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LOT 3023
Historic Civil War Cavalry Commander and U.S. Minister to Hawaii General Edward M. McCook’s Factory Inscribed and Engraved New Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action Rifle with Documentation Also Showing it was Owned by David Kalakaua, the Last King of Hawaii - Serial no. 8850, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/silver finish, walnut stock. This rifle was manufactured in 1865 and features classic Samuel Hoggson engraving with a mix of floral and scroll engraving, a doe jumping a fence on the left side plate, and decorative borders. The scroll engraving extends to the tang of the buttplate. The top of the receiver is inscribed “GEN’L McCOOK” surrounded by accent lines. The absolutely authentic inscription matches the style on the J.B. Stuart Henry sold by Rock Island Auction Co. in December 2020 and other factory inscribed Henry rifles from 1865. The barrel has a nickel-silver blade front sight faint Henry patent and New Haven Arms Co. marking, notch rear sight, “8850” marked at the breech, and a sling bar secured by two screws on the left. The corresponding sling swivel is fitted on the left side of the buttstock. The lower tang has the “W” inspection mark. Henry rifles were highly sought after by Union soldiers during the war and are especially known to have been owned by soldiers from the Midwest.
Edward Moody McCook (1833-1909) was one of the extended line of the famous and historic, “Fighting McCooks.” His father, four brothers, an uncle, and ten cousins fought in the Civil War for the Union, with two serving as Major Generals, four as Brigadier Generals and many others serving as high ranking officers. McCook’s uncle Daniel McCook is also known to have owned a Henry during the Civil War and had his portrait taken with it prior to being killed during Morgan’s Raid. At the time, a Henry was the most advanced firearm available, and many soldiers spent their reenlistment bonuses to get one.
Prior to the war McCook was a volunteer secret agent of the United States government, and in recognition of this service he was appointed 2nd lieutenant in the 4th U. S. cavalry, May 1, 1861. He was promoted 1st lieutenant in July, 1862. In the volunteer service he served successively as major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel of the 2nd Ind. cavalry, was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, April 27, 1864 brevetted major-general of volunteers March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, and he was mustered out of the volunteer service Jan. 15, 1866. He was brevetted in the regular army 1st lieutenant for gallantry at Shiloh, captain for services at Perryville, major for conduct in the battle of Chickamauga, lieutenant colonel for gallant and meritorious services during the cavalry operations of east Tennessee, colonel, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the capture of Selma, Ala., and brigadier-general at the same time in recognition of gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war. Gen. McCook resigned his commission in the regular army in May, 1866, and was appointed as minister to Hawaii by President Andrew Johnson 1866-69, he concluded the peace that led to annexation. He was appointed territorial governor of Colorado by President Grant and served from 1869 to 1875.
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