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: 1900s

Spanish Revolver

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1900
maker
Orbea Brothers
associated institution
Smith & Wesson
maker
Orbea Brothers
ID Number
AF.7962
catalog number
7962
accession number
35369
serial number
4090

Church in Baccarat

Ink wash sketch on paper. A gothic church rises above a bridge spanning a river. A convoy of large vehicles crosses the bridge.From catalog card: "The bridge was blown up in the early part of the war; is now temporarily repaired."Currently not on view
Description
Ink wash sketch on paper. A gothic church rises above a bridge spanning a river. A convoy of large vehicles crosses the bridge.
From catalog card: "The bridge was blown up in the early part of the war; is now temporarily repaired."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-04
associated date
1917-1918
associated person
War Department
maker
Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
ID Number
AF.25820
catalog number
25820
accession number
64592

"General Grant's Grand March"

This sheet music is for the composition “General Grant’s Grand March,” by E. Mack. It was published by E. B. Swisher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1907. The cover features an image of Ulysses S. Grant, Commanding General, U.S.
Description
This sheet music is for the composition “General Grant’s Grand March,” by E. Mack. It was published by E. B. Swisher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1907. The cover features an image of Ulysses S. Grant, Commanding General, U.S. Army, 1864-1869, and President of the United States, 1869-1877.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1907
depicted (sitter)
Grant, Ulysses S.
ID Number
1984.0024.01
accession number
1984.0024
catalog number
1984.0024.01

Model 1884; Dismounted

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1887
used date
1884 - 1902
ID Number
AF.25101.153
catalog number
25101.153
designer number
99
accession number
64127

medal

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1900
associated person
Peter I
ID Number
NU.68.263.991
catalog number
68.263.991
accession number
281689

Charteves

Oil on canvas. Catalogue card reads "On the Marne, a few miles east of Château Thierry. Sketch made in July 1918, when the Chateau Thierry pocket was being wiped out." A church in ruins and two soldiers on the road in background.
Description
Oil on canvas. Catalogue card reads "On the Marne, a few miles east of Château Thierry. Sketch made in July 1918, when the Chateau Thierry pocket was being wiped out." A church in ruins and two soldiers on the road in background. A tree branch in front of a garden wall in left foreground. A dead horse in center foreground.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918
depicted
1918-07
associated date
1917 - 1918
associated person
Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
artist
Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
ID Number
AF.35928
catalog number
35928
accession number
104470

Encampment at Rebeuville, Troops of the Forty-Second Division

A charcoal and watercolor sketch on paper of a encampment at Rebeuville, France during September of 1918. Some soldiers of the forty-second division of the American Expeditionary Force are pictured here. This division participated in the St.
Description
A charcoal and watercolor sketch on paper of a encampment at Rebeuville, France during September of 1918. Some soldiers of the forty-second division of the American Expeditionary Force are pictured here. This division participated in the St. Mihiel offensive, one the final battles of World War I.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-09
associated date
1917-1918
associated person
War Department
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.25982
catalog number
25982
accession number
64592

Ruined Houses at Dieulourd

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-6
associated date
1917 - 1918
associated person
War Department
Smith, J. Andre
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.26042
catalog number
26042
accession number
64592

Model 1887; Dismounted

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
used date
1887 - 1902
ID Number
AF.25101.181
accession number
64127
catalog number
25101.181

The Bridge at Jaulgonne

Colored sketch on white paper, mounted on thick paper. The focal point of this sketch is a suspension bridge. To the left, there are some shell torn buildings, and to the right there are houses.
Description
Colored sketch on white paper, mounted on thick paper. The focal point of this sketch is a suspension bridge. To the left, there are some shell torn buildings, and to the right there are houses. There are hills in the background, and a stream running under the bridge in the foreground.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-08
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.26060
catalog number
26060
accession number
64592

Model 1902

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
used date
1902
associated person
Wood, Leonard
maker
Lussan & Cie
ID Number
AF.36013
catalog number
36013
accession number
105588

2nd Centential of Inf. Regt. Viborg, Russia, 1900

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1900
associated person
Peter I
ID Number
NU.NU61836
catalog number
NU61836
accession number
210914

Model 1885

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
used date
1885
ID Number
ZZ.RSN80777W17
accession number
64127

Artillery Encampment near Luxembourg

Pencil and watercolor sketch on paper. The work depicts an artillery encampment near Luxembourg during World War I. Several artillery guns, most likely French 75mm cannons, are lined up in a clearing in front of a building.Currently not on view
Description
Pencil and watercolor sketch on paper. The work depicts an artillery encampment near Luxembourg during World War I. Several artillery guns, most likely French 75mm cannons, are lined up in a clearing in front of a building.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-05
associated date
1917-1918
associated person
War Department
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.25933
catalog number
25933
accession number
64592

Model 1884; Mounted

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1886
used date
1885 - 1902
ID Number
AF.25101.160
catalog number
25101.160
designer number
99
accession number
64127

Pexonne

Mixed media sketch on paper of the entrance to a bunker in Pexonne, France. Branches strewn on the ground camouflage the dugout.Dugouts such as the one depicted here were common sights along the line of trenches in the First World War.
Description
Mixed media sketch on paper of the entrance to a bunker in Pexonne, France. Branches strewn on the ground camouflage the dugout.
Dugouts such as the one depicted here were common sights along the line of trenches in the First World War. They were created by digging into the ground or the side of a hill and were used as temporary shelter by the troops
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918
1918-04
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.26033
catalog number
26033
accession number
64592

Effects of Shell Explosion in Town

Charcoal sketch on white paper. The work depicts several damaged buildings in a village near Toul, France after a shell attack. A road winds through the sketch between the buildings and a church on the left. Three soldiers are shown walking along the road.
Description
Charcoal sketch on white paper. The work depicts several damaged buildings in a village near Toul, France after a shell attack. A road winds through the sketch between the buildings and a church on the left. Three soldiers are shown walking along the road. A label attached to the cardboard under the sketch reads: "EFFECTS OF SHELL EXPLOSION IN TOWN/ON NORTH TOUL SECTOR/BY E. PEIXOTTO/TRANSFERRED FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT/2982"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-06
associated date
1917-1918
associated person
War Department
artist
Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
ID Number
AF.25824
catalog number
25824
accession number
64592

The Village at Courteau on the Slope of Hill 204

Colored sketch on white paper, mounted on thick paper. The sketch is a vivid depiction of a destroyed village. The houses in the foreground are in disarray. Many have broken roofs and, in some cases, crumbling walls or fences.
Description
Colored sketch on white paper, mounted on thick paper. The sketch is a vivid depiction of a destroyed village. The houses in the foreground are in disarray. Many have broken roofs and, in some cases, crumbling walls or fences. There is a large tree in the foreground on the left, and in the background the rest of the village can be seen in less detail, followed by agricultural fields.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-08
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.26073
catalog number
26073
accession number
64592

Infantry and Tanks Advancing on Field

Charcoal sketch. In the foreground is a mounted soldier and a soldier on foot next to him; both of them are wearing French helmets. Beyond these two figures is a line of advancing infantrymen. On the left are two Renault FT-17 tanks.
Description
Charcoal sketch. In the foreground is a mounted soldier and a soldier on foot next to him; both of them are wearing French helmets. Beyond these two figures is a line of advancing infantrymen. On the left are two Renault FT-17 tanks. In the background, on the right, are trees and shell-torn buildings. Plumes of smoke streak the horizon.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-07
associated date
1917-1918
associated person
War Department
maker
Morgan, Wallace
ID Number
AF.25773
catalog number
25773
accession number
64592

Model 1885

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1885 - 1902
ID Number
ZZ.RSN80777W36
accession number
64127

Model 1888

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1888 - 1902
ID Number
ZZ.RSN80777W28
accession number
64127

The Second Battle of the Marne, July 15-16, A View in the Valley in the Sector of the 38th Regiment

Colored sketch on white paper. Sketch describes the logistics of the battle in the valley in the sector of the 38th regiment during the Second Battle of the Marne.
Description
Colored sketch on white paper. Sketch describes the logistics of the battle in the valley in the sector of the 38th regiment during the Second Battle of the Marne. Smith sketched the valley itself, and then used arrows to point at certain objects in the sketch and wrote a brief description of what happened there along the top. The sketch shows a river flowing through a field. There are trees to the right, left, and behind the field. There are also two groups of houses, one in the background on the left, and the other in the background on the right. There are more fields and another village in the distance. The captions read, (from left to right), "The Sixth Grenadiers / advanced to this point / where they were overwhelm- / ingly defeated by Comps. / H and G", "Mèzy", "Mouth of the Surmelin / River", "Night positions / of one platoon of / Company E", "One platoon of / Company H held / the river bank.", "An attempted / crossing by the / 47th Regiment", "Mont St Père", "The Germans (sixth Grenadiers) / crossed at this point", "Chartéves", and "Left flank of / the French Sector". The sketch's title, "THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE JULY 15-16 A VIEW IN THE VALLEY IN THE SECTOR OF THE 38TH REGIMENT" is written on the bottom of the sketch.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-08
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.26053
accession number
64592

Street in a French Town, Boucq

Mixed media sketch on paper. Street scene of Boucq, France, during World War I. Soldiers and a wagon move along a road lined with buildings.Currently not on view
Description
Mixed media sketch on paper. Street scene of Boucq, France, during World War I. Soldiers and a wagon move along a road lined with buildings.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-05
associated date
1917-1918
associated person
War Department
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.25953
catalog number
25953
accession number
64592

A Locomotive Shop at Nazaire

Pencil sketch on paper of an American locomotive assembly shop at Saint Nazaire, France during World War I. Men working on several engines.Currently not on view
Description
Pencil sketch on paper of an American locomotive assembly shop at Saint Nazaire, France during World War I. Men working on several engines.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918-07
associated date
1917-1918
associated person
War Department
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.25919
catalog number
25919
accession number
64592

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