Sharpshooter Charles. E. Stinchfield - Serial no. 1000, 45 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/German silver finish, walnut stock. Old tags accompanying this rifle state: “This telescope rifle was carried with the Army of the Potomac from the second Bull Run in 1861 till after the surrender of Lee at the end of the war in 1865. It was carried by C.E. Stenchfield [sic], a sharp-shooter detached from the 8th Maine. During an engagement on the James River under Gen. Butler in 1864, the stock was shot off. It is the property of H.H. Waugh...The telescope is not in order, one glass being broken, but when in use the buttons on an enemy’s clothes could be plainly seen at a distance of 1200 yards. It was present at all the battles of the Army of the Potomac, and in the Siege of Petersburg.”The rifle is also accompanied by copies of documentation on Charles E. Stinchfield (1843-1908) of Co.I, 8th Regiment, Maine Infantry. Stinchfield mustered in as a private and out as a sergeant. The 8th Regiment originally mustered in for three years at Augusta, Maine, on September 7, 1861, and mustered out on January 18, 1866. They fought at Fort Pulaski, Jacksonville, Wier Bottom Church, Drury’s Bluff, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Chapins Farm, Fair Oaks, Spring Hill, Fort Gregg, Fort Baldwin, Rices Station, and Appomattox and suffered 134 killed or mortally wounded, 355 wounded, 247 dead from disease, and 35 dead in Confederate prisons. He was identified on the included muster rolls as on detached service in September and October of 1864 as serving in the sharpshooters by special order 101 of the 2nd Division XVIII Army Corps. This would have been during the Siege of Petersburg and Battle of Peebles’ Farm. Around Petersburg, the 18th Corps’ sharpshooters were well within range of their targets as only around 300 yards separated the entrenched lines, and accounts from the period note that soldiers were forced to keep down in the trenches as marksmen from both sides would pick off those that exposed themselves.
The rifle has a heavy barrel drilled for a false muzzle and starter (included), a flat barrel rest 2 3/4 inches back from the muzzle, the front ring for the scope fit in the front sight dovetail, a screw adjustable notch rear sight, and “R.R. MOORE?CINCINNATUS/N.Y.” followed by an eagle and “No 1000” on the upper left flat. The rear support for the scope is threaded into the upper tang ahead of a later added peep sight. The lock has a pheasant scene, “C. BAKER” in a banner, and scroll and double line border engraving. The rifle has a plain single trigger and German silver furniture. Rensselaer R. Moore (b.c. 1821-d. 1877) of Cincinnatus, New York, and later Cortland, New York, is a known maker of “telescope rifles” and target rifles during the Civil War. In September 1866, he advertised his move to Cortland and indicated he carried “telescope rifles, double, single, and treble barrel rifles, and shotguns.” His post-war telescope rifles were similar to this one, but had “CORTLAND/N.Y.” markings. It comes in a nice more modern case with a powder flask, false muzzle, starter, bullet, mold, and a few additional tools and spare nipples. CONDITION: Fine overall with fading original finish and a smooth brown patina on the barrel, some minor oxidation and pitting, general mild wear, some faint blue on the lock, aged patina on the German silver furniture, small chips around the lock mortise, and mild scratches and dings. The scope has been repaired and now has clear optics. Mechanically fine. The case has a cracked lid and chipped area on the interior, but it and the accessories are otherwise fine with mild age and storage related wear. Overall, a very impressive Civil War “telescope rifle” identified as owned by a confirmed Union sharpshooter! Estimate: 7,500 - 15,000
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