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A report by Adjutant Julian G. Dickinson relayed a similar story but included that
“a man dressed in woman’s clothing” was captured while trying to sneak away with his wife and a female servant and was revealed to be Davis. Secretary of War Stanton and others reported Davis was trying to escape in his wife’s clothes. The story was heavily embellished in the press, with some going so far as to suggest Davis was actually wearing a woman’s bonnet and a full hoop dress.
With the discovery of this revolver, it
appears that Robert Adams took a few
pages out of Samuel Colt’s playbook of marketing techniques. The Davis Revolver #40568 is 4 serial numbers away from an almost identically embellished revolver (blued rather than silver plated) presented
to Stonewall Jackson from Robert Adams, #40572, cased with accessories that has been housed in The American Civil War Museum
in Virginia and placed there by Jackson’s
wife over a century ago. Additionally, a
third Confederate presentation is reported
to have been presented to General Robert
E. Lee, evidenced by his known “thank
you” acknowledgment delivered to Adams through CSA Agent Caleb Huse in early
1864. Although persuasive gifts were commonplace for Colt, it is now certain that Adams took the same route although on a much smaller scale. A most interesting fact of note is that Robert Adams also presented at least one revolver to a major Union figure, none other than Commanding General of The United States Army, George B. McClellan. Photos of this recently discovered casing showing its inscribed brass lid-ring (identical to the Jackson inscription) and lid interior (also identical and embellished with gold leaf) is contained within the
provenance folder.
It is therefore unquestionable that Adams presented such revolvers to key military and/or political figures, both North and South, and with the three that can be accounted to major Confederate players, plus the McClellan gun, there’s little doubt that a few other high ranking Union figures also received such gifts, possibly to include United States President Abraham Lincoln with all likely in the same serial range. The revolver is signed “ROBERT ADAMS. No. 76 KING-WILLIAM STREET. LONDON” along the top strap and breech end of the barrel. Robert Adams was located at that address from 1858 to 1865 per Blackmore’s “Gunmakers of London.” Robert Adams patented the first successful double action revolver in 1851.
The revolver features fine English engraving including a braided border design at the muzzle and front of the cylinder as well as the edges of the trigger guard, floral designs on and around some of the screws, and primarily classic scroll engraving and lined borders. The frame
is marked “ADAMS PATENT, No. 40568” on the right side, and the number is repeated on the cylinder. The loading lever and face of the cylinder are numbered with the assembly number “727.” The revolver has Birmingham proofs, a dovetailed blade front sight, fixed notch rear sight, silver plated finish, and checkered walnut grip.
Davis’s well-known engraved, cut-for-stock Colt 1851 Navy Revolver presented to him by the workmen of Col. Colt’s Armory immediately following his service as U. S. Secretary of War was also found during his capture. It was later given to the Museum of the Confederacy in 1949 by the son of Col. Robert Minty also of the 4th Michigan. Its matching presentation engraved Colt Navy shoulder stock was auctioned
by RIA in 2016.
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The presentation case presented by Robert Adams to then Commanding General of The United States Army, George B. McClellan, whereabouts of the revolver unknown