LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Civil War Auction #674  / 

72392

HISTORIC REVOLVER INSCRIBED TO CONFEDERATE

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:9,750.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
HISTORIC REVOLVER INSCRIBED TO CONFEDERATE
<B>HISTORIC REVOLVER INSCRIBED TO CONFEDERATE GENERAL JOHN HUNT MORGAN.</B></I> English percussion double action revolver of approximately .40 caliber by “Jas Worrall, Forgate St” which is neatly engraved on the left and right barrel flats respectively. Six shot cylinder with English proofs and each chamber with hand engraved number. The frame, butt cap, muzzle, hammer and trigger guard are exquisitely engraved with scroll motifs. The shield shaped silver escutcheon is inlaid at the back of the grip and bears the inscription “Gen/John/H./Morgan/Ky.” in tiny period script. Escutcheon unquestionably indigenous to the gun and the inscription is absolutely authentic and of the period. The revolver descended through the family of a soldier who served under Morgan and all pertinent correspondence as to the gun’s lineage is of course included. John Hunt Morgan was one of the Confederacy’s most brilliant and aggressive cavalry commanders whose specialty was what are best described, as guerilla actions behind federal lines. He was born in 1825 in Huntsville, Alabama and in 1831 the family moved to Lexington, Kentucky. Morgan served as a private in a US Cavalry regiment during the Mexican War seeing combat at Buena Vista. Upon his return he took over the family mercantile business and in the 1850s raised and led several militia companies in Lexington. Also, during those years, Morgan’s life was touched by tragedy with the death of his wife and infant son. In September 1861 Morgan, and the militia company he commanded, went to Tennessee and joined the Confederate Army. Soon after, Morgan raised the 2d Kentucky cavalry regiment which he commanded. Commissioned a brigadier on December 11, 1862 Morgan wreaked havoc with the supply lines of Gen. Rosecrans scoring a notable victory at the Battle of Hartsville. Hoping to divert Federal resources from the Confederate invasion of the north in mid 1863and the siege of the hard pressed garrison at Vicksburg Morgan set off on a campaign that would go down in the annals of Civil War history simply as “Morgan’s Raid”, although derisively known on the north at the time as the “Calico Raid”. Morgan experienced considerable success in the early stages of the operation, crossing the Ohio River and raiding through southern Ohio and Indiana, capturing thousands of Union soldiers. However, on July 19, 1863, while attempting to recross the Ohio into West Virginia, Morgan’s force was intercepted by Union gunboats resulting on the capture of 700 of his men with only 200 escaping. Most of these men would be interred in the infamous Union prison, Camp Douglas, where they would remain for the duration of the war. Morgan and his remaining men were finally forced to surrender, near Salineville, Ohio, on July 26. Remarkably, on November 27, 1863, Morgan and a number of his men were able to affect an escape from the Ohio Penitentiary, where they were being held, and return safely to the south. Although Morgan’s Raid captured the interest and imagination of the press, both north and south, it was, in the end, futile and the losses sustained by Morgan were of far greater importance than any of the damage he was able to inflict. After his return Morgan was relegated to command of Confederate forces in East Tennessee and West Virginia and on September 4, 1864 was surprised and killed during a Union cavalry raid on Greenville, Tennessee. Morgan is buried in Lexington. A rare opportunity to acquire an historic Civil War revolver, inscribed to, and doubtless used by, one of the South’s most dashing commanders. <BR><BR><B>Condition:</B></I> All metal with smooth dark patina mixing with traces of blue, just a few tiny patches of very light pitting. Mechanically perfect, excellent bore. Grips retain much of the original varnish with a couple of very minor hairlines but perfectly sound. Silver presentation plaque with wonderful untouched patina.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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