EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBU.S. Remington New Army Conversion Revolver and Pocket Watch Attributed to Ben Clark, Chief of Scouts to General George A. Custer
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
About Auction
LiveOct 30, 2018
Cowan's is honored to present the Magnificent Sword Collection of William Koch in its two-day firearms, militaria, and American history auction, with a focus on the Civil War. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (482)
- Lot Description
U.S. Remington New Army Conversion Revolver and Pocket Watch Attributed to Ben Clark, Chief of Scouts to General George A. Custer
.44CF, 8" barrel, S/N 120452 . Blued finish, two-piece walnut grips. Standard three-line New Model Army barrel markings, military sub-inspected throughout, weak cartouches on both grips. Revolver appears to be a factory alteration to cartridge. The rear face of the percussion cylinder was cut off and a new bored-through cartridge section was brazed on to the rear of the cylinder with a new ratchet. The winged cylinder arbor pin was modified and an ejector rod was attached to the right side of the frame and barrel. Backstrap is engraved BEN CLARK. Revolver is accompanied by a size 18 Elgin stem-wind, stem-set, open face pocket watch with a 7 jewel movement manufactured ca 1909. The watch has a gold filled half case and a 9" gold filled watch chain and is engraved with the intertwined script initials BC on the reverse of the case.
Benjamin H. Clark was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 2, 1842. At the age of thirteen, he traveled to Fort Bridger, Wyoming, where he served as post courier. In 1857, he enlisted in a battalion of volunteers under Colonel Albert S. Johnston in the so-called Mormon or Utah War. He was mustered out the following year. During the Civil War, Clark served with the 6th Kansas Cavalry, which patrolled the borders of Missouri, Arkansas and the Indian Territory. After the war, he managed pack trains for the Indian traders and married a Cheyenne woman named Toch-E-Me-Ah, known as Emily. They had a daughter named Jennie in 1872, who died at Lawrence, Kansas, in 1893. Emily would die in January of 1873 when she was hit by a stray bullet fired during a brawl between drunken Indians at Camp Supply.
After the death of his first wife Clark married a Cheyenne woman named Red Fern. Their marriage resulted in the in the birth of another daughter, Emily. Red Fern died in 1880 and later that year Clark remarried yet again to Moka (also known as Bull Horn or Little Woman). Ben Clark was twenty years her senior. The couple had twelve children - of whom five had died by the turn of the century. Ben Clark became quite fluent Cheyenne and Arapaho (Cheyenne in particular) and sign language was respected by both Indians and whites. Known to the Indians as "Red Neck," from the color of his burned skin, he was well trusted by them and often served as their intermediary. He signed on as an army scout in 1868. Clark served as chief of scouts for the Sully expedition and the Custer expedition in 1868 before assignment to General Sheridan's staff. He became a valuable asset to General Phillip Sheridan and Lt. Col. George A. Custer during the winter campaign of 1868-69. As Custer's chief scout, Clark and three other scouts reconnoitered the vicinity of Chief Black Kettle's village on the Washita River and reported the precise information regarding the terrain to Custer, who could then formulate his attack plan. Clark is credited with telling Custer that Captain Edward Myer's command - in total disregard of Custer's direct orders - was shooting into groups of women and children. He was dispatched to order Myer's to cease at once and instead take the woman and children as prisoners. Ben Clark was appointed post interpreter at Camp Supply in 1869 and the same position at Fort Reno in his later years. On May 6, 1913, Moka died and was buried at the Fort Reno Military Cemetery. Despondent over the loss of his wife and suffering from paralysis, Benjamin H. Clark ended his life on July 24, 1914, by a gunshot to the temple. He was laid to rest near Moka. (Courtesy of the National Park Service - Washita Battlefield web site).Good. Retains minute traces of finish with a mottled oxidized brown patina and some light surface pitting. Markings remain mostly clear in the metal, with the engraved backstrap worn and weak and with weak cartouches in the grips. Mechanically functional, very good bore with some light pitting. Ejector rod knob at end is an old replacement. Grips worn with bumps, dings and some minor chipping. Grips are not numbered and do not fit well. Watch fair with a hazed crystal, cracks in the face and not functional.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
Buyers are required to pay for all packing, shipping and insurance charges. Overseas duty charges are the responsibility of the successful Bidder. Be aware that for larger and/or valuable items, shipping charges can be substantial. - If there is no shipping amount on listed your invoice, you will need to make arrangements to pick up or ship your purchase through an alternative shipping company. Our shipping department can be contacted at 513.871.1670 (ext. 219) or email shipping@cowans.com. - Shipping charges include insurance for your order while in transit. If you have private insurance we will adjust your charge to include only packing and shipping. - Please allow 14 – 21 days after payment to package and ship your purchase as carefully as possible.
-
- Buyer's Premium
