Description
As “fresh” as they come and directly out of the family that has had possession of it since 1865! This is a fine attic condition Civil War primary Confederate infantry weapon made in Richmond, Virginia, in 1863. It has a brass nosecap and US marked buttplate, typical of Richmond weapons that re-used parts from battlefield picked up guns. It is missing the rear sight and ramrod and both appear to have been for many, many decades. The stubby steady pin slot for the rear sight shows it is indeed a Richmond manufactured barrel and all of the bands have the offset “U” alignment marks. The hammer has the correct notch below the impact area as well and the stock was never mortised for the M1855 tape primer system. This is as PURE of a Richmond as exists today, untouched for 150+ years. The action is strong and the bore is decent but shows heavy field firing use.
The family story is also interesting as the soldier, Farley Lewis, was in the Confederate 5th NC cavalry for his term of service. Lewis was captured at Aberdeen Church, Virginia on April 3, 1865 and sent to Point Lookout, Maryland, as a prisoner of war. He signed the Oath of Allegiance June 28, 1865 and was released to make his way home anyway he could. Family history is that on his way home, a group of NC soldiers gave him the rifle musket for protection and he carried it back with him. The weapon has been in the direct family ever since then.
Farley Lewis
63rd Regiment Volunteers – 5th Cavalry was formed at Garysburg, North Carolina, during the fall of 1862. The men were from the counties of Cumberland, Lenoir, Greene, Sampson, Rockingham, Chatham, Randolph, Guilford, Davie, Mecklenburg, Lincoln, and Catawba. With more than 1,000 men, the unit skirmished in North Carolina around Washington and Plymouth. Later it moved to Virginia and served under Generals Robertson, L.S. Baker, James B. Gordon, and Barringer. The 5th Cavalry fought at Brandy Station, Middleburg, Upperville, Fairfield, Auburn Mills, Brooks Turnpike, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Black’s and White’s, Hampton’s Cattle Raid, Boydton Plank Road, and Five Forks. This regiment had 458 effectives during the Pennsylvania Campaign and surrendered only 5 at Appomattox. The field officers were Colonels Peter G. Evans and James H. McNeill, Lieutenant Colonels Stephen B. Evans, and E.F. Shaw, and Major John M. Gallaway.
Residence Randolph County NC; Enlisted on 7/15/1862 as a Private. On 7/15/1862 he mustered into "K" Co. NC 5th Cavalry He was listed as: * Hospitalized 2/23/1865 Raleigh, NC * Returned 3/6/1865 (place not stated) * POW 4/3/1865 Aberdeen Church, VA * Confined 4/5/1865 Point Lookout, MD (Estimated day) * Oath of Allegiance 6/28/1865 (place not stated) * Released 6/28/1865 Point Lookout, MD |
