The Civil War Collection of James C. Frasca

77 x 82 in. wool blanket in red and black plaid (scattered holes and small areas of separation throughout, small areas of loss to edges, some soiling). Well-documented blanket tossed to Private Edward M. Curtis, Company A, 157th New York Volunteers as he lay wounded on the battlefield of Chancellorsville, 2 May 1863.

Provenance: Early Civil War collector Julian Converse of Massillon, Ohio, originally purchased this blanket on 2 August 1957. Accompanied by the original sheet from Converse’s collection log book detailing that the blanket was purchased from Clare Rhodes, Whitesboro, New York, on 2 August 1957 for $5.00. The log sheet description reads, (Item) “Blanket Civil War - owner wounded at Chancellorsville, Va.,” (Description) “Carried by Sgt Edm M. Curtis Co. A 107 NY Regt. Inf.,” (Purchased From) “Clara Rhodes Whitesboro, NY Aug. 2 1957,” (Price) “5.00 W/Gettysburg Banner.” A more detailed description is included below the entries: “Blanket tossed to him, as he lay wounded under a tree, by a Union soldier as they were retreating from the advance of the Rebs. 6’ 5” wide – 6’10” Lg. – Dark red & black plaid wool – 107th was in 2 Brig 1st Div. 11th Corps - Following battles Chancellorsville, Va. May 1-4, 62 (3) - Gettysburg Pa. July 1-3 63.”

The soldier, Edward M. Curtis, was in fact a member of Company A, 157th New York Volunteers, although he is erroneously listed as Edm M. Curtis Co. A, 107th Volunteers. At a later point more of Curtis’ military history was added along with the note, “To Frasca 3-19-13. 1981 value $150.00.”

See also Lot 37, the Gettysburg 50th Anniversary pennant, referred to on the same log sheet as the "Gettysburg banner," which is noted on the log sheet as acquired with this blanket in 1957.