3038 GEORGE W. SMITH, CO. D 2ND MICHIGAN CAVALRY, KIA

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,500.00 USD
Estimated at 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
FRANKLIN, TN 1863 ARCHIVE. Cal. 44. SN 68026. Cal 31. SN 10629. This lot consists of two Colt pistols, small recruiting broadside, ambrotype of Smith in uniform, letter written to his widow by a member of his company just after his death stating"…that he died in a glorious cause, that he was a brave and gallant soldier….". Also included in lot are various pension papers for his widow Lydia. 1). Ninth plate Ruby ambrotype of 26 year old George W. Smith wearing his cavalry shell jacket with shoulder scales, holding his Hardee hat with crossed saber insignia and "2" over "D". CONDITION: very good overall, good detail. Insignia very crisp. Buttons, Jeff Davis hat pin, crossed saber insignia, uniform piping, and shoulder scales are gilded. Image held by 1/2 case. 2). Recruiting broadside, 10.5" x 7.5" "Col. Kellogg's Cavalry Regiment". Col. Francis Kellogg (1810-1879) raised both the 2nd and 3rd regiments of Michigan cavalry. He saw little field service as he represented Michigan in Congress. CONDITION: good overall, reductions on edges, soiled, stained. 3). Colt model 1860 army revolver, S# 68025 (44cal), standard configuration of military issue, one line New York address. We are not sure how an army issued revolver was retained by his widow, but that is the story. The revolver is personalized by cutting bottom of grips for a lanyard. CONDITION: fair to good overall, markings good, serial numbers all matching, wedge was not removed but is broken or replaced, metal overall uncleaned with gray/brown patina, mechanics are good with good rifled bore. 4). Colt London model 1849 pocket model, S# 10629 (31cal), 6" barrel. This revolver was made in 1856 In standard configuration with two line London address. CONDITION: very good overall, traces of blue, case colors & silver retains most of its original varnish on grips. The loading arm pivot is broken. Mechanically fine with good crisp bore. 5). Letter written June 12th 1863 from Triune TN to George's widow a week after he was killed by Chester E. Shrader, Co. D, 2nd Michigan Cavalry, George's mess mate. CONDITION: complete, easily discerned, cracked at folds. 6). 4 pension documents for Lydia A. Smith, George's widow. One is wartime dated in 1864 giving her $8 per month from day George was killed, June 4, 1863. Lydia was widow with 2 small children. She would soon marry another cavalryman John Peter Sexton Wedeman May 8, 1864 (1832-1895). She would collect his pension when he died too. Documents good overall George W. Smith (1835-1863) entered service Sept. 6, 1861 in Co. D, 2nd Michigan Cavalry, killed June 4, 1864 at first battle of Franklin, TN and buried on the field. He would be reinterred and buried in grave # 3139, Stones River National Cemetery, Murfreesboro, TN. Lydia A. Smith Wedeman (nee Davidson) 1838-1826 lived to 88 collecting widow's pension for herself & 6 children for 63 years. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: small file of research. (01-23963/JS). ANTIQUE. $3,000-5,000.