Civil War Archive of Lieutenant Colonel Dana Willis King, 8th New Hampshire Infantry, Incl. POW Carved Powder Horn, Medal, an

Lot 167

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6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States

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About Auction

American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. by Cowan's Auctions

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American History, Featuring the Property of N...

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-06-09 10:00:00 2017-06-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-featuring-the-property-of-n-flayderman-co-2392 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

Archive of Lieutenant Colonel Dana Willis King, 8th New Hampshire Infantry. King was 29-years-old and living in Nashua when he enlisted on April 30, 1861, and mustered into Co. F. of the 1st New Hampshire with the rank of corporal. He served his three months and mustered out in August, then was commissioned into Co. A, 8th New Hampshire Infantry as a second lieutenant that October. King was promoted to captain by the end of 1863, after more than two years of service in Louisiana. At Sabine Pass on April 8, 1864, he was wounded and taken prisoner, along with 42 others of his regiment. Captain King was exchanged in late October of 1864, and returned to his unit, mustering out more than six months after the end of hostilities with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

The centerpiece of the lot is a powder horn carved while King was imprisoned at Camp Ford in Tyler, TX, featuring the text Presented to Capt. J.H. Landers by Capt. D.W. King/ Prisoner of War/ Tyler, Texas. The powder horn's largest motif is a large, windowless log cabin over the fancy lettering King's Cabin. Just below the cabin and lettering is a large figure (typical of other Tyler horns) of a bare-breasted mermaid holding in her upraised right arm a mirror into which she is looking. On reverse side, a large decorative carving of an American shield, with an American flag flying on either side of that shield and the caption above Forever, and below a large alligator. Additional decorations on the horn include a fine detail of a second American eagle, wings downward, holding in both its claws a large anchor, with a semi-arched design above surrounded by a cluster of stars. Other very small designs throughout the horn represent the head of a dog; three stacked upward pointing military muskets; crossed sabers; a coiled snake; profile view of a field cannon on two wheeled mount; a small drum; a wooden barrel labeled Pork, with a pig's head poking out of its top; a wooden rack with clothes drying on it including a large blanket inscribed with the letters US, with a pair of trousers hanging over it; horse head in profile; various camp pests including a beetle, spider, and millipede; and at the top inner side of the horn near the spout, a decided scull and crossbones motif over a large five point star with a sunburst-like motif surrounding it. Completely encircling the horn just to the left of the lengthy presentation inscription, a very wide band with a chain-like border on both upper and lower sides, filled with five point star motifs, with a small Masonic symbol near the bottom.

The archive also includes a fine ninth plate ruby ambrotype of King as a lieutenant, holding his officer's sword; an exceptional CDV of King in tattered clothing, taken by Theo. Lilienthal in New Orleans just after King was exchanged and published in the regimental history, The Old Eighth, which is also included in the lot; real photo postcard of King as an old man, dressed in his GAR uniform and seated in a wheelchair; CDV and ninth plate ambrotype of his friend and comrade Henry J. Durgin, the principal musician of the 8th NHV, who was captured and imprisoned with King; cabinet cart of King in his captain's uniform; and ten late-19th-century cabinet cards and other photographs of King in civilian dress, his home in Nashua, and his grave. Manuscript notes and photocopied research also included.

Provenance: Property of N. Flayderman & Co.
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