Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver Inscribed to Captain N.P. Fuller 17th Massachusetts Infantry and 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

American Civil War

.31 caliber. 6" octagonal barrel. SN: 202501 (mfg. ca.1861). Blued and color casehardened finish, silver plated brass backstrap and triggerguard, one-piece walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver with six-chambered smooth round cylinder, hammer nose notch rear sight and brass post front sight. Barrel with two-line address that reads - ADDRESS SAML COLT/HARTFORD, CT - lower left of frame with two-line COLT'S/PATENT mark. Cylinder with Stagecoach Hold Up scene and marked COLT'S PATENT over the serial number. Matching serial numbers throughout, including the wedge and grip. Backstrap of the revolver is inscribed Presented to Capt. N.P. Fuller/By E&A Mudge & Co, July, 1861 with the butt additionally engraved Co. C 17th Regt/Danvers, Mass.

Nehemiah P. Fuller (1830-1881) was a somewhat colorful character who was born in Middletown, MA and who at an early age left school to assist the family with their finances. He worked as a cordwainer (shoemaker) but was described as having been of a "roving and romantic disposition" and apparently "traveled abroad, making his way and earning his living in many strange lands." He claimed to have participated in William Walker's Nicaragua Campaign that made Walker the president of Nicaragua for somewhat less than a year from July 12, 1856 to May 1, 1857. When Fuller returned to Danvers, he retuned to his work as a shoemaker at the A&M Mudge Shoe Factory and also worked as a mechanic and joined the local fire department, becoming their chief prior to the Civil War.

When the war erupted Fuller was instrumental in the recruitment of the "Danvers Light Infantry" which would become Company C of the 17th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The 17th Mass. elected Fuller as their captain and at least one period account noted that Fuller went off to war with a "...sword, sash, dressing case and an elegant copy of the Bible, the gifts of Miss Catherine Putnam of Peterboro, NH." and noted that "He was also furnished with a pistol, the gift of Augustus Mudge, Esq." The 17th Mass spent their early service in the defenses of Washington and were part of Burnside's North Carolina Campaign that started in March of 1862. There they were involved in a number of engagements, the most prominent of which was the the Battle of New Bern. The regiment remained in North Carolina during 1863 and in July of that year Fuller was transferred to command of Company I. Almost immediately he received a transfer to be the captain of Company B of the 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery which he entered on July 30, 1863. On October 2, 1864 he was promoted to major. The 2nd Mass spent their service in North Carolina and Virginia but saw limited combat during that time. Fuller was mustered out on September 3, 1865 in Wilmington, NC.

After the war he returned to Danvers and married, continued to work and died in 1881 at the age of 51. The revolver is accompanied by a large binder or research with copies of information about Fuller, copies of his service records, etc. The revolver was formerly sold by noted Colt collector and dealer Pete Holder.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg

This lot is located in Cincinnati.