LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 June Civil War Grand Format Auction #663  / 

74215

The Cavalry Effects of Private James Keith

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
The Cavalry Effects of Private James Keith
<B>The Cavalry Effects of James Keith, Black Horse Troop and Mosby's Rangers.</B></I> James Keith rode with famed Confederate Cavalry Colonel John Singleton Mosby and his 43rd Battalion of Cavalry, "Mosby's" Rangers. An attorney and judge at Warrenton, Virginia after the war, Keith practiced law with Mosby for a time and later served on the Virginia Court of Appeals. Keith lived at Brentmore in Warrenton, which he sold to Mosby in 1877. These cavalry accouterments Keith used during the war include his spurs, heavy brass stirrups, "Black Horse" hat plume, and binoculars. Also included are his Cuban cigar box, United Confederate Veterans reunion medals, and mementos from the war. <BR><BR>While originally joining the 4th Virginia Cavalry, Company "H" as a private with the famed Black Horse Troop, he ended the war riding with Colonel Mosby and his 43rd Battalion with the title "Adjutant." In an article by the Richmond Times published on February 23, 1896, Keith is said to have had “many marvelous escapes” and that he “greatly distinguished himself” during the war. <BR><BR>Keith's brass spurs show much wear. One of the 13-point rowels is missing as is the buckle of one of the two leather straps. The heavy brass stirrups he used during the war show much usage as well. They are made of very heavy brass and show the dents and dings they would have suffered due to heavy usage in the war. <BR><BR>James Keith's ostrich plume he wore in his cavalry hat measures over one foot in length and still has the metal rod running through it that would have kept it stiff and attached to the hat. <BR><BR>His "Marchand of Paris" brand metal and leather binoculars are in perfect working condition. With the engraving "Day & Night" and "U.S. Signal" engraved on the barrels of the binoculars they measure a full 7” in length when fully extended. The focus wheel works perfectly and the leather is in good condition although the glasses have seen much wear. <BR><BR>James Keith was an active member of the United Confederate Veterans Organization at Warrenton, Virginia after the war. Formed in 1889 to assist Confederate widows, orphans and disabled veterans; Keith was a member of the Joe Kendall Camp of the U.C.V. at Warrenton. Reunions were held all over the South and even in Washington D.C. where the former Confederates met their former foes in blue. <BR><BR>This painted tin button from that June 1917 reunion has a red and white ribbon extending from the bottom of the pin with the gold-stenciled words "Virginia, Warrenton, Joe Kendall Camp No. 9 C. V." Made by Ehrman Company of Boston, it is of the stickpin variety. The front of the button reads "Official Reunion Badge UCV Reunion Washington, DC, June 5-6-7-1917". In the center of the wording is a picture of four hands shaking with "N, S, E, W" on the sleeves of the coats, all on top of a Confederate battle flag. <BR><BR>An additional reunion ribbon and pin is specific to Keith's membership in the Black Horse Troop, Company "H" of the 4th Virginia Cavalry, it has a white oblong gold-trimmed device with a pin on the back. It is enameled and has the word "member" on the back with a green ribbon attached that bears the words "1900" and "Company H". <BR><BR>Two 1907 United Confederate Veteran's two-piece medals are included with this lot as well. They are very attractive with one having a Confederate and Virginia flag on the top device and a monument on the bottom pendant. The other medal is specific to the "Veteran Cavalry Association" of the Army of Northern Virginia and features a casting of a statue of General J.E.B. Stuart, the famed Confederate cavalry leader who was killed during the war. <BR><BR>Another UCV button is of white-enameled tin and depicts a stand of three Confederate flags and was made by the St. Louis button company. <BR><BR>James Keith also accumulated war trophies and souvenirs from the war, some of which are included with this lot. A brass pair of crossed sabers and a federal eagle device hat pin and a Virginia Confederate button made into a stick pin round out the items with war association. A personal possession, a wooden Cuban cigar box from the H. Upmann Company "Habana" measuring 13” x 6” x 3½” is included as well. Made from a blond wood it has a brass ring pull device that recesses into the top and brass hinges that are all in good condition. <BR><BR>This is an outstanding archive of James Keith material, from wartime and post-war years, that is rare for a Confederate Black Horse Troop cavalryman, as well as the friend and law partner of Colonel John Singleton Mosby. <BR><BR><B>Provenance:</B></I> <I>The Keith family; The Tharpe Collection of American Military History</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Exhibited:</B></I> <I>The Liberty Heritage Society Museum</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Other (oversized items, group lo (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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