Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver Inscribed to B.J. Van Valkenburg - 21st Wisconsin Infantry

American Civil War

.36 caliber. 7.5" octagonal barrel. SN: 152162 (mfg. ca1863). Blued and color casehardened finish, silver plated brass backstrap and triggerguard, one-piece walnut grip. Single action precision revolver with six-chambered smooth round cylinder and hammer nose notch rear sight with added German silver front sight blade in copper dovetailed base. Barrel marked in a single line: - ADDRESS COL SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA - with the standard two-line COLT'S/PATENT marking on the lower left front of the frame. Cylinder with the Texas and Mexican Navy engagement roll scene and marked COLT'S PATENT with the serial number. Matching serial numbers throughout, including the wedge and grip. Backstrap engraved B.J. Van Valkenburg / 21st Wisconsin Vols.

Bartholomew Jacob Van Valkenburg (1832-1896) was a 29-year-old bookkeeper from Two Rivers, WI when he joined the Union Army and enlisted as a private in the 21st Wisconsin Infantry and was mustered into company K on August 13, 1862. The 21st Wisconsin was formed in Osh Kosh and within two weeks of its organization was heading south for Cincinnati and then Louisville. They found themselves in the pursuit of Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee by early October, which culminated in the Battle of Perryville on October 8. Their next major action was at Stones River in Murfreesboro, TN during New Years of 1863, at the culmination of that campaign. The regiment went into winter quarters around the Murfreesboro area and was involved in the Tullahoma Campaign in the early summer of 1863, including the Battle of Hoover's Gap. They then were part of the pursuit of the Confederate Army of Tennessee south towards Georgia, which culminated in the Battle of Chickamuaga and the Union retreat to Chattanooga, a siege that was broken in November with the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The spring campaign season saw the regiment take part in the Atlanta Campaign, fighting at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peachtree Creek and Jonesborough. Along the way Van Valkenburg steadily rose in rank, being promoted to sergeant major on September 6, 1862. At this time he was transferred from his company to the field and staff of the regiment. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant and quartermaster on May 21, 1863 and captain and assistant quartermaster on May 18, 1864. At this time he was mustered out of the 21st Wisconsin and commissioned into the US Volunteers Quartermaster's Department. His final promotion came on March 13, 1865 when he was breveted the rank of major.

He was mustered out of service on Jun 8, 1865. He stayed with the army through their campaigns into the Carolinas and received a piece of the Confederate flag taken from the North Carolina State Capitol when the 21st Wisconsin arrived and struck the rebel colors to replace them with the United States flag. He died in Minnesota in 1896.

The revolver is accompanied by a large binder of research about Van Valkenburg and his military service, including copies of his military service records, copies of period documents, copies of images of him on Lookout Mountain, etc. as well as his original discharge from the 21st Wisconsin.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg