On April 12, 1861 at 4:30 a.m. canon fire shattered that Friday's morning silence as the Confederates opened the Civil War with the first shot. Their target was Fort Sumter, a Union stronghold located off the coast of South Carolina. Thirty-four hours later, the fort would surrender and the Confederate forces would claim their first victory.
This 40-pound ball shot was fired from Fort Sumter. The shot was aimed at a floating battery near Sullivan's Island.
The name of the Union drummer who posed for this tintype has been lost, but a story recorded in the Smithsonian accession file states that he was one of two teenage brothers who served as drummers at Gettysburg.
This Pattern 1864 cap, like several others in the Schuylkill collection, was manufactured by the firm of W.C. Dare in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania according to government specifications. Made of stiffened felt, it has light artillery insignia, including the brass crossed-cannons and eagle emblem on the brim and the scarlet plume, cord, and tassel.
Union regulations called for oval "US" plates to be used on most waist belts and on cartridge boxes, and for circular eagle plates to be used on shoulder belts. Union cavalrymen, however, used a rectangular eagle plate on the waist belt that held their sword.
This waterproofed cap cover, belonging to Colonel Robert Harper, protected the forage cap during periods of precipitation.
Yet stories in the museum files question whether Harper used it or instead gave the cover to a soldier. Anecdotes from his regiment say that "Colonel Harper was greatly beloved by his entire regiment" and that he was devoted to the well-being of his men. For instance, "[at] another time when passing a wounded soldier he stopped and gave him his own overcoat, and continued on the way through the rain and snow without one." Another story tells us that, "[o]nce when ill himself [Colonel Harper] dismounted and placed a private soldier on his horse, when the man had sunk by the road from exhaustion."
Also known as a "Burnside Pattern" hat, this softer version of the Hardee hat was much like a slouch hat in appearance and comfort. It was worn by Lieutenant Nathan Levy of the 10th Michigan Infantry Regiment.
Originally born in Poland in 1839, Levy immigrated to the United States in 1852. Before the war he worked in the clothing business and eventually owned a store in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On October 1, 1862 at age 24, Levy received a commission for 2nd Lieutenant of Company H, which was known as the "McClellan Guards." He was then promoted on July 15, 1863 to 1st Lieutenant, Company I. Levy resigned and was honorably discharged on January 12, 1864.
Worn by General George McClellan, this well-tailored kepi, also known as a chasseur cap, was a taller type than most Civil War kepis and popular with soldiers of all ranks, who sometimes placed a wet sponge or handkerchief under the crown to keep cool.
Chapeau worn by Frederick Forsyth of the Portland Rifle Company, late 1850s. Little is recorded in the museum files about Forsyth, but we do know he was commissioned as a Captain of Company A, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Volunteer Militia, State of Maine. He resigned his commission on April 26, 1861.
This carte-de-visite captures Libby Prison, a Confederate-controlled prison in Richmond, Virginia. Living conditions inside places like Libby Prison were tolerable under an agreement made in July 1862, which stated that prisoners were detained briefly before they were exchanged back to their side. However, the deal fell apart by 1863. Conditions for Union officers held in Libby Prison grew worse as the war went on.
The Spencer repeating rifle took a magazine in the stock holding seven metallic cartridges. The trigger guard was a lever that loaded cartridges and ejected spent shells. This particular rifle was used by Abraham Lincoln for target practice at the White House. The rifle was borrowed from the Navy Department and was fired in the "White Lot."
In November of 1861 Capt. Charles Wilkes, in command of the USS San Jacinto, stopped the British ship RMS Trent and arrested two Confederate diplomats, James Mason and John Slidell. While the British Government demanded an apology and the U.S. Government disavowed Wilkes' action, the people of Boston decided to reward Wilkes with this beautiful presentation sword.
This is an example of a Confederate waist belt plate. The circular emblem in the center of the oak leaf wreath depicts a palmetto tree. The palmetto is also a central symbol in the state seal of South Carolina.
This Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) cap was worn by John Doran-Donahue during organization meetings. The GAR and its counterpart, the United Confederate Veterans, were organizations in which veterans and their families joined to remember the dead and salute the living. These groups were an important facet of veteran life that supplanted wartime camaraderie.
Put into production at Harpers Ferry in 1846, the Model 1841 is also known as the Mississippi Rifle due to its success in the Mexican War with the Mississippi regiment under the command of Colonel Jefferson Davis. Approximately 70,000 Model 1841s were produced by Harpers Ferry and contractors between 1846 and 1855. In 1861, these .54 caliber rifles were put back into service on both sides.
Although this dark blue forage cap looks like it might have belonged to a Union officer, it actually belonged to Colonel Robert Harper of the 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles. The forage cap is French type and the color suggests that Harper most likely served as a staff officer before becoming colonel.
Before the war began, Harper owned a cotton plantation along the Arkansas River. In 1860 he was elected to the Arkansas State Legislation where he voted for the Act of Secession. In June of 1861 he was mustered into service. According to the museum file notes, Harper died in battle at Chickamauga, "his horse was killed, and he ran forward on foot to re-form the advance line which was broken, and while in the very front of his command was struck by a cannon ball and almost instantly killed, September 20, 1863."
This Pattern 1858 Army Hat, also known as a Hardee hat, was authorized by the War Department three years before the Civil War began and was worn by some soldiers during the conflict. Made of stiff black felt, it replaced the Pattern 1851 Army Hat. This example is marked with the crossed-cannons insignia of the artillery branch.
This gold Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) membership badge was presented to Ulysses S. Grant on December 18, 1879. The GAR was established in Decatur, Illinois in 1866. The organization was established on three pillars: fraternity, charity, and loyalty. These ideals would serve communities of veterans, orphans, and widows after the war.
Farragut made his advance on New Orleans in April 1862 with his foster brother, Commander David Dixon Porter whose father assumed responsibility for young Farragut and took him to sea as a midshipman. The subsequent capture and control of New Orleans, the South’s largest city and major point of Confederate commerce, was a key triumph for Northern forces. Farragut was rewarded for this victory with the rank of Rear Admiral. This cap was worn by Admiral Farragut during the Civil War.
This Model 1852 Navy sword and scabbard, closely resembling U.S. Army officers' swords of the period, belonged to Lt. Samuel Howard. Howard volunteered to pilot the U.S.S. Monitor on the very day she fought the historic battle with the C.S.S. Virginia at Hampton Roads in March 1862.
Produced at the Springfield Armory the .58 caliber Model 1863 Rifle Musket included several improvements on the Model 1861 including the elimination of the clean-out screw in the bolster just under the nipple, and the use of split type barrel bands with elimination of barrel band springs.