Description:

A STILL-LOADED CONFEDERATE SPRINGFIELD FOUND BURIED WITH ITS OWNER
A fabulous Civil War relic, a largely intact 1861 Springfield musket, captured or Confederate-made, which was recovered from the speedily-dug grave of its owner, a Confederate soldier who was buried with his weapon on the battlefield at Cold Harbor, near Richmond, Va. It was recovered from its resting place some time in the 1970's. The 56.5 in. long musket still bears almost all of its original wood stock and the metal barrel, trigger mechanism, lock plates, butt plate, and other metal fittings are also still largely intact, owing to the swampy conditions in which the grave was located. Following the discovery of the grave, the remains of the soldier were respectfully reinterred, and the musket was expertly treated to protect the wood and metal from further decay due to exposure to air. As a matter of course, the musket was x-rayed at which time is was discovered that the barrel still bore a a ball in place at the rear at the barrel, exactly where the dead soldier had placed it before his sudden death in action. We purchased this fine relic about thirty years ago from respected Gettysburg Civil War dealers The Horse Soldier, but over the years their documentation has been lost. However, we do have their letter summarizing the piece and its history, and it is included with the lot. Displayed in a custom-made open-faced wood box (grooved for a 'missing' plexi/glass cover) measuring 62 in. x 10 in. allowing the musket to be displayed as a wall hanging. A superb, evocative relic.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

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Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

September 10, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000