Page 184 - 88-BOOK2

LOT 1184
Historic Civil War Presentation Gilt Handled Cane Inscribed
to Captain
George A.
Hussey of
the 83rd,
103rd,
and 165th
New York
Regiments -
This very
interesting
Civil War
presentation
cane is inscribed
to a man that had
quite the career as a
officer and soldier during
the war. The top of the gilt grip
is inscribed “Presented to/EX.
CAPT. GEO. A. HUSSEY./by the/ Members of Co G./9th Regt N.G.S.N.Y./21st April 1885.” Early
in life, George Alexander Hussey (1843-1929), as a member of New York City’s economic elite, took a tour of Europe including Switzerland and Bavaria, where he brushed up on his German language skills. He returned to a country in turmoil, and in July of 1861 joined the 9th New York Militia Regiment as a private in Company
I. The 9th was then mustered into
federal service as the 83rd New
York Infantry regiment, and used for
garrison duty around Washington D.C.
The regiment then took part in the
Shenandoah Campaign followed by
the Bull Run Campaign. On 30 August
at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Hussey
was wounded in the chest and sent to
Philadelphia’s National Guard Hospital
for recovery. Upon his recovery, Hussey
accepted a first lieutenant commission in Company I of the 103rd New York regiment, a company which was formed primarily from the remnants of the 3rd German Rifles, which may have played a roll in Hussey receiving the commission. The 103rd served primarily in southeastern Virginia and were present at the Siege of Suffolk in April and May of
1863, where Hussey was again wounded in action. A little less than a month later, Hussey was promoted to captain of Company E in the 103rd, and in November of that year was discharged with the expiration of his enlistment. This was not the end of Hussey’s military career however, in May of 1864 he joined the 165th New York as a private in Company A, and served with them until being honorably discharged in September of 1865. Besides the noted inscription, the gilt knob grip on this cane has extensive floral motifs and is fitted to a smooth ebonized shaft tipped with German silver and iron. It measures 34 3/4 inches overall. CONDITION: Very fine overall, the grip showing most of the bright gilt finish with minimal handling evidence and the ebonized shaft retaining almost all of the finish with some scattered very light scuffs
and handling marks.
182 Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1185
Historic Civil War Presentation Silver Handled Cane Inscribed as From the Battlefield of Seven Pines - This unique Civil War presentation cane
is inscribed on the
silver plated grip “E.K
Hubbard/from/F.A.
Mitchel/Battlefield of
Seven Pines”. At the
time of writing the
two names inscribed
could not be further
identified as there are
multiple men by those initials and names that could have been present at the battle, on both sides of the conflict. The Battle of Seven Pines took place from 31 May to 1 June 1862, and was part of the Peninsula Campaign, in which General McClellan and the Union Army of the Potomac were attempting to march on the Confederate capital in Richmond, Virginia. The battle was the largest fought in the Eastern Theater up to that point, and was second only to the battle of Shiloh in numbers of casualties. One of
the more historically significant moments of the battle happened near dusk on the first day, when the Confederate commander, General Johnston was struck in the shoulder by a bullet and then almost immediately by shrapnel in the chest and was evacuated. This event led to Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoint General Robert E. Lee
in command of the Army of Northern Virginia. The cane itself has a silver plated bulbous/knob shaped grip with a musket ball inset in the top. The shaft is of a light springy wood that may be fruitwood, is fitted with a silver band marked “STERLING”, and is tipped with German silver and iron. It measures 36 1/2 inches overall.
CONDITION: Fine, the silver plated components showing an attractively aged patina and minimal handling evidence. The shaft is very good with some scattered minor flaking of the finish/bark, and otherwise minimal handling evidence. An unique Civil War
presentation piece! Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1186
Desirable Gilt Civil War Era Presentation Cane Inscribed
to N.W. French of New Orleans - Canes reached the pinnacle of their popularity as a fashion accessory around the mid-19th, becoming extremely popular amongst the middle and upper classes of North America and Europe as a means of displaying social status. This example is inscribed on top of the grip “Prestd to/N.W. French/By his Son/G.F.F./New Orleans, La, July 4, 1862.”
At the time of writing neither of these individuals have been identified, though it should be noted the curiosity of a cane being presented on the independence day of the United States, a year into the Civil War, deep in the heart of the Confederacy, just a couple months after the capture of New Orleans by
Union forces. It is possible this cane was a presentation piece celebrating the capture of the city. The gilt knob grip features multiple facets decorated with floral motifs and is fitted with a Malacca shaft tipped with dark horn. It measures
34 3/4 inches overall.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining most of the gilt finish on the grip with some light handling marks throughout. The shaft is also fine with some scattered light handling marks and retaining
most of the varnish.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500