Military

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.


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Inside the Church at Badonviller
- Description
- A charcoal, pastel, and watercolor sketch on paper of American troops at a church at Badonviller, France. The church is most likely the Eglise Saint-Martin. Five American soldiers are standing in what used to be the interior of the church. The church has been damaged; battered wrought iron and other debris are lying exposed in the former aisle of the church. An inscription on the drawing reads "The church at Badonviller is situated on a rise of ground and on that edge of the village that is nearest the German lines. It has suffered from bombardment perhaps more than any other structure in the village. This drawing was made from the chancel and looking along the line of the main aisle and through the archway to the front entrance. The building is hopelessly beyond repair."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1918
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.25950
- catalog number
- 25950
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Guns and Locomotives in a Shop at St. Nazaire
- Description
- A pencil sketch on paper of a shop in St. Nazaire, France that manufactures artillery pieces and locomotives for the war. Two men stand in the center of a large building, surrounded by equipment.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-07
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.25987
- catalog number
- 25987
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Billeting Village Near Neufchateau
- Description
- Charcoal, crayon, watercolor, and gouache on heavy white card. The work depicts several buildings on a street in a village near Neufchâteau, France. The buildings are intact and not shell-torn. The painting shows the view down a road which leads through village.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Aylward, William James
- ID Number
- AF.25646
- catalog number
- 25646
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Aero Squadron Near Toul
- Description
- A charcoal sketch, with some pencil and watercolor, on paper. The work depicts an air base near Toul, France during World War I. A group of airplanes and a few men are outside of a complex of airplane hangars.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-06
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.25947
- catalog number
- 25947
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
A Repair Shop at Issoudun
- Description
- Pencil and crayon drawing on paper. The work depicts the interior of an airplane repair shop at Issoudun, France during World War I. Men are working on disassembled airplanes. A piece of an engine or airplane body is suspended in the ceiling above the overhead beams.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.25924
- catalog number
- 25924
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
American Soldiers on the March
- Description
- Charcoal sketch on board. Troops marching through a shell-torn village. In the foreground are several soldiers and a horse-drawn wagon; these are in shadow. The background of the picture is in light and includes more troops, trucks, buildings, and trees.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-07
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- referenced
- 1918-07-10
- associated person
- War Department
- maker
- Morgan, Wallace
- ID Number
- AF.25759
- catalog number
- 25759
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Roadside Blacksmith Near the Lines, Sanzey
- Description
- Pencil sketch with some ink wash. A road runs through the sketch; people, horses, vehicles, and a motorcycle occupy the road. Behind the road is a row of low buildings. At left is a blacksmith shop. In front of the shop are two soldiers shoeing a horse. Chickens and two children in foreground. Sketch is mounted to a larger piece of cardboard.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- maker
- Morgan, Wallace
- ID Number
- AF.25779
- catalog number
- 25779
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
One of the Locomotive Shops Near St. Nazaire
- Description
- Charcoal with white crayon drawing on blue-gray paper. The subject of the drawing is the interior of a locomotive shop near St. Nazaire, France during World War I. Several men are working on an engine in the left foreground. Also in the foreground, at the top of the paper, is a hook suspended from the ceiling. Other men, locomotives, and parts are depicted in the background.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- artist
- Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
- ID Number
- AF.25850
- catalog number
- 25850
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
The Château Euvezin
- Description
- Charcoal drawing on paper. A large chateau sits in the center of the sketch. There is a telegraph pole at the right edge of the drawing. From the catalog card: "'This Chateau was long used as a German Headquarters and when this drawing was made (Sept. 16th) it was the H.q. of our 29th Division.' (original label)" Although the catalog card says Sept. 16th, the artist's signature says "Aug 19 ; 18."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
- ID Number
- AF.25870
- catalog number
- 25870
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Watering Horses in Village in Toul Sector
- Description
- Pencil and ink wash sketch on paper. The work shows a group of mounted soldiers watering their horses in a village in the Tour Sector of France during World War I. The village church is in the center of the sketch; to the right and behind the church is a small castle surrounded by trees.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-06
- artist
- Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
- ID Number
- AF.25898
- catalog number
- 25898
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Brieulles-Sur-Meuse
- Description
- Charcoal sketch of a large shell-torn building and several other smaller buildings. The large building has been almost cut in half, from the roof to the ground, by a shell. The sketch is done on thin greenish paper, which is attached to slightly thicker card of the same size. This mount is then taped to a large piece of thick cardboard at each of its corners. There are two labels attached to the large cardboard mount. The first reads: "BRIEULLES-SUR-MEUSE/BY E. PIEXOTTO/TRANSFERRED FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT/2972." The second label is typed and reads "Dun and Brieulles were both the/scenes of fierce fighting in the/Argonne Campaign."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
- ID Number
- AF.25814
- catalog number
- 25814
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Distant View of Beaumont
- Description
- A pen and watercolor drawing on paper of Beaumont, France near the end of World War I. The scene is a landscape where most of the foreground is grass, with exception of a barbed wired fence running through the field. Partially destroyed church in the background.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-10
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.25979
- catalog number
- 25979
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
A Billet at Rambucourt
- Description
- Pencil and watercolor sketch on paper. The work depicts an American billet at Rambucourt, France during World War I. The sketch shows a large shell-torn building in use as a barracks for soldiers. The roof of the building is partially collapsing over an exposed section of the building. Soldiers are standing outside the building.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.25931
- catalog number
- 25931
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Blacksmith and Wagon Repair Shed on the Road to Boucq
- Description
- Graphite and black ink wash sketch. Outdoor scene of a large temporary structure where soldiers, horses, and wagons are gathered. One of the soldiers is shoeing a horse. Beige wove paper mounted on tan card ruled with decorative graphite lines.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-05-20
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- maker
- Duncan, Walter Jack
- ID Number
- AF.25692
- catalog number
- 25692
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Corner in Frebecourt
- Description
- A charcoal, pencil, and watercolor sketch on paper. American soldiers at leisure in Frebecourt, France during World War I.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1918
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.25965
- catalog number
- 25965
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
A View of Château Thierry
- Description
- Pencil and crayon sketch on paper. The work depicts the village of Château-Thierry, France during World War I. The Saint-Crepin church rises above the other buildings of the village. On the bottom left corner of the drawing the artist wrote "Chateau Thierry Looking south-west from the Chateau terrace."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-08-04
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.25900
- catalog number
- 25900
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
German Dugouts, Cheppy
- Description
- Charcoal sketch on paper. The work depicts German dugouts near Cheppy, France during World War I. A wooden beam structure frames the foreground. Through the beams is an elaborately constructed trench with brick or stone wall and a series of doors.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1918
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Peixotto, Ernest Clifford
- ID Number
- AF.25830
- catalog number
- 25830
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Taking Artillery Around the Mine Crater in the Road to Varennes
- Description
- Charcoal sketch on paper. A large cross is surrounded by several smaller crosses, some bearing wreaths or ribbons, in the foreground. A group of soldiers is resting among the crosses. Some men appear to be eating. A group of soldiers, on foot and on horseback, ascend a small hill in the background. At the end of this procession is a large piece of artillery. On the right of the sketch is a crater; some soldiers are walking up and out of the depression while others are at work inside the crater.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-09
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- maker
- Morgan, Wallace
- ID Number
- AF.25783
- catalog number
- 25783
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Cold Nights Coming on
- Description
- Pen, ink, and brush and ink wash sketch. Several soldiers sit around a fire in a large chimney in a structure that is in ruins. Parts of the roof are missing. Two soldiers on top of a platform in the right of the sketch. Two horses on the left of the sketch. A line of clothes runs from the platform to one side of the fireplace. The sketch is done on white wove paper mounted on tan card that is ruled with decorative graphite lines.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-10-20
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- maker
- Duncan, Walter Jack
- ID Number
- AF.25693
- catalog number
- 25693
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Merviller
- Description
- Charcoal and ink wash sketch on paper. This rough sketch depicts a village street with a camouflage apparatus hung over the street. Soldiers are in the thoroughfare, under the camouflage screen. The museum's catalogue card for this drawing reads, "The road through Merviller is on the slope of a hill and is exposed to German observation. But by the use overhead camouflage screening, one strip of which is here shown, the traffic along this road is entirely concealed."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918-04
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Smith, J. Andre
- ID Number
- AF.26014
- catalog number
- 26014
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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