Description:
EMAIL REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PICTURES, INFORMATION, AND CALLBACK REQUEST.
SMITH CARBINE RARE ARTILLERY MODEL, IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE ASSOCIATION - DOCUMENTED.
This piece was found in a large, old steamer travel trunk in a turn of the century home of a couple residing in Hallwood (Accomack County), Virginia, located on the eastern shore of the state. The trunk and contents belonged to Confederate veteran Thomas C. Kelly who survived the war and left his estate and belongings to his heirs, eventually all being passed down to his relatives Roy & Stella Northam. Stella inherited everything about 18 years ago when Roy passed away. Setella was killed in an auto accident about 10 years ago and the entire estate was purchased shortly afterward by the current home owners, close friends of mine. The large steamer trunk was discovered buried in the attic three months after purchasing the estate when taking careful inventory. The trunk contained an array of Civil War firearms, knives, swords, a wooden canteen, a few Confederate clothing articles, inscribed books, and assorted accoutrements. Most of the firearms and some of the other items were stamped or inscribed with the initials of TK (Thomas C. Kelley) or JEB (James Edward Byrd) along with their respective regiments, the majority of the items being inscribed by Byrd as he saw considerably more action than Kelly, as described below. Thomas Kelly and James Byrd were first cousins, both residents of Accomack County before the war. A 17-page genealogy entitled History and Genealogy of the Byrd Family by Colwell P. Byrd of Poconoke City, Md., written in 1908, was found in the estate and a copy accompanies the sale of this piece. It depicts the history and lineages of the family from the late 1700s to the time of that writing and defines the various family lines of Northam, Kelly, Byrd, et al. The writing includes brief military accounts of Thomas C. Kelly and James E. Byrd, and at the time of the writing Thomas C. Kelly was residing in Hallwood, VA, employed as Accomack County’s Revenue Commissioner, and James E. Byrd was residing in Baltimore, MD, employed for many years with the Old Bay Line Steamship Company. Kelly had outfitted a militia company in Hallwood, VA (Co. G of the Guilford Militia) prior to the outbreak of hostilities. At the onset of the war, both enlisted into the VA 4th Battalion Heavy Artillery (King and Queen Artillery), later becoming the 34th VA Infantry where both served in Co. K. Both men initially served in varied rolls as artillerymen and as infantrymen. Byrd also served as a color bearer (a position commonly touted as being beheld by the bravest of the brave). Both were in the Battle of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks Station, May 31, 1862, with Byrd as a color bearer who lead the charge and was the first to reach the top of the Federal works of the celebrated Empire Battery of New York, waiving his hat bravely over his head to rally the troops. Byrd later served with Co.C 24th VA Cavalry. The purchase of the Smith Carbine comes with copies of: notarized Letter of Provenance from the owners of the Hallwood estate; the aforementioned family genealogy booklet; a voluminous amount of records of these men from the National Archives and from The Library of Virginia; and excerpts from the volumes of The Virginia Regimental Histories Series books (various authors), and from The Civil War Soldiers & Sailors of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Union & Confederate by Barry and Moody Miles, that provide references to Kelly and Byrd. This Smith Carbine is in VERY GOOD CONDITION with the usual handling marks; excellent mechanics; field replacement brass front blade sight; stock & forend sling holders; good strong bore. This antique arm can be shipped directly to you. A returned arm must be received in the same condition as when seller shipped it to buyer.
Condition:
Used - See Item Description
Caliber:
.50 (other)
Location:
MT
Trades Accepted: No
Shipping Notes: Buyer incurs costs for insurance and shipping of their choice.
