Page 60 - JOAApril21

by John Sexton

Q: Mr. Sexton, I am writing hoping you can help me JS: Your pistol is a Colt model 1849 pocket
identify a pistol that has passed down through my revolver, .31 caliber. This was one of Colt’s most
wife’s family from her great x? Grandfather. The popular percussion revolvers ever made. Over
original owner of the pistol in my wife’s family was 340,000 were manufactured between 1850 and
Alexander Maxwell, who to the best of our knowledge, 1873. Based on the serial number, this particular
served the CSA in a Georgia unit during the Civil gun was made in mid-1862, the second year of the
War. Family lore has it that the revolver in question Civil War.
was used by Alexander during the war. These guns were made in three different barrel
With the recent passing of my father-in-law, Perry lengths. This example appears to be 5 inches;
Maxwell, we unfortunately lost any additional family 4 inches and 6 inches are other variants.
knowledge about the revolver in question. A Colt model 1849 pocket revolver made in Your gun appears to be in average, good condition,
The weapon bears the markings “Colt’s Patent” on 1862, about $800. still exhibiting the rolled “stagecoach robbery”
the cylinder and “Saml Colt New York City” on the top of the barrel. It has cylinder scene. I am not sure what the small G stands for on the trigger
the number 201806 (serial number?) in several places on the weapon. guard, but it is not Georgia. Confederates indeed captured a few Colts
There also is some worn etching around the cylinder. Finally, there is a for sure, but none were surcharged by the Confederate government
small “G” stamped on the left side of the weapon just behind the trigger. or by states.
This is hard to discern in the photos but is very clear on the actual weapon. Similar average complete and original examples can be found priced
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide on this inquiry. at Civil War shows for about $800.

Q: John, back in 2005 my wife and I attended a Civil War seminar in fittings fit the belt holes so they went together. These were not dug items.
Charleston, SC sponsored by the Univ. of Virginia. One of the driving trips we The really poorly handwritten little tag that was attached to the items
took afterward was to Richmond and the environs. We reads: “Texas belt buckle with the complete leather belt.
drove Lee’s retreat trail from Petersburg to Appomattox. Came from the Lee Retreat Museum of Joseph Willkson,
In Appomattox, we ran across the Lee Grant Civil War Farmville, VA. Very rare to find this complete Civil
Gift Shop & Museum, which was overflowing with War artifact.”
Civil War memorabilia and relics. Farmville and the contested High Bridge were along the
We purchased a few items and looking back, we Lee Retreat Trail so the location makes sense.
should have bought a lot more! Time passes, and we are
getting our estate in order and would like to get a JS: I’m sorry to inform you that the buckle is a
valuation on one of these items. The only thing we reproduction. It is a copy of a stamped brass militia
purchased that I feel is somewhat unique is a plate of the Antebellum Era. Many vendors either don’t
Confederate belt and buckle set. The buckle is a Texas A reproduction know how to discern the difference between a true
star design and has a naturally heavy patina, but it is buckle sold as real, buckle and a copy, or are unscrupulous who pass this
sound and not damaged. The belt is 36 inches long and caveat emptor! kind of material on as original Civil War. The same
is not a military leather belt but obviously a private-purchase item. The buckle reproduction buckles can be bought for $15-$20.

Q: I have a collection of approximately 25 letters from a Civil War soldier Soldiers’ letters are the most common form of Civil War memorabilia.
named Benjamin F. Gustin of Kennebunkport, ME. I have the envelopes, Content determines value. Most common letters are not interesting to us
letters written by him and others, and his discharge papers. Everything has age today, reading about being hungry and cold, and “I heard a good sermon”
wear and spots, and some envelopes have the address cut out of them. I do not do not translate to much money. Content is
know the origin or how they were acquired. Could you please give me some the key. If you start reading in chronological
information on the value of these items? order, and they read like a story, you have to
know the ending. Yours will bring more than
JS: Benjamin Gustin was a 44-year-old private in the 32nd Maine, a unit a minimal value of $500 for 25 letters. There
formed April 1864 and mustered out in December. Even though the unit were several hundred letters from mostly
was short-lived, they were sent to the front in Virginia in the 9th Army Maine soldiers sold at Poulin Auctions in
Corps, suffering over 200 casualties. Official records Fairfield, ME on December 13, 2020.
recorded: “The regiment charged most gallantly on July You will find a range of prices realized, run-
30, when the Confederate works in their immediate front ning from about $20 per letter to $100 per
were blown up by Burnside’s mine [a tunnel filled with letter or more.
explosives], and was one of the first to enter the works. It Union soldier Benjamin Gustin’s letters worth more
came out of this sanguinary fight with but 27 men under than the usual average price of $20 each, but the
Adjt. Hayes, the only officer left.” content will determine final values.

John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert of Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser
organizations. He can be contacted at 770-329-4984. If you have a Civil War item for him to appraise, email a photo and a
description to mclwriter@gmail.com.

58 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles