This original Civil War longarm is from the family of Samuel G. Seiders of Company E, 158^th Pennsylvania Militia. The weapon is a .58 caliber Lamson, Goodnow & Yale contract Special Model 1861 in good overall condition. The LG&Y musket was a product of the firm of E.G. Lamson, A. F. Goodnow, and B. B. Yale with forging facilities at Windsor, Vermont and machine shops in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Fifty thousand LG&Y longarms were produced by the firm during the years 1862 thru 1864.

Iron lock plate surface wears a dark gray finish with light pitting and mottling. Distinctly different lock markings appear with each of the three years the muskets were produced. Lock markings are of the first type (1862) and are very faint. They include a small eagle motif in front of the hammer with the “U.S. / L. G. & Y. / WINDSOR-Vt.” Clearly stamped behind the hammer is the date “1862”. Mechanics are good.

The forty-inch barrel wears a plum brown color with moderate to heavy pitting at the bolster area. Bore is dark and dirty. Rifling appears good. Top flat of barrel breech has no date or inspector marks. Barrel has the regular two-leaf rear sight and the small blade front sight.

The walnut stock exhibits scattered scratches, minor dings and scuff marks overall. There is no inspector cartouche visible on the stock. Original screws are good. Hammer screw bears slight evidence of buggering. Lockplate screws and washers are good. Stock shows no cracks or repairs but it is missing a small bit of wood at the right side back of the bolster and under the hammer. Likely from the firing of the percussion caps while in service.

Original buttplate, triggerguard, bands and nose cap. Butt tang marked “US”. Face of buttplate has nametape label that reads “SAMUEL G. SEIDERS-.” Weapon retains its original, steel, tulip-shaped swelled ramrod in good condition with the threaded tip. Weapon has its original wooden tompion.

With the weapon are two documents. One is handwritten in old ink cursive and reads “THE OWNER OF THE GUN / DAMUEL G. SEIDERS / ON OCTOBER 16^TH 1862 HE ENLISTED IN COMPANY E 158^TH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY UNDER CAPTAIN WILLIAM LEE BARNITZ AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AUGUST 12^TH 1863 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG THE BATTLE WHICH IS GIVEN BY HISTORIANS AS THE TURNING POINT OF THE CIVIL WAR. WHEN HE ENLISTED IN THE UNION ARMY HE WAS ONLY SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND TOOK THE PLACE OF HIS FATHER IN ORDER THAT HIS FATHER MIGHT REMAIN AT HOME TO CARE FOR HIS FAMILY.” The ink and cursive used shows age and may have been done by the veteran himself.

The other document is typed and framed. It reads “SAMUEL G. SEIDERS / 1847-1917 / CARRIED THIS GUN IN BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, JULY 1, 2, 3, 1863. SAMUEL G. SEIDERS WAS BORN IN CHAMBERSBURG, PA., JUNE 13, 1847 AND DIED IN MARTINSVILLE, INDIANA APRIL 2, 1917. HE WAS A MEMBER OF BLANKENSHIP POST, G.A.R. OF MARTINSVILLE.

HE ENLISTED, OCTOBER 16, 1862 IN CO. E 158TH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY UNDER CAPTAIN WILLIAM LEE BARNITZ AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AUGUST 12TH 1863. DURING THIS PERIOD HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, WHEN HE ENLISTED IN THE UNION ARMY HE WAS ONLY 15 YEARS OF AGE AND TOOK THE PLACE OF HIS FATHER IN ORDER THAT HIS FATHER MIGHT REMAIN AT HOME TO CARE FOR HIS FAMILY.

AT HIS DEATH IN 1917 THIS GUN PASSED TO HIS SISTER, MRS. WILLIAM SITES, LINCOLN WAY WEST, CHAMBERSBURG, WHO IN TURN PASSED IT ALONG TO LACHLAN W. KREBS IN 1929. MRS. SITES DIED JANUARY 1950.

INSCRIPTION ON GUN LOCK: WINDSOR, VT. 1862”

Also in the group is a photograph from the Gettysburg Times of May 27, 2000 showing the Sites family in 1919 with Mrs. Sites, the soldier’s sister, seated at front and center.

The records from the archives show that Samuel Seiders was 16 years old when he enlisted as a Private in the army. He was present with the 158^th during its service in North Carolina and in July reported to General Meade for the pursuit of Lee’s army after the battle of Gettysburg. Despite what the notes accompanying the weapon say Seiders was not present for the battle of Gettysburg but did take part in the chase of Lee’s army afterward. Seiders was mustered out on August 12, 1863.

Seiders died in Indiana in 1917 and was buried there in New South Park Cemetery, Martinsville. [ad]

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