This Confederate Artillery limber chest was captured by the 8^th New York Heavy Artillery during the Battle of First Deep Bottom in July of 1864. Wooden chest measures 43 ¼” wide x 17 ½” high x 19 ¼” deep. Much of the original red paint still shows. All iron hardware is original, which includes two small handles on sides of chest, three hinges on lid and two large handles on the sides, which were part of the conversion to a limber chest. The large handles served to lift the chest and as a hand support for the cannoneers seated on the chest as it was being transported while attached to the limber. There is a leather strap nailed to the top of the lid at the back for extra support. Hinged lid opens to reveal a small built-in compartment with lid on the left side of chest which was meant for storing small items. There is a horizontal crack across center of the top of the lid. Iron hardware has light surface rust.

The left end of the chest is painted with the lettering, “1^st SEC”, for the first section of the Confederate Battery the chest belonged to.

The underside of the lid has a hand- painted inscription with the soldier’s name who is responsible for obtaining the chest. This was done while on display in the G.A.R. Hall.  It reads, “REB’L ART’Y CHEST, CAPTURD BY 8^TH N.Y. HEAVY ART’Y, PETERSBURG, VA, C. H. WALKER, BOLTON POST NO. 471 G.A.R.”.

The Battle of First Deep Bottom was fought on July 27-29, 1864. It was part of the ensuing Siege of Petersburg, which lasted eleven months. This was waged through a series of field battles on both sides of the James River. A Union force under Maj. Gens. Winfield S. Hancock and Philip H. Sheridan was sent on an expedition threatening Richmond, Virginia, and its railroads, intending to attract Confederate troops away from the Petersburg defensive line, in anticipation of the upcoming Battle of the Crater. The Union infantry and cavalry force was unable to break through the Confederate fortifications at Bailey's Creek and Fussell's Mill and was withdrawn, but it achieved its desired effect of momentarily reducing Confederate strength at Petersburg. Lt. Joseph Willett of the 8^th New York Heavy Artillery wrote a journal account of the battle. He tells how they crossed the river, ascended the bank, and saw the Union skirmishers who had previously arrived, advancing and firing on the Confederates. The Confederates quickly fled, leaving behind four 20 pound Parrot guns, and he wrote, “So hasty was their retreat that they did not even take off their caissons, which were full of the finest kind of ammunition, and it all fell into our hands, together with the first line of their works.” This explains the scenario of how this chest was captured.

Union casualties at the First Battle of Deep Bottom were 488 (62 killed, 340 wounded, and 86 missing or captured); Confederate casualties were 679 (80 killed, 391 wounded, 208 missing or captured).

The Battle of the Crater immediately followed on the very next day, July 30, 1864.

Calvin H. Walker, who the inscription is referring to, enlisted at the age of 18 on August 18, 1864 in Plattsburg, New York as a Private. He was mustered into 23^rd New York Light Artillery. He was transferred out on December 31, 1864 into Co. “L”, 8^th New York Heavy Artillery. He mustered out on June 27, 1865 in Washington, D.C. The 8^th New York Heavy Artillery lost 19 officers and 342 enlisted men killed in battle during the war.

This is a rare opportunity to own such a unique piece. We have heard of civilian chests being converted for military use, but this is the first time we have actually seen one that has survived. Included with this item are fifteen pages of soldier records for Calvin H. Walker, the regimental history of the 8^th New York Heavy Artillery, and several articles about the Battle of First Deep Bottom, including the journal account by Lt. Willett.

Note: Extra shipping charge required. Special shipping arrangements necessary. We will also deliver this item to any militaria show that we attend.

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