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LOT 1081
- Serial no. 189899, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips.
This classic Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver was
manufactured in 1866 just following the American
Civil War while bloody conflict on the western
frontier continued with various Native American
tribes, including the South Cheyenne. It has a period
dovetailed blade front sight, the one-line New York
barrel address, standard navy roll scene and patent
markings, “B” and “36 CAL” on the left side of the
trigger guard, a “2” on the left side of the barrel lug,
blank wedge, “L” marked by the matching serial
number “189899” on the barrel, frame, trigger guard,
and back strap; and the matching partial serial
number “9899” on the arbor, cylinder, and loading
lever. The back strap is inscribed “Presented to Maj
Joel Elliott/by officers + troopers of the 7th U.S. Cav.
1868.” The revolver is accompanied by a dark brown
leather flap holster as well as the books “Washita
Memories: Eyewitness Views of Custer’s Attack on
Black Kettle’s Village” by Richard G. Hardorff and
“Washita: The U.S. Army and the Southern Cheyenne,
1867-1869” by Jerome A. Greene.
Major Joel Elliott joined the Union Army in August
1861 as private in Company C of the 2nd Indiana
Cavalry and was wounded twice in combat, including
being left for dead after being shot in the lungs at
White’s Station while serving under Colonel Frederick
W. Benteen. He nonetheless recovered and rejoined
the fight. At the end of the war, he became a major in
the 7th U.S. Cavalry. In 1867, he assumed command
of the 7th when Custer was court martialed and
suspended. 1868 was a fateful year for Elliott. At
the Battle of Washita on November 27, Elliott took a
detachment and chased after Indians fleeing from
Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle’s village after the 7th
Cavalry’s initial assault. Elliott called out, “Here’s
for a brevet or a coffin!” He continued the pursuit
approximately 2 miles from the village.
There, he and more than a dozen of his men made
their last stand after being surrounded by the
warriors coming to the aid of Black Kettle’s band. This
ill-fated detachment represented the vast majority
of the 7th U.S. Cavalry’s losses under Custer in the
Historic Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver Inscribed
“Presented to Maj Joel Elliott/by officers + troopers of the 7th U.S.
Cav. 1868.”, the Same Year Major Elliott was Killed at the Battle of
Washita, with Holster and Books