Measuring about 8-inches tall and 4-inches wide on its interior side, this tree section from Gettysburg preserves three lead balls from a U.S. or Confederate case shot stopped in mid-flight. Not only is it a Gettysburg relic, it comes from the War Library and Museum collections of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. M.O.L.L.U.S. was the veterans’ organization of Civil War Union officers, started in 1865. It reached its height around 1900 with some 8,000 members: former officers, lineal descendants, and a few honorary members. They incorporated their library and museum in 1888 and from 1922 it was housed in a townhouse in Philadelphia. It closed in 2008 pending a move or combination with another institution, but these plans unfortunately came to naught. Much of its material was placed with other museums, and the remainder was recently sold at auction. We were fortunate to acquire some very interesting objects at the sale that we are happy to offer to our customers.

Whether preserving bullets, artillery shells, or shell fragments, war logs and bullet-struck tree sections were meaningful relics to veterans. Some saw it as a commentary on war and nature. It was also a compelling visual statement of what it meant to be under fire. This section of a tree was cut to preserve its outer bark and show three lead balls that embedded themselves in the wood. These are from a case-shot, an anti-personnel artillery round intended to explode over the heads of enemy troops, scattering both shell fragments and is contents of lead or iron balls.

An original display number in blue ink on a paper label, very typical of veterans’ relic displays, is in place on one edge. Two of the balls were partially meshed and embedded closely together, but loosened over time and were secured back in place with some glue by museum staff. A third ball was held secure by more wood but still shows very clearly. This is a telling relic preserved by a famous veterans’ organization and comes from the most well-known battlefield of the war.  [sr]

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