Page 51 - JOA-6-22

by John Sexton

Q: Don’t know if you can help me on this as I JS: This is a Civil War Era mortar ball; it looks
have no idea of the era. like it is 10 inches with tong holes on either
It was found in the woods of upstate New side of the fuse hole. Poulin Auctions sold one
York about 30 miles from West Point. in 2021 for $646.
It weighs over 100 lbs.
The US Army 13-inch, high-angle mortar known as the
Dictator and used in the Civil War to fire mortar balls.
A Civil War Era mortar ball, about $600 or so.
(Photo, public domain. Photographer: David Knox)

Q: My father-in-law passed away a few years ago, and after cleaning his War, and peacetime. There are numerous variations; eBay, I am sure, is
home, we found the item in the photo. We didn’t want to throw it out because full of similar pieces for sale.
it kind of looked important. The average replacement value for these is
about $75. You will find these priced for less
JS: You have found a piece of classic American and for more depending on the history, the
WWII military trench art made by soldiers or for complexity, and the overall aesthetic.
soldiers. There are numerous similar objects with Yours is unique, like every other example. I
different names, but they are most often referred am not sure what the twisted body of your
to as “swagger sticks.” example is made from, but it has a military rifle
Over my years as an appraiser, I have met cartridge, a sergeant’s chevron insignia, a buffalo
a couple of collectors who have bought every nickel, and the enameled, distinctive insignia of
swagger stick they could find, and they have the 17th US Infantry. There are thousands of
hundreds of them. They cover World War I, American distinctive insignia, and many have
World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam 1 2 3 interesting histories. The 17th Infantry has
history dates back to the Civil War.
1. A WWII trench art swagger stick, about $75. 2. U.S. Army 17th Infantry regimental crest on the swagger stick. 3. Sergeant’s chevrons on a rifle cartridge on the swagger stick.

Q: Enclosed are a few pictures of buttons, a photo, and documents we have. about $50 for the pair; CDV of an unknown Union soldier $35; four
Any information on them or an appraisal would be greatly appreciated. patriotic/satirical covers are about $10-$20 each; clip signature of
General Phillip Sheridan, $40-$50. The transmittal letter to General
JS: The pile of buttons needs better photos, but from what can be seen, Jesse Reno’s captain’s commission is maybe $50. The commission
many appear wartime, and the eagle buttons with letters in shields are would have some value if you had it.
generally $20+. I see two ordnance buttons, which based on the back
mark, can approach $200 each. The ordinance buttons have their 4 5 6
shanks removed and were turned apparently into hat pins (pins were
removed), $50 each.
As to the framed documents, everything is Civil War, but nothing
really valuable: a couple of common pieces of Confederate currency,

1. The two ordnance
1 2
buttons in the center
row are close to $200
each in value.
5. A carte de visite
(CDV) of an unknown
2. Group of Civil War soldier, $35.
buttons, the eagle-and- 7 8
shield button in the 6. Four patriotic or
center is about $20.
satirical envelopes, or
“covers,” $10-$20 each.
3 3. Buttons turned into
hatpins by removing the 7. General Jesse Reno’s
shanks on the back, captain commission
about $50 each.
transmittal letter, $50.
4. Confederate currency, 8. General Sheridan’s
$50 for both.
signature, $40-$50.

John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert on 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.

June 2022 49