Conservation of two McGregor Museum artifacts

I just finished doing conservation work on two Civil War weapons at the McGregor Museum this weekend.

Here are the details as written up in my reports:

Model 1861 U.S. Norwich (Connecticut) with ramrod.

Musket condition before conservation

Same musket, after conservation work

The Model 1861 was the primary musket at the start of the Civil War.  Musket was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader featuring iron buttplate, "C" shaped hammer, bolster with clean out screw, two leaf sight, iron trigger guard, three flat barrel bands held in place with springs, two strap hooks on middle band and trigger guard, tulip head ramrod with bulged shank and threaded end, iron nose cap.  Springfield Armory supervised the manufacturing and distribution of the Model 1861 musket.  In order to fulfill shortages, production was sub-contracted to a number of private manufacturers, Norwich Arms Co., Norwich, Connecticut produced 25,000 muskets under the subcontract.  Lock is marked "1863." behind the hammer, with eagle over "U.S." and "NORWICH." in front.  Barrel is marked "VP" over eagle head and "1863" (date is not readable on this example).  Buttplate is marked "US".  Three bands each marked "U".   Cartouche in wood on left side opposite the lock indicate government inspection, additional inspector mark "T" on the barrel.  Metal appearance pleasing with light brown patina, two leaf sight intact, tulip head ramrod intact with threads cut off, 3 bands intact, both strap hooks intact, bore is needs cleaning, rifling definite, wood solid with dings and scratches from use, mechanics fully functional, nice representative example from one of the scarcer makers. 

Serial #: NSN

Manufacturer: Norwich

Model: 1861

Type: Musket

Caliber: .58

Barrel Length: 40 inch round

Finish: bright

Stock: walnut

Description: A substantial number of firms were contracted to manufacture the Model 1861 Rifle-Musket. Norwich Arms Company was one such manufacturer making about 18,000 rifle-muskets in 1863-64. The lock plate is dated "1863" behind the hammer and marked with the eagle motif and "U.S. / NORWICH." ahead of the hammer. The left rear of the barrel is marked with the "V / P / eagle head" proof marks. The buttplate tang is marked "U.S." and the barrel bands are correctly marked with a "U". Fixed front sight which doubles as a bayonet lug and three leaf folding rear sight. Mounted with a full straight grip stock with a "JG" and "ELA" ovaled cartouches, a sling swivel mounted on the middle barrel band and front of the trigger guard and iron buttplate.

Condition: Very good as assembled. The barrel shows signs of light cleaning and is a smooth gray with heavy pitting around the bolster extending to about the rear sight and a small area of heavy pitting near the muzzle. The nipple is battered and the head of the clean out screw is marred. The lock, inconsistent with the other metal, retains most of the original bright finish, the hammer shows signs of cleaning and both have a thin coating of dried protective oil on them. The stock, again inconsistent with the metal is near excellent with almost all of the original oil finish remaining, crisp sharp edges and a few minor dings and dents.

Model 1850 Foot Officer's Sword

Sword before conservation

After conservation

 

Object ID: 1948.4.1 (Catalog #106)
Object Name: Model 1850 Foot Officer's sword
Description:. Brass guard with floral designs and Phrygian helmet pommel; the handle is wrapped in ray skin and wire; a 21 1/2" long fuller starting at the top of the blade and running down towards the point.   
No scabbard.

Dimensions: 37" (overall); 31" (blade)

Date: ca. 1861

Identifying Marks: "KULL" is stamped on left side of blade near guard. 

KULL makers mark

Mark of circle with three dots inside (skull?) on right side of blade near guard.   

Evidence of at least six sharp blows to blade edge at center. 


Maker:  Possibly Peter or Samuel Kull, Solingen in Germany. (Peter Kull - Solingen - 1830 - 1870, Samuel Kull - Solingen - 1847 - 1860)

 Many sword blades were imported from Solingen in Germany during this time period, and then were mounted with guards and handles here in the states. 

Thanks for maker information provided by Scott Cross - Oshkosh Public Museum, Oshkosh, WI

I think this sword is a German import purchased privately by Captain Drips in the United States (all officers had to buy their own uniforms and equipment.)

Provenance: Oral history relates that this sword was owned (and possibly carried) by Captain Andrew 

W. Drips, "A" 9th Iowa Infantry (U.S.A.) Killed in Action at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, 7 March 1862.  

Category: T&E for Science & Technology
Sub-category: Armament -- Edged

The following letter was
published in the North Iowa Times in April 1962, relating the deaths of three officers of the 9th Iowa Infantry at Pea Ridge, Arkansas on March 7, 1862:




The Vinton Eagle
Wed., April 16, 1862

H. C. Bull, Captain of the Company of which N. Rice was First Lieutenant, recently addressed a letter to 'Squire Rice, of this county [Benton] from which we are permitted to make the following extract:

St. Louis, March 27.
Mr. Rice:--Dear Sir--The telegraph has doubtless conveyed to you ere this, the sad intelligence of the death of your son, Lieut. Nathan Rice, who was shot dead upon the field of battle, at Pea Ridge, on the 7th inst. You have this to console you in this sad bereavement, viz: that your son behaved nobly, being stricken down while at his post animating his men, and urging them on to the contest. On account of the hotness of the battle at that point, it was impossible to obtain the body of your son until some hours had elapsed, and when obtained, the enemy had robbed it of sword, pistol, boots, and had even cut the buttons and straps from his coat, and had taken the money from his pockets, his watch, etc., etc. The body was interred in a very pleasant spot, in an orchard on the battle ground, along side the bodies of Capt. [Andrew W.] Dripps, of Co. "A," and Capt. Bevins of Co. "E," of the same regiment.

Note:
Captain Andrew W. Drips. Age 35. Residence Maquoketa, nativity Pennsylvania.
Appointed Captain Sept. 7, 1861. Mustered Sept. 7, 1861. Killed in battle March 7, 1862, Pea Ridge, Ark.

From "Historical Sketch, Ninth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry:" "The loss of the regiment was very heavy. Of the 560 who went into the battle, 4 commissioned officers and 34 enlisted men were killed, 5 commissioned officers and 171 enlisted men wounded, and 1 commissioned officer and 3 enlisted men captured, making a total loss of nearly forty per cent of the aggregate number engaged.
The compiler of this sketch finds this loss statement in the return of casualties of the Army of the Southwest in the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., attached to the report of Major General Curtis, found on page 205, Series 1,
Vol. 8, War of the Rebellion Official Records. In the history of the Ninth Iowa Infantry by Lieut. Col. Alonzo Abernethy, found on page 174 of the Adjutant General's report of the State of Iowa, for the year 1866, the
aggregate loss in killed, wounded and captured is given as 240, making nearly 44 per cent of the number engaged. In either event, the loss was far above the average of the battles of the War of the Rebellion."