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LOT 3198
Lieutenant Commander Le Roy Fitch of the Union “Brown-Water Navy” Presentation
Cased, Inscribed, Silver and Gold, Master Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy
Percussion Revolver with Raised Relief Carved Ivory Grip - Serial no. 139699, 36 cal.,
7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., silver/gold finish, carved antique ivory grips. This historic Colt
Model 1851 Navy is inscribed “Le Roy Fitch” on the back strap, and the lid escutcheon on
the rosewood presentation case is inscribed “To/Lt.Com. Le Roy Fitch/A Token of/Friendship
and Esteem/from/A. Mast. Frederick Read/and/A. A. Surgn Geo. W. Shields/May 6, 1865”.
Le Roy Fitch (1834-1875) of Indiana is identified in records as an acting midshipman on
October 1, 1851, passed midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy April 29, 1859, became
master in September 5, 1859, was promoted to lieutenant commander on September 21,
1862, and was promoted to commander August 28, 1870. He served in the Mississippi
Squadron and participated in the capture of Fort Donelson and Fort Pillow, as well as the
defeat of the Confederate fleet at Memphis. Fitch and his flotilla of gunboats were also
active in the suppression of Confederate guerrillas on the Cumberland, Ohio, and Tennessee
Rivers. Notably, Fitch prevented General John Hunt Morgan from crossing the Ohio River at
Buffington Island and captured much of Morgan’s supplies and artillery which ultimately led
to Morgan’s failure and capture. He and his men also participated in numerous additional
engagements, including against General Nathan Bedford Forrest during the Battle of
Nashville. The WWII Gleaves-class destroyer USS Fitch was named in his honor and was
launched June 14, 1941. His older brother, antebellum era Democratic U.S. Congressman
and Senator Graham Newell Fitch, raised the 46th Indiana Infantry at the outbreak of the
Civil War and served as their colonel. He fought in some of the same battles as his younger
brother as a commander of the infantry. At the battles of New Madrid and Battle of Island
Number Ten, he was in command of the 2nd Brigade of Brigadier General John M. Palmer’s
division, and he also fought in the captures of Fort Pillow and Memphis before resigning in
late 1862 due to injuries.
Lieutenant Commander
Le Roy Fitch
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