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LOT 1247
Historic Civil War Presentation Gilt Handled Cane Inscribed to Corporal John Salisbury of the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Who was Wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg - This beautiful Civil War presentation cane is inscribed on the top of the grip to corporal John Salisbury of Company B of the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry. Salisbury enlisted on 22 July 1861 and was with the regiment through most of the major battles of the Eastern Theater early in the war including the siege of Yorktown, the Seven Days, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, where the regiment laid for a day and two nights under withering fire from the Confederate positions behind the stone wall on Marye’s Heights. At the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, the 62nd was part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps under Major General Sykes. On the second day of the battle, elements of V Corps including the 62nd were rushed into action on the Union left flank to support the collapsing III Corps under Major General Sickles. The 2nd Brigade, including the 62nd, found itself heavily engaged in “the wheat field” and along Wheatfield Road, including hand-to-hand combat and nearly being cut off. The brigade entered the battle with nearly 900 men but would leave it with barely half that many. According to the inscription on the cane, Salisbury was wounded at Gettysburg, and it was likely that it happened during carnage of “the wheatfield”. By the time the 62nd Pennsylvania marched away from Gettysburg after the third day of fighting, it could muster barely 90 men. The regiment would go on to be involved in the battles of The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and the Siege of Petersburg, before Salisbury and his company were mustered out on 13 July 1864. The gilt knob shaped grip of the cane has the inscription to corporal Salisbury from “his friends in Birmingham”, as well as many of the major battles he was involved in inscribed in panels around the sides along with “Wounded/at/Gettysburg”, all surrounded by floral motifs. The knobbed ebonized shaft has white dots on the ends of the knobs and is tipped with a German silver and iron ferrule. It measures 37 1/4 inches overall. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall, the bright gilt grip showing minimal handling evidence and crisp inscriptions overall. The shaft is very fine with some scattered light handling marks and small repairs. A historic presentation cane that would be welcome in any Civil War collection! Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1248
Historic Gilt Handled Cane Inscribed to Major George
T. Work, Pennsylvania Sheriff and Documented Strike Buster - Beginning in approximately the 16th century, canes gradually became more popular among the upper echelons of society, reaching its pinnacle around the late-19th to early- 20th centuries. They became far more than just an accessory to assist with mobility, and more of a symbol of ones status and wealth. The gilt L-shaped handle on this example has been inscribed “Presented to Maj. Geo. T. Work. The Gallant Soldier and efficient Sheriff by the Citizens of California & Vicinity March 1879” in eight lines. The “California” refers
to a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania where George T. Work was elected sheriff. Newspapers from the region in February of 1879 reference Sheriff Work assembling a large posse to arrest striking coal miners along the upper Monongahela river, leading the writer to believe this cane, presented a month later, may have been a gift from the mine owners of the area. The grip is gilt and features floral motifs throughout along with the inscription while the shaft is ebonized and tipped with brass. It measures
36 3/8 inches overall.
CONDITION: Fine overall, the the bright gilt handle showing minimal handling evidence and some scattered light scuffs and handling marks on the shaft.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1249
Historic Inscribed Gilt Handled Cane Presented to G.W. Adrian for Bravery during the Civil War from General Judson “Kill Cavalry” Kilpatrick - The gilt knob grip of this cane has ornate floral motifs throughout and bears
the R.F. Simmons & Co. maker’s mark “R.F.S & CO.” The top
is inscribed “1866 Presented By Gen J. Kilpatrick to G.W.
Adrian for Bravery in the Late War 1862-63-64”. G.W. Adrian and his bravery remain unidentified at the time of writing. Brigadier General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick commanded the 3rd Division of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac at the Battle
of Gettysburg, which included George Custer’s 2nd Brigade of Michigan “Wolverines”. Kilpatrick gained quite a reputation during the war for brash, often ill-advised, cavalry charges which often led to heavy casualties, leading the men under his command to give him the nickname “Kill Cavalry”. The shaft of the cane has an ebonized finish tipped with German silver. It measures 33 3/4 inches overall.
CONDITION: Very good, the grip of the cane having a minor crack below the knobbed grip, a few scattered minor dings, and some light flaking on top. The shaft retains most of
the ebonized finish with some light handling evidence. An intriguing Civil War presentation piece!
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
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