Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Pocket Revolver with Holster Identified to Lt. F.A. Cummings - 1st Maine Heavy Artillery

American Civil War

.32RF. 4" octagonal barrel. SN: 150. Blued finish, two-piece smooth walnut grips. Single action, spur trigger rimfire cartridge revolver with smooth six-chambered round cylinder, sighting groove in topstrap and dovetailed brass blade front sight. Barrel with two-line Allen & Wheelock address and patent markings on left flat and additional patent date on left of frame, forward of cylinder. Matching serial number 150 on left of frame under grip, inside both grips, on rear face of cylinder, on bottom of barrel (concealed by cylinder arbor pin) and on arbor pin. The revolver is contained in a period flap holster that is identified in ink on the interior of the flap. It reads: Lieut. F.A. Cummings/Co. E First Maine/ARTILLERY. A CDV of Cummings is included, showing him in a studio setting in his frock coat with his sword. It has a Brady studio backmark and is identified in ink on the verso. The revolver and holster are accompanied by a binder of research regarding Cummings.

Frederick A. Cummings (1838-1900) was a 24 year old carpenter from Bangor when he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in Company E of the 18th Maine Infantry on August 21, 1862. The regiment was converted to the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery and his commission was officially changed to Co. E of that regiment on December 19, 1862. The regiment spent most of 1862 in the defenses of Washington and the Potomac River, and continued that duty during 1863. In 1864, like so many of the "heavies", the regiment was pulled out of Washington and put in the field to serve as infantry during Grant's Overland Campaign. On March 18, 1864 Cummings was promoted to captain and transferred to the command of Company M. The regiment's first combat was at Harris' Farm, Fredericksburg Road at Spotsylvania on May 19 where they lost 82 killed, 394 wounded and 5 MIA. Cummings was one of the wounded in the left side by a minie ball and hospitalized as a result. The regiment then fought at Cold Harbor and was part of the Hare's House assault at Petersburg where they suffered 635 casualties out of 900 engaged, the largest single action regimental loss of the war. The regiment remained engaged at the Siege of Petersburg through the rest of 1864, and saw additional combat at Strawberry Plains as well as numerous other skirmishes during that siege. 1865 saw the regiment fighting at Hatcher's Run and participating in the Appomattox Court House. Cummings spent much of the summer of 1864 attempting to recuperate from his wounds and is often noted as being absent due to sickness, often in the hospital. He was discharged for disability due to disease on November 30, 1864. While his records indicate he was mustered out due to "chronic diarrhea" another document noted that he developed heart disease due to his wound.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg