Smith & Wesson No.2 "Old Army" Inscribed to Color Sergeant G.L. Todd of the 214th PA Infantry

American Civil War

.32RF. 6" ribbed octagonal barrel. SN: 35005 (mfg. ca1865). Blued and color casehardened finish, varnished two-piece rosewood grips. Single action tip up metallic cartridge revolver with six-chambered smooth round cylinder. One line barrel address reads: SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD, MASS. with the Rollin White patent marking on the smooth round cylinder, serial number on butt. Matching assembly marks throughout with the alphanumeric mark JJ7 on the face of the cylinder, rear face of the barrel web, and on the left of the frame under the grip. Interior of right grip stamp numbered to the serial number on the butt. Fixed notch rear sight in cylinder stop spring on top rear of frame, German silver blade front sight. The right grip panel has an engraved German silver plaque that reads: Presented to/Color Sergt G.L. Todd/by the Members of Co. C/214TH Regt P.V.

Gabriel Todd enlisted in the 32nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (also known as the 3rd PA Reserve Regiment) on May 27, 1861 and was mustered into Company K as a private on that day. The regiment was initially part of the Army of the Potomac and fought many of its major battles and campaigns from the Peninsula and Seven Days campaigns of the spring and summer of 1862 through the winter of 1862. Major battles included Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Second Manassass, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In 1863 the regiment was reassigned to the XXII Corps and spent most of that year in the defenses of Washington. In 1864 it moved to West Virginia and fought at Cloyd's Mountain, Winchester and Cedar Creek. The regiment was mustered out of service on June 17, 1864.

During his service, Todd was promoted to corporal on August 1, 1862 and to sergeant on March 1, 1863. After being mustered out of the 32nd PVI, Todd reenlisted on March 15, 1865 in the newly formed 214th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was mustered into Company C as a sergeant. The regiment was assigned to the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Division of the Army of the Shenandoah, eventually being assigned to Todd's old corps, the XXII in the Washington DC area. Todd was made one of the primary Color Sergeant of the regiment on April 28, 1865 and served with the regiment until it was mustered out of service on March 21, 1866.

A binder of information about Todd and his service accompanies the gun, with copies of his service records and various correspondence. This gun is published on page 521 of Advance The Colors! Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flags by Richard A Sauers.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg