Civil War Era Drum and Sword

Description:

Civil War Era Drum and Sword, America, c. 1864, reportedly belonging to Hiram Philpott of the 19th Infantry Company C, Massachusetts; the regulation drum with original top bands with old red paint, hand-painted spreadwing eagle and shield motif, period leather tighteners, no label visible through peephole, (tears through drum head),ht. 12 3/4, dia. 16 3/4; together with a musicians sword with globular pommel with capstan rivet, beaded brass ribbed grip, flattened knuckle bow, stamped "Ames Mfg. Co. Chicopee Mass." and "U.S. G.W.C. 1864" on ricasso, with leather scabbard with brass drag, blade lg. 32 1/4, overall lg. 40 in.

Note: Hiram Philpott was born May 1847 in Salmon Falls (Rollingsford),New Hampshire. According to family research which accompanies the lot, at the age of three, Hiram's mother died, so he was sent to live with his Grandfather, James Joy, of Acton, Massachusetts, until he was about 15, where he was employed at a farm. At the age of 16 he enlisted as a private and served as a bugler in Company C of the 19th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in March of 1863.
At some point after the war he moved to Springvale (Sanford),Maine, where he was occupied as a stonemason, and married Olive Muchmore, (b. 1847),with whom he had five children. Olive died in 1876 and Hiram married again, to Mary F. Nason (b. 1875),and they had two children. Hiram died January 16, 1929, and is buried at Riverside Cemetery, in Springvale, Maine.
It is reported that his bugle was donated to the Smithsonian Institution.
Estimate $3,000-5,000

Drum- 5 in. tear on one drum head, and a 3/4 in. tear on the other head,, minor scattered paint wear, the lower portion of the tab is missing from one of the leather tighteners.
Sword - Generally good, minor dents on brass guard edge, the is blade clean and shiny; scabbard with some cracks and scuffs, but generally very good.

Keywords