Serial No. 174595 [1860]. .31 caliber, five shot percussion revolver, with five inch barrel. Back-strap inscription: “A.B. Nelson South Milford Mass.”; butt plate inscription: “Presented by/ C. H. Colburn.” Standard Colt barrel marking: “Address Saml Colt / Hartford CT.”, with D” and “M” left trigger frame inspector marks. All crisp. Matching serial numbers, wedge included. Metallic barrel, cylinder, and frame exhibit dark gray patina with light scattered pitting. Brass trigger and back-strap displays medium coppery patina with minor dings and scratching. Cylinder scene etching [i.e. stage coach robbery] lightly worn but visible. Crisp cylinder indexing. Grip lightly worn with minor dings consistent with age and usage. Bore exhibits medium pitting. Else VG.

Born in Montpelier, VT, Alonzo B. Nelson enlisted at age 24 at Yonkers, NY as a private in Co. G, 40^th New York Infantry on 6/21/1861. Regimental return shows he was absent sick in General Hospital in October 1862. He was listed as missing in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg, VA on 12/13/1862. Confined at Richmond, VA as of 12/17/62, paroled at City Point, VA on  1/9/63 and reported to Camp Parole, MD on 1/11/63. Listed on muster roll for Co. #, 2 Battalion Paroled Prisoners at Annapolis during January & February, 1863; and on the muster roll of 2 Battalion Paroled Prisoners near Annapolis during March and April of 1863. Returned as a POW and is present with his regiment as of May 15, 1863. Listed as present during July, at which time the regiment took part in the Battle of Gettysburg.  Mustered out on 6/26/1864.

His regiment, the 40^th New York, nicknamed “The Mozart Regiment”, was organized at Yonkers, NY, 6/27/1861. Beginning with the Battle of Balls Bluff, in October 1861, this unit participated in all eastern battles and campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. Including Gettysburg, where it served with the Union 3^rd Corps - and where its monument sits at the open end of “The Valley of Death”, adjacent to Little Round Top. Following the final grand review, the regiment was mustered out 6/27/1865. During service it lost 238 men killed or mortally wounded and 172 to disease for a total of 410. Though Private Nelson left the unit at the expiration of enlistment in June 1964, he was in all probability present at Gettysburg, having returned from captivity two months prior.

Accompanied by military records from National Archives.

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