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by John Sexton

Q: Hello, I have what I believe is a confederate d-ring short sword or Bowie in Civil War market are priced $1,500-$2,500. The ABKA,
knife, any information on this would be very helpful and an appraisal www.antiquebowieknifeassociation.com, is a good resource for
thank you! more information.

JS: Young Confederate soldiers had dreams of attacking their enemy Civil War Confederate D-guard
with similar D-Guard bowie knives. bowie knife, $1,500-$2,500.
These knives were not elegant, they were simple tools of war. My
2012 text Confederate Bowie Knives shows many similar examples, all
unique and all made by different Southern craftsmen of many trades –
blacksmiths, tinsmiths, carpenters, etc. Many early war photos show
soldiers posed with their prized bowie knives. With the hard reality of
war, these knives were carried much less after 1861-1862, marching
daily many miles, soldiers learned what necessities had to stay with
them, and the added weight of a knife for rare hand-to-hand combat
was often discarded. Confederate D-guards were popular souvenirs
taken home by Union soldiers captured on battlefields.
Due to simplicity, many “new made” fraudulent knives make it to
market sold as Civil War, but your knife appears original with unusually
notched clip point I have never seen before. Regardless, similar knives

Q: I have a civil war letter in an old frame (someone told me that the frame The date, and the issuer of the past, do tell a bit of history.
was worth as much as the letter) and a handkerchief that was left to me by November 5, 1863, when the pass was written from Stevenson,
my great-grandmother that she said she received in 1886 by Mrs. Lincoln. Alabama, the 20th Connecticut infantry had been in camp for one
I know that Mary Todd Lincoln had died before that date, so maybe this month after arriving from Virginia to strengthen forces around
was given to her by Mary Lincoln who was married to Robert Todd Lincoln. Chattanooga. Confederate General Bragg was attempting to starve the
The letter is a consent to forage for food across lines. Union army who had no supply routes after Chickamauga. Starting
Can you tell me how much an appraisal for these two items would be. I am October 2, 1863, only half rations were being given to US troops and
interested in selling them. that consisted only of hardtack and spoiled pork. Real hardships had to
Thank you, Jackie be endured in these positions on the Tennessee river.
JS: It is possible that the The pass—which allows Mr. Deburnell [sic], two men, and a wagon
embroidered handkerchief to pass through the lines to forage for food—was written on the same
belonged to Mary Todd day Confederate general Longstreet had moved his army towards
Lincoln or Mary Harlan Knoxville to prevent Union reinforcement to Chattanooga. Foraging
Lincoln (wife of Robert Todd was dangerous outside of your own lines in enemy territory. Maybe
Lincoln), such items have been there is an ancestor name you can decipher that I could not and then
popular souvenirs. There are add to the story.
some examples having good The 20th CT captain who signed this pass, Oliver Post would be
documentation being sold in killed at the battle of Peachtree Creek in July 1864. Samuel Ross,
auction. A Cowan’s auction in colonel of the 20th Connecticut who ordered this pass survived the war
2010 sold several belonging to and was brevetted brigadier general for gallant & meritorious service in
Mary Harlan Lincoln. They the campaign against Atlanta.
sold for about $40 each. From Comparable documents from the Civil War can be found priced at
the same estate, a mono- Civil War shows for about $75-$150 but as you suggested, your
grammed Mary Todd Lincoln frame could be worth more than
handkerchief sold for $3,000 the document.
Mary Todd in 2019 at Hindman Auctions.
Lincoln or Mary That is a very elegant Civil
Harlan Lincoln War-era gesso frame that houses
embroidered the Civil War document. It
handkerchief, $40
(Harlan) to must’ve meant a lot to some-
$3,000 (Todd). one to have framed it at that
time. The recipient of the pass
may be your ancestor, but the name is difficult
to read and I can find no soldier with similar Civil War Pass: $75-$150. Frame:
“F.W. Deburnell”[sic]. likely worth more than the document

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 him at: jsextonatlcom.ne@mindspring.com.

32 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles