INCREDIBLE CASED & ENGRAVED PRESENTATION CIVIL WAR SMITH & WESSON ARMY REVOLVER, CAPT. P.B. WILSON, 2ND PA CAV, ELMIRA, NY

INCREDIBLE CASED & ENGRAVED PRESENTATION CIVIL WAR SMITH & WESSON ARMY REVOLVER, CAPT. P.B. WILSON, 2ND PA CAV, ELMIRA, NY

01-25066
Cal. 32RF
S# 25202

Maj. Wison commanding Barracks No. 1 at Elmira, NY must have been well loved by the 45 noncoms and officers under his command. This beautiful, engraved silver and gold plated Smith & Wesson army revolver was presented December 8th, 1864 as seen by the beautiful polychrome calligraphy 11″ x 4.5″ presentation inside top lid of mahogany casing. Revolver is housed in a royal purple lined mahogany casing with engraved plaque in the lid “Major P. Benner Wilson / 2nd Penn Cavalry / Bellefonte Penn”. You will not find a better Civil War presentation Smith & Wesson revolver.

Philip Benner Wilson (1822-1871) mustered into service as a 39 year old captain, January 16, 1862 of 2nd Ohio Cavalry, he was promoted to major in May, 1863. He became too ill for active field service, in October 1864 was given command of Barracks No. 1 at Elmira, New York barracks which sat on high ground above the Elmira prison camp. It housed recruits, veteran volunteers, and prison guards. At this time there were over 20,000 prisoners at barracks No. 3. By March 1865, Major Wilson was commanding officer at Elmira prison camp. He would stay until August 8, 1865, go home and Buster out.

PROVENANCE: John G. Hamilton collection; pictured as “Roll of Honor” firearm in “Man at Arms” May-June 1988; from the Lifelong Collection of Robert “Mike” Bricker.

STATUS: ANTIQUE