Description
This is an interesting old veteran, for sure, as it has mixed numbers (frame, cylinder and barrel, 14508 and triggerguard and backstrap, 87047). It really is not unusual to see mixed numbers on wartime guns because if they got turned in for damage, many got re-assembled from other weapons and re-issued. According the the Springfield Research database, serial number 14508 falls in the range of weapons issued to both the 11th Kentucky (Union) Cavalry and Loudon County Rangers (Union cavalry, Virginia) that being 14329-14612. Serial number 87047 falls in the range of known issued revolvers to the 1st Maryland (Union) and 10th Ohio Cavalry (range 86975-87393).
The related story on this particular weapon, which has initials and a star inlayed in the right grip with silver pins, was that is was owned by a Rebel officer, Lt. Henry Cameron of Texas. Records show one match in the Confederate military database:
Residence Grayson County,Texas; 39 years old. Enlisted on 8/10/1863 at Camp Mantua, TX as a Private. On 8/10/1863 he mustered into "Bone's" Co. Texas Independent Cavalry (date and method of discharge not given) On 4/1/1864 he was commissioned into "I" Co., Terry's Texas Cavalry (date and method of discharge not given) (Estimated date of enlistment) Promotions: * 1st Lieut 4/1/1864 (Estimated date) Other Information: born in 1823 in Cocke County, TN died in 1902 in Grayson County, TX Buried: Pilot Grove Cemetery, Grayson County, TX After the War he lived in Grayson County, TX |
Unfortunately we cannot positively identify this old military revolver to Lt. Cameron from just a set of initials and a family story but it may well have been a revolver he carried DURING and AFTER the War. The Texas star is authentic, as are the tiny silver pin dots inlayed in the butt of the revolver. The wedge and wedge screw have been replaced. The cylinder rotates well but doesn’t always lock firmly in place due to a worn spring. This is a 4-screw frame, however, meaning it was made with the provision of having been used with a shoulder stock. It is a very honest, well used handgun with a light cylinder scene that surely saw action during the Civil War and perhaps in later years as well.
