Military

Frank Brownell's Medal of Honor

The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.

The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.

Date: 1850s

Model 1855

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Associated Date
1855 - 1872
associated date
1855
ID Number
AF.69417M
catalog number
69417M
accession number
266008

Model 1854; Dismounted

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1854 - 1858
1854
ID Number
AF.25101.060
catalog number
25101.060
accession number
64127

Lowe Press No. 2 press

Samuel W. Lowe of Philadelphia invented the Lowe printing press, an unusual conical cylinder press patented in 1856. Like Adams's Cottage printing press, it did not include a frisket and included an automatic tympan.
Description
Samuel W. Lowe of Philadelphia invented the Lowe printing press, an unusual conical cylinder press patented in 1856. Like Adams's Cottage printing press, it did not include a frisket and included an automatic tympan. The rights for the press were sold in 1858 to Joseph Watson, who marketed both presses in Boston and Philadelphia.
The Lowe printing press does not appear to have been as heavily advertised as the Adams, although the company notes that we have sold many presses … to druggists … in this country and in other lands. Every boy and business man seems to be having one.
As for portability, the Lowe was more than a third lighter than the Adams, ranging from between 12 and 120 pounds as compared to Adams's press at between 100 and 400 pounds. The Lowe used a simpler frame and relatively thin castings.
date made
ca 1860
patent date
1856
maker
Lowe, Samuel W.
ID Number
1988.0650.03
accession number
1988.0650
catalog number
1988.0650.03

US Army Model 1851 dress cap worn by William T. Sherman

US Army Model 1851 dress cap worn by William Tecumseh Sherman. The shako-style hat is made of cardboard covered in a dark blue cloth, with a cap band of a dark blue wool with a gold thread insignia consisting of the letters "U.S." in a wreath.
Description
US Army Model 1851 dress cap worn by William Tecumseh Sherman. The shako-style hat is made of cardboard covered in a dark blue cloth, with a cap band of a dark blue wool with a gold thread insignia consisting of the letters "U.S." in a wreath. The hat's brim is missing but its black leather chin strap is still attached at one side with a US general service button. Sherman wore this cap when serving as a Captain in the Subsistence Department in 1851.
date made
ca 1851
wearer
Sherman, William Tecumseh
ID Number
AF.15932
catalog number
15932
accession number
59388

Model 1851

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1851
ID Number
2007.0069.14
accession number
2007.0069
catalog number
2007.0069.14

Model 1851 US Army sword belt plate

Model 1851 United States Army bronze sword belt plate stamped with the coat of arms of the United States.Currently not on view
Description
Model 1851 United States Army bronze sword belt plate stamped with the coat of arms of the United States.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca. 1851-1865
associated date
1851
ID Number
AF.20324
catalog number
20324
accession number
63224

Springfield Armory Model 1842/1854 U.S. Percussion Musket

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1854
associated date
1854
maker
Springfield Armory
ID Number
AF.247448
catalog number
247448
accession number
47226
maker number
D1854

9-Keyed Bugle, used by Walter W. Smith

This 9-keyed bugle was made by an unknown maker in the United States around 1840-1850. It is an E-flat bugle made of copper with brass keys, bell garland, key mounts, finger saddle, and lead pipe band.
Description

This 9-keyed bugle was made by an unknown maker in the United States around 1840-1850. It is an E-flat bugle made of copper with brass keys, bell garland, key mounts, finger saddle, and lead pipe band. The finger saddle (middle finger, right hand) is of the typical New England decorative curved style.

This bugle was previously owned by Walter F. Smith (1859-1937), cornetist in the Sousa Band (1893-1896) and the United States Marine Band (1885-1893 and 1898-1921).

Walter F. Smith joined the Sousa Band in 1893 and was made acting leader. In this role, Smith conducted Washington, D.C. concerts, various touring concerts, and also went with the band to perform in the inaugural ceremonies for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This experience was a huge success and an article from the Stanley Barney Smith Collection in the Western Michigan University Archives states:

“Played to an audience of 50,000… Although the hour set for appearance of Sousa’s old organization was 3 o’clock, the crowds began pouring into the great playground after luncheon… By 2 o’clock the crowd extended from Van Buren Street to Harrison, lined the East side of Michigan ten to twenty deep. Conductor Smith began his part without any delay and without any preliminaries… Every number was enthusiastically cheered and it is scarcely necessary to say the program was as near perfection as may be.”

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1840-1850
user
Smith, Walter F.
referenced
Sousa, John Philip
ID Number
1981.0425.03
accession number
1981.0425
catalog number
1981.0425.03

Model 1846

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1832 - 1851
1846
ID Number
AF.25066.10
catalog number
25066.10
accession number
64127

Model 1857; Red Sealed Sample

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1857
ID Number
ZZ.RSN80768W08
accession number
64127

Springfield Armory Model 1842/1851 U.S. Percussion Musket

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1851
associated date
1851
maker
Springfield Armory
ID Number
AF.247446
catalog number
247446
maker number
D1851
accession number
47266

Model 1851

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1851
associated person; user
Rosengarten, Jr., A. G.
ID Number
AF.58004M
catalog number
58004M
accession number
203481

Lithograph of bird species "Chrysomitris Marginalis"

Thomas Sinclair (ca 1805-1881) of Philadelphia produced this chromolithographic print of "Chrysomitris marginalis [Bonaparte] male and female" (common name: Black-chinned Siskin) after an original illustration by William Dreser (b. 1820, fl. 1849-1860).
Description (Brief)
Thomas Sinclair (ca 1805-1881) of Philadelphia produced this chromolithographic print of "Chrysomitris marginalis [Bonaparte] male and female" (common name: Black-chinned Siskin) after an original illustration by William Dreser (b. 1820, fl. 1849-1860). The image was published as Plate XVII in Volume 2, following page 180 of Appendix F (Zoology-Birds) by John Cassin (1813-1869) in the report describing "The U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere during the Years 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1852" by James M. Gillis (1811-1865). The volume was printed in 1855 by A. O. P. Nicholson (1808-1876) of Washington, D.C.
Description
Thomas Sinclair (c.1805–1881) of Philadelphia printed this lithograph of “Chrysomitris Marginalis [Bonaparte] male and female," now "Carduelis barbata" or Black-chinned siskin, from an original sketch by William Dreser (c.1820–after 1860) of Philadelphia (1847–1860) and New York (1860). The illustration was published in 1855 by A.O.P. Nicholson in Washington, D.C. as Plate XVII in the “Birds” section of volume II of The United States Naval Astronomical Survey to the Southern Hemisphere, written by John Cassin (1813–1869).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1855
graphic artist
Sinclair, Thomas
Dreser, William
printer
Nicholson, A. O. P.
publisher
United States Navy
author
Cassin, John
Gilliss, James Melville
ID Number
2008.0175.03
accession number
2008.0175
catalog number
2008.0175.03

Model 1847

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1821 - 1850
ID Number
ZZ.RSN80738W16
accession number
64127

William T. Sherman Brevet Commission as Captain, 1851

William Tecumseh Sherman's brevet commission as Captain, United States Army for meritorious services in California during the War with Mexico, effective May 30, 1848.
Description
William Tecumseh Sherman's brevet commission as Captain, United States Army for meritorious services in California during the War with Mexico, effective May 30, 1848. The commission, dated March 12, 1851, is signed by President Millard Fillmore and Secretary of War Charles Conrad.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1851-03-12
associated date
1848-05-30
originator (author or composer, etc.)
Fillmore, Millard
referenced
Sherman, William Tecumseh
ID Number
AF.15913
accession number
59388
catalog number
15913

Attachable Shoulder Stock for Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1851
patentee
Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
maker
Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
ID Number
AF.35623C
catalog number
35623C
accession number
97140
serial number
69/70

vest

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1851
ID Number
2007.0069.16
accession number
2007.0069
catalog number
2007.0069.16

Frock coat worn by Henry S. Gansevoort

United States Army officer's frock coat worn by Henry S. Gansevoort in 1865, when a Brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers during the American Civil War.
Description
United States Army officer's frock coat worn by Henry S. Gansevoort in 1865, when a Brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers during the American Civil War. The dark blue wool double breasted frock coat mostly conforms to the model 1857 frock coat pattern, with two rows of eight large gold eagle buttons made by Waterbury Button Co. Extra down the front set in groups of two, three small buttons on each cuff, two at the waist and one at the bottom of the opening of the pocket in the coattails. There are button holes both sides of front of the coat and a deep pocket in each coattail. The coat is padded and quilted and there is a deep breast pocket on left side. The collar and cuffs are dark blue velvet. There is a leather belt with brass buckle inside the waist. The coat has single small 5-point metallic thread stars on each shoulder. The coat's lining is black silk wool blend and the lining of the sleeves is white cotton. There is a black crepe bow sewn halfway down the left sleeve.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca. 1865
associated date
1851
associated person; user
Gansevoort, Henry S.
ID Number
AF.12842
catalog number
12842
accession number
53757

Model 1855

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1864
associated date
1855 - 1872
1855
maker
Isaac Haber & Co.
ID Number
ZZ.RSN80759W12
accession number
64127

Model 1851; Dismounted

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
used date
1851 - 1854
associated date
1851
ID Number
AF.25101.003
catalog number
25101.003
accession number
64127

Model 1851

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1851
ID Number
ZZ.RSN80767W00
accession number
64127

Model 1851

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1851
ID Number
AF.22756
catalog number
22756
accession number
64127

Model 1851

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1851
ID Number
AF.22748
catalog number
22748
accession number
64127

Model 1851

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1851
ID Number
AF.22788
catalog number
22788
accession number
64127

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