Description
Very well used example of the standard Civil War Union cavalry percussion revolver serial number 101,163 as manufactured in 1863. The weapon has a mis-matched cylinder which is very common for cavalry used revolvers (they often carried a spare cylinder for rapid reloading in the field). The cylinder is of the correct era and original to the gun in appearance. At some point in time, synthetic ivory grips were added to the gun (by family history it was done in the 1970s by a family member who displayed the weapon in his home). The weapon has a clear barrel marking and all other markings are legible. The action works, but the cylinder does not index properly when cocked. It is a standard .44 caliber weapon with military sub-inspector marks on the frame.
By family history, it was carried in the field by Daniel T. Fargo who enlisted in the Union Army at age 33 on 4 September, 1861. Fargo was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Company F of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry on 2 October, 1861 and he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant 3 July, 1862. He was promoted to Captain on 26 October, 1862 and later was promoted to Acting Assistant Inspector General of the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry on 12 August 1864. He mustered out of service on 14 December, 1864. The revolver is accompanied by a notarized letter of provenance from the great-great grandson of the officer.
The 2nd Regiment Michigan Cavalry was organized at Detroit, Michigan and mustered in October 2, 1861 and left the state for St. Louis, Mo., November 14. Duty at Benton Barracks, Mo., until February 21, 1862. Ordered to Commerce, Mo., February 21. Attached to Cavalry Division, Army of Mississippi to April, 1862, 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of Mississippi, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. Unattached, District of Central Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to March, 1863, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland, to June, 1864. District of Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to October, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to November. 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Wilson’s Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi to August, 1865.
SERVICE.–Siege operations against New Madrid, Mo., March 3-14, 1862. New Madrid March 4. Siege and capture of Island No. 10, Mississippi River, March 15-April 8. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 17-22. Atkins’ Mills, Tenn., April 26. Monterey April 28-29. Siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Reconnaissance to Memphis & Charleston R. R. May 3. Farmington, Miss., May 3 and 9. Glendale May 8. Near Farmington May 12. Reconnaissance to Memphis & Charleston R. R. May 15. Expedition to Mobile & Ohio Railroad May 28-29. Booneville May 29. Osborn and Wolf’s Creek, near Lackland, June 4. Reconnaissance toward Baldwyn June 6. Baldwyn June 6. Reconnaissance toward Guntown, Baldwyn, etc., June 9-10. Booneville July 1. Rienzi August 26. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., September. Near Louisville September 30. Pursuit of Bragg to Wild Cat, Ky., October 1-7. Near Perryville October 6-7. Battle of Perryville October 8. Lancaster October 14. Duty in Central Kentucky until December. Carter’s Raid from Winchester and Nicholasville, Ky., into East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia December 20, 1862, to January 5, 1863. Bear Wallow December 23. Glasgow December 24 (Cos. “C,” “H,” “L,” “M”). Near Munfordsville and Bacon Creek December 26 (Cos. “C,” “H,” “L,” “M”). Passage of Moccasin Gap December 29. Watauga Bridge, Carter’s Station, December 30. Holston River December 30. Dandridge, Tenn., January 6, 1863. Near Auburn February 15. Vaught’s Hill, Milton, Tenn., February 18. Thompson’s Station March 4-5 (Detachment). Expedition from Franklin to Columbia March 8-12. Thompson’s Station March 9. Rutherford Creek March 10-11. Spring Hill March 19. Near Thompson’s Station March 23. Little Harpeth March 25. Near Franklin March 31. Franklin June 4-5. Expedition to Thompson’s Station May 2. Triune June 9. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Shelbyville, Eaglesville and Rover June 23. Middleton June 24. Fosterville, Guy’s Gap and Shelbyville June 27. Bethpage Bridge, Elk River, July 1. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Rawlinsville, Ala., September 5. Destruction of Salt Works. Reconnaissance from Alpine toward Rome, Ga., September 10-11. Alpine September 12. Dirt Town, Lafayette Road, near Chattooga River, September 12. Reconnaissance from Lee and Gordon’s Mills towards Lafayette September 13. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Operations against Wheeler and Roddy September 29-October 17. Sparta November 26. Operations about Dandridge and Mossy Creek December 24-28. Dandridge, Tenn., December 24. Talbot’s Station, Mossy Creek, December 29. Operations about Dandridge January 16-17, 1864. Bend of Chucky Road, near Dandridge, January 16. Dandridge January 17. Operations about Dandridge January 26-28. McNutt’s Bridge January 27. Fair Garden January 27-28. Swann’s Island January 28. Regiment reenlisted March 28, 1864, and on Veteran furlough April to June. Atlanta Campaign May 1-June 29 (Non-Veterans). Varnell’s Station May 7. Demonstrations on Dalton May 9-13. Tilton May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Near Cassville May 19. Stilesboro May 23. Burnt Hickory May 24. About Dallas May 25-June 5. Burned Church May 30-June 1. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw June 10-29. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Moved to Franklin, Tenn., June 29. Duty Railroad Defenses of the District of Nashville until August 29. Rousseau’s Pursuit of Wheeler September 1-3. Lavergne September 1. Pursuit of Forrest September 25-October 5. Pulaski September 26-27. Muscle Shoals October 30. Near Shoal Creek October 31. Shoal Creek, near Florence, November 5-6. On line of Shoal Creek November 16-20. Fouche Springs November 23. Battle of Franklin November 30. Nashville December 15-16. Lynnville and Richland Creek December 24. Pulaski December 25-26. Raid through Mississippi January 17-21, 1865. At Waterloo, Ala., until March 11. Wilson’s Raid to Macon, Ga., March 22-April 24. Trion April 1. Selma April 2. North Port, near Tuscaloosa, April 3. Occupation of Tuscaloosa April 4. Lanier’s Mills, Sipsey Creek, April 6. Talladega April 22. Mumford’s Station April 23. Camp at Macon May 1 to July 17. Mustered out August 17, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 70 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 266 Enlisted men by disease. Total 342.
