This group contains a number of items identified to Lieutenant Charles E. Douglas who served in both as a Private in Company A, 1^st Rhode Island Infantry and as Sergeant and Lieutenant in Company F, 5^th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery.

First up is Douglas’ Import Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword made by the French company Klingenthal. The blade on this sword is bright with light mottling scattered here and there. The etching is good and consists of a scrollwork design and a Stand of Colors above a cannon barrel and shield. The flat back edge of the blade has a floral design and the maker’s name. The true edge has about a dozen small nicks along its length. There is an unstopped small fuller running along the top edge of the blade beginning under the counterguard and running to within 9.50 inches of the point. Where this fuller ends another, shallower unstopped fuller begins and runs almost to the point. The center of the blade has the normal wider fuller which is also unstopped. Stamped on one side of the ricasso are a “D” surmounted by a crown and a “B” also surmounted by a crown. These markings show that the sword was manufactured from 1850-1855. The leather washer that was present below the guard is gone. The brass pommel cap, knuckle bow and guard are of the usual design as found on the Model 1850 sword while the grip has a more pronounced center swell. The grip itself is wrapped in sharkskin and has 13 courses of twisted wire. As is common on Klingenthal swords the wire begins at a sharp angle from the guard to its first course. When testing for stability there is a slight wiggle to the blade. The leather scabbard is complete with brass throat and mounts. Both mounts have decoration on one side and both rings are present. The brass drag is present but missing the anchor screw however, it remains firmly in place. The stitching down the center seam of the scabbard has rotted away but the seam remains closed. There is some slight movement of the center mount due to leather shrinkage. Overall the sword has a nice, clean appearance.

Next in the group is Douglas’ pocket diary for 1864. The book has a thin leather cover which folds over the front and secures with a slip-in type flap. The book meas. approx. 3.25 inches x 5.00 inches when closed. The exterior shows some wear from rubbing, wear and age. The first few pages have the usual tables for phases of the moon, eclipses, yearlong calendar and a list of anniversaries of other battles from earlier in the war. The diary starts on January 1, 1864 and runs through October 27, 1864 with good sized gaps in April and June. Some entries are in pen but most are in pencil. All are legible. Each day Douglas reports the weather and any minor things that happened in camp. He also records some deaths in the regiment and a small skirmish at Batchelder’s Creek on February 1, 1864. He has an interesting entry for April 19^th. He says “THE REBEL RAM CAME DOWN ROANOKE RIVER, SUNK TWO GUNBOATS THE SOUTHFIELD AND BOMBSHELL. CAPT. PULSER KILLED. COMPANY I STARTS FOR HATERRAS INLET AT MIDNIGHT.” The Confederate ram Douglas speaks of was the “CSS ALBEMARLE.” Some of the blank dates have pencil scribbles probably done by a child somewhere in the Douglas family. Inside the back cover amongst the scribbling is “CHA. E. DOUGLAS, LIEUT. 5^TH R.I.A. NEW BERNE N.C.” Diary is in overall good condition.

Next in the group is a very nice quarter-plate ambrotype showing Douglas in the uniform of a Private in the 1^st Rhode Island Infantry. The image is a three-quarter standing view that shows Douglas wearing the very loose fitting sack coat worn by the 1^st during their three months service during the Bull Run campaign. Also visible is Douglas cartridge box sling minus the plate and what looks to be a Model 1832 sword belt with a small revolver stuck in it. He stands with one hand resting on the shoulder of a man in civilian clothes. A small piece of paper behind the image identifies the two men as Charles E. Douglas and Lloyd Simmons in 1861. The identification is confirmed by a drawing of Lieutenant Douglas found on page 101 of “History of the Fifth Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery” published in 1892. Also, Douglas married a Mary Simmons in 1865 so it is possible the gentleman in civilian clothes is his future brother-in-law. The Simmons family lived in Massachusetts. The image has great contrast, is clear and fairly clean with just the lightest discoloration around the edges which is hidden by the brass mat and frame. The image comes housed in a half cloth case.

The next two items in the group are a pair of 2^nd Lieutenant of Infantry and 2^nd Lieutenant of Artillery shoulder straps. Both are double boarded with felt centers corresponding to the branch. The bullion borders on the infantry straps show moderate wear with some threads missing and others broken. Also, the surface knap of the rank field has mostly worn off. The pair of Artillery straps is in better condition but still has small amounts of missing thread and moderate wear.

Also in the group are two Veterans badges. The first one has a thick silver plated bar from which a 1.75 x 3.00 inch red, white and blue ribbon hangs. Just below the top bar is another smaller bar from which is suspended a 18^th Corps badge. Both the badge and the lower bar are made with the same material as the one at the top. The face of the badge is engraved “5^TH R. I.” at top with ‘VETERANS ASSOCIATION” at center and “BATY F.” at bottom. The ribbon and badge are in good shape with just some light surface dirt. The second Veterans badge is a small white metal canteen with a sling made of brass on a very threadbare and dirty red, white and blue ribbon. At center of the canteen is “GAR” while around the edge is “WE DRANK FROM THE SAME CANTEEN 1861-1865.” This design is on both sides.

Last in the group are nine documents and two Confederate bills. All documents are in good condition unless otherwise stated

1.) Douglas’ discharge from the 1^st Rhode Island. Document is pre=printed and filled out in ink.

2.) Blank pre-printed check from the Rhode Island Paymaster for the 1^st Regiment. Document has the state seal at left. Someone used it as scrap for doing some mathematical figuring.

3.) Pre-printed document filled out in ink promoting Douglas to Sergeant in Company B, 5^th Rhode Island Volunteers dated June 26, 1862. One vertical and two horizontal fold lines.

4.) Pre-printed document filled out in ink discharging Douglas as a Sergeant so he can be promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant. Document is dated February 14, 1863. Document has two vertical fold lines which are split along their length. Left edge of document looks to be missing but nothing important is absent.

5.) State of Rhode Island Commission. Pre-printed document filled out in ink appointing Douglas a 2nd Lieutenant in Company F, 5th Rhode Island Infantry. Document is signed by Gov. Sprague and still has the green paper seal attached. Document is dated February 14, 1863.

6.) Muster-in roll for Douglas as a 2^nd Lieutenant. Document is pre-printed and filled out in ink and is dated February 14, 1863. One vertical and two horizontal fold lines.

7.) Pre-printed letter filled out in ink from the Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island. Letter notifies Douglas that the Governor is appointing him a 2^nd Lieutenant. Document dated February 14, 1863. Two horizontal fold lines.

8.) Hand written letter in ink from Fort Rowan, North Carolina and dated June 1, 1863. The letter is written to Douglas’ future wife Mary. In it he complains of being down with the fever and ague and says if he can’t break free from it he will come home. He also complains of the heat and that many men are sick. He asks if she likes the photograph he sent her. Whether or not he is talking about the photo present with this group cannot be determined. Letter has two vertical fold lines, one with some minor amounts of discoloration. All writing is legible.

9.) Eagle masthead discharge for Douglas dated December 22, 1864. Two horizontal fold lines. Standard document as always seen.

10.) Confederate one dollar bill dated February 14, 1864. Printed on front only. Series H #72072.”

11.) Confederate five dollar bill dated February 17, 1864. Series A #45519. Printed on reverse is “FIVE” with blue and white web decoration and a “5” medallion in each corner.

Charles E. Douglas, also spelled Douglass in regimental records and history, was born Rhode Island and at the time of his enlistment was 20 years old and stood 5 feet 8 ½ inches high and listed his home as Bristol. He first enlisted in Company A, 1^st Rhode Island Infantry on April 17, 1861 and fought with them at 1^st Bull Run. He was discharged at Providence on August 2, 1861.

He next enlisted as a Sergeant in Company B, 5^th Rhode Island Infantry on October 7, 1861 but this time he gave his residence as Rehoboth, Massachusetts. As stated above his future wife lived in that state and may have moved there to be closer to her. The 5^th was assigned to General Burnsides North Carolina Expedition and saw action at Roanoke Island, New Berne and the fall of Fort Macon as well as the Rawle’s Mill and Goldsboro Expeditions and fight at Whitehall. On October 15, 1862 Sergeant Douglas was appointed acting 2^nd Lieutenant of Company F and in February of 1863 he received his appointment. In putting him forward for the promotion his Colonel said he was “…modest, unassuming and a promising officer.” In April of 1863 the 5^th played an important part in lifting the siege of Little Washington, North Carolina but Company F was not there having been assigned to Fort Rowan in New Berne. On May 27, 1863 the regiment was changed from Infantry to Heavy Artillery. The rest of the regiment’s time was spent in defending the coast of North Carolina. It is known that Lieutenant Douglas was absent from the regiment on sick leave from June 5 to July 10, 1863. On August 15, 1864 he assumed command of his Company for an unspecified period of time. He went on leave again on December 15, 1864. The records say he was discharged on January 1, 1865 but his discharge gives December 22, 1864 due to expiration of his term of service.

Nothing is known of Douglas later in life other than he continued to live in Rhode Island and collected a Government pension. He died somewhere around 1890 as his wife filed for a Widow’s Pension at that time.

This is a well-documented group with all the items in good condition.

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