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Lot #
253
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Civil War Collection of Sergeant George W. Weston 26th Iowa Including Rebel Flag From Arkansas Post
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| A great group of war-date Union officer's archive of Lieut. George W. Weston, 26th Iowa Infantry. Born in New Hampshire George W. Weston moved to Low Moor, Iowa and married sometime before the war. In August 1862, twenty-five year old, Weston enlisted as 5th Sergeant in the 26th Iowa Infantry. Weston serviced just over a year and fought with his unit in Mississippi and Louisiana most notably at Arkansas Post and the siege of Vicksburg, before contracting disease and dying in his hometown of Low Moor in August 1863. Weston's collection consists of: 1.) Weston's presentation bible inscribed inside: "Presented to James T. Weston by his Brother Geo. W. Weston." With flying eagles appearing at the top and bottom of the inscription. 2.) A war-date family CDV album showing Weston after he first enlisted as a sergeant and after he was promoted to lieutenant, also included in the albumen is a war-date CDV his wife's cousin Maro Chamberlain who served in the 14th New Hampshire and 6th USCT (a unit that fought bravely during the siege of Petersburg at the battle of the Crater and New Market Heights) and a young boy dressed as a drummer boy identified as Eugene Weston born in Oregon. 3.) A 1/6th plate ambrotype of Weston as sergeant seated in a chair that is housed in a leatherette case split at the seam. 4.) A 1/6th plate daguerreotype of Weston's wife. 5.) Two war-date CDVs of his wife, one bust view and one full standing. 6.) A cloth covered book with numerous Civil War mementoes tipped inside including a ca. 1863 4to pencil map of Vicksburg and vicinity drawn by Weston showing Grant's forces encamped at Holly Springs while opposing Confederate General Price's forces who are encamped near Adalia, MissPLUS: a 12mo. pencil sketch of a winter style Union soldier's cabinPLUS; a 4" x 1 1/4"piece of blue flag with label identifying it as: "A piece of the Rebel Flag taken at Arkansas Post."PLUS; dried flowers labeled: "Picked on the banks of the Mississippi between Vicksburg & Helena."PLUS; a red and dark ink drawn map, ca. 1862 map, 4to., showing the Union positions on the battlefield of Chickasaw Bluff including the positions of Shayer's Brigade on Dec. 28 & Dec. 29, 1862PLUS; another dried flower labeled: "Picked near Vicksburg. March 21st 1863."PLUS; two more dried flowers labeled: "Picked on Mr. Worthington's Plantation just before Greenville."PLUS; a war-date Union officer's letter, 1p. 8vo., written by Capt. George W. Johnson "Camp Kirkwood, Oct. 16, 1862" to Weston, in part: "You can remain home until 'Dress Parade' Saturday if you wish. We will probably move on Monday morning for St. Louis". PLUS; numerous published poem's and poetry possibly written by Weston's wife. 7.) Weston's model 1858 bayonet with its original leather scabbard with a light cothing of rust on the surface. 8.) Weston's billfold that contains several war-date and early postwar receipts and bills. 9.) A ca. 1861, 2pp. 4to., copy of George Weston's last will and testament. 10.) Another war-date CDV depicting Weston as a civilian. 11.) An oblong 12mo. power of attorney certificate, Clinton, [Iowa], Nov. 21, 1861. 12.) A great war-date partly-printed oblong folio, Helena, Arkansas, Nov. 21, 1862, eagle mast head commission for Weston appointing him 2nd Sergeant signed by Col. Milo Smith [WIA Arkansas Post & Walnut Hills, Miss.] 13.) War-date letter written by Weston, 2pp. folio, "Steamer Tecomshe, Jan. 21, 1863", in part: "we steamed down the river are now about 30 miles above Yazooa soldier knows no more than a slave what is to become of himwe have suffered more than I shall try to tellwe are passing large plantations all the time and have stopped near someI have seen the damn monster in all its gloryone placethere was over 200 slaves. I went into to pen where they put the babes to be watched by the old women and little girls while the mothers are in the field at workthere was about 50 put together like pigsthe soldierslook at the black in his condition and curse himthey are all friendly to usmany have asked me when we was coming to take them awayCol. [Milo] Smith is with us but he cannot move about much. Goes with a crutch. Most of the wounded were sent to St. Louis". With two letters written from "before Vicksburg, Feb. 18 & 20, 1863. 14.) War-date manuscript oblong folio muster in roll for Weston as 1st lieutenant that is signed and made official by Col. Milo Smith. [WIA Arkansas Post & Walnut Hills, Miss.] 15.) War-date manuscript oblong 12mo., Walnut Hills, Miss., July 24, 1863 pass for Weston to pass into Walnut Hills, signed by 1st Lt. Nathan D. Hubbard [WIA Ringgold, Ga., Nov. 27, 1863.] 16.) War-date manuscript oblong 12mo., Walnut Hills, Miss., June 15, 1863 pass for Weston to pass into Walnut Hills, signed by Col. Milo Smith [WIA Arkansas Post & Walnut Hills, Miss.] 17.) War-date partly-printed Special Orders No. 148 on "Head-Quarters Seventeenth Army Corps, Department of the Tennessee" stationery, Vicksburg, Miss., July 24, 1863, in part: "necessary to save life or prevent permanent disability leave of absence for twenty days is granted 1st Lt. Geo. W. Weston". 18.) War-date partly-printed State of Iowa death certificate for Weston showing that he died on August 20, 1863. 19.) Rounding out the lot are several letters and documents spanning from October 1863 concerning Weston's death including 1864 and 1865 pension letters for his widow and orphans, manuscript forms of Weston's military service and family record, his wife's 1867 death certificate a copy of her last will a testament and her last wishes for the care of her children should she died on finely illustrated stationery showing Des Moines, Iowa published by Wesley Redhead & Co., Des Moines. Seldom do archives this complete come to market and we are please to offer this rare assemblage of war-date material from a soldier and a wife who both had the foresight to prepare for their untimely deaths. Overall VG. | |||||||||||
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