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by John Sexton

JS: Your ancestor, based on the newspaper interview, really had a hard
Civil War life, being captured and spending two years in prison after
Gettysburg and losing over half of his body weight. He was among the
lucky ones to not die at Andersonville.
Anything on a brigade’s action always brings a premium. The letter he
wrote concerning the Battle of Antietam is much better than an average
letter, and it would have a price at a Civil War show of $200-$400. The
Andersonville Survivors’ badge, which is identified as Briggs’, would
bring $300-$350 with the newspaper articles. The woman’s Relief Corp
is about a $10-$20 badge.

A soldier’s letter about the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest one-day battle of the
Civil War, $200-$400.
Q: I found you on the internet! I’m hoping you can help me assess if there’s
any value to this letter, and perhaps more importantly, if I should store it in
some special way or donate it to a museum, or if there’s value in selling it.
Edward Briggs was my great-great-grandfather. He was in the Iron Brigade
from Wisconsin. I also own a couple of Civil War veteran memorial ribbons he
wore to reunions, a bible he carried during the war (plus a letter describing how
he got the bible), his discharge certificate, and a few other letters.
I’m sending you the handwritten letter, a typed version of it (much easier
to read), a copy of his obit, a newspaper article about him from 1926, and
his badges. As you can see, one ribbon is hanging together by threads; the other
one is in pretty good shape for being over 140 years old!
Although I have a basic understanding of the Civil War, it pretty much
ends with a couple of tours here and there on the east coast (Gettysburg,
Antietam, Chancellorsville) so I am in no position to understand anything An Andersonville Survivor’s badge, A woman’s Relief Corp badge,
more than that. Thank you for your help! $300-$350 with the newspaper articles. $10-$20.

Q: John, I was told the hat and sword were The Imperial German Era rifleman’s knife can be found priced at $150-
post-Civil War. The hat I was told is a Sons of $250. There are many variations of these large side knives, or short swords
(Union) Civil War Veterans from like 1872, made popular in Germany but used by armies worldwide in that era.
and the sword is from pre-WWI Prussia. Do
you have any idea what they might be worth?

JS: Your identifications are correct. The hat
is for Sons of Veterans, which was a spinoff
of the Grand Army of the Republic in
1881. This hat dates circa 1900 and similar A Sons of Veterans hat,
examples can be found priced at $50-$100. ca. 1900, about $50-$100 An Imperial German Era rifleman’s
knife, or short sword, $150-$250. A close-up of the markings.

Q: Are you able to give me an appraisal on the campaign bed shown in Nothing mili- A 150-lb. bed, too heavy to be a
the attached photo? tary about it that campaign bed, $700-$900
I can see. At over photo: lydiavp@optonline.net
JS: I found this exact bed listed on eBay as a daybed priced at 150 pounds, it
$2,500. I spoke with a specialist at Case Auctions, Inc. in Knoxville, would not trans-
Tennesee, and he felt it would fit into an auction a $700-$900 pre-sale port very easily in
auction estimate. the field.

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.

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