[CIVIL WAR]. 23rd Massachusetts Infantry grouping including mucket, flag remnants, flag finial, and photographs.

4 1/8 in. ht. x 4 1/2 in. dia. tin mucket or mess pot (varied patination, occasional oxidation, bending to handle). -- 6 1/8 in. wooden pointed flag finial (surface wear including nicks and some waxy residue). -- Flag remnants (severely frayed and deteriorated, fragile to the touch, retain bold color). -- 5 1/4 x 3 1/2 wax paper envelope (adhesive residue, creasing). -- Together, 4 artifacts attributed to the 23rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Provenance: Acquired by Julian Converse in 1962 (cardboard shipping box addressed to Julian Converse, postmarked 1962).

[With:] 5 CDVs of soldiers of the 23rd Massachusetts, each approx. 2 1/4 x 3 5/8 in., or smaller, on cardstock mounts (light toning, soiling, wear to mount edges and corners). Subjects include William H. Townsend. Salem: D.W. Bowdoin, n.d. Signed on mount recto. Townsend enlisted on 23 October 1861, mustered into Company F in December, and died of disease in July of 1864 at Point of Rocks, VA. -- Eben N. Johnson. N.p., n.d. Signed on mount recto, ("Yours E.N. Johnson"), and inscribed on verso, "Co. F." Johnson enlisted on 9 November 1861 and mustered into Company F in December. He was listed as captured at Cold Harbor, VA, on 3 June 1864, and reportedly died at Andersonville in July. -- Andrew D. Trout. N.p., n.d. Identified in ink on verso. Trout enlisted on 25 July 1862 and mustered into Company F the following day. He was mustered out on 13 October 1864. -- Henry Martin. N.p., n.d. Identified in ink on verso. Martin mustered into Company F on 4 December 1861, wounded at Petersburg on 26 June 1864, and discharged for wounds that November. -- Unidentified subject only identified as "Joe" on verso. Salem: D.W. Bowdoin. Inscribed on verso: "Joe / When he went into the army / Civil War."

[With:] Sixth plate matted tintype half portrait of an unidentified subject featured in uniform, with a gold-highlighted breast plate highly visible on his box sling (light wear including notable scratch to image, spotting to mat). The subject is similar in appearance to an Oliver W.H. Upham of Company F, 23rd Massachusetts Infantry, who enlisted in October of 1861 and was discharged for disability the following month.

The 23rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was formed on 28 September 1861. The regiment engaged at New Bern, Roanoake Island, Kinston, White Hall, Smithfield, Port Walthall Junction, Arrowfield Church, and Cold Harbor, and participated in the Siege of Petersburg.

The Civil War Collection of James C. Frasca