4203 ICONIC CAPTURED & CARVED CONFEDERATE SOUTH

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 May 11 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 15,000.00 USD
Estimated at 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
CAROLINA PALMETTO MUSKET, MARKED "CAPTURED at HILTON HEAD / SOUTH CAROLINA / Nov. 7th 1861". Confederate General Thomas F. Drayton was in charge of the important & strategic Port Royal district of South Carolina. He constructed earthen fortifications including Fort Walker where this musket was captured and carved. Drayton, a West Point graduate, owned large plantation with many slaves who he used to build the fortifications that would be overrun by US naval forces November 7, 1861. Among the Union assault was his brother Percival, a life-long US naval officer on USS Susquehanna. The South Carolina troops under Drayton were armed with Palmetto muskets as noted by at least 3 identified survivors taken as souvenirs by victorious Union troops at the November 7 battle. This standard production 1842 musket was made under State of South Carolina contract by William Glaze in 1853, muskets remained in SC armories till issued to troops at beginning of Civil War. This musket was once part of Norm Flayderman's incredible CW collection and pictured in his 2004 book "The Bowie Knife". William Glaze assembled Model 1842 muskets for this SC contract. In this case, a standard 42" surplus US Springfield barrel with Springfield: "V" over "P" over "Federal Eagle" proof marks present on the breech of this musket was used. Then Glaze and Flagg added the "W.G&CO" marking to the left barrel flat and overstruck the Federal Eagle with the Palmetto Tree Proof Mark mostly obsuring the Eagle but if you look closely you can see the Federal Eagle's Beak protruding out of the Palmetto Tree's Canopy. An "S.C." was also struck on the barrel extension. Lock is among the finest condition examples marked "Palmetto Armory, S*C" around a Palmetto tree forward of lock and rear of lock is well struck "Columbia/S.C. 1852". The buttplate has "SC" surcharge. Mounted with brass barrel bands, unique to Palmetto. Professionally carved on either side of butt stock "CAPTURED at Hilton Head / South Carolina / Nov. 7th 1861" and "J. Butterworth / U.S. Ship Susquehanna". Butterworth was sailor on Susquehanna who was part of task force taking Port Royal & Hilton Head. This is the finest example of a Palmetto musket extant with phenomenal Civil War history.

UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of Dr. Fred Novy's article on Palmetto Arms, 2017 ASAC; Dr. Frederick Novy illustrated collection sheet, copy of pages from Flayderman's Bowie book pages showing musket; copy of old appraisal on musket, History of Battle of Port Royal where weapon was captured. Reader boards from ASAC 2017 display telling history including ASAC exhibitor medal, "DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HILTON HEAD ISLAND DURING THE CIVIL WAR" by Robert Carse; "CIRCLE OF FIRE, THE STORY OF THE USS SUSQUEHANNA IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION". CONDITION: fine overall, complete and matching, fine markings. PROVENANCE: Collection of Dr. Frederick Novy, ASAC. (01-26587/JS). $30,000-50,000.