CS RICHMOND CARBINE WITH FANTASTIC CARVED ID TO ONE OF “MORGAN’S DEVILS” CAPTURED BY MEMBER OF THE 73RD AND 138TH INDIANA

$12,500.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 30-2153

This wonderful item comes to us through a Camp Hill, Pennsylvania auction company who sold this Richmond carbine for a descendant of Union veteran Edward A. Jernegan. The information provided by the auction company states that this weapon was brought home by the above mentioned Jernegan who served as a drummer in Company A, 73rd Indiana and later as a Private in Company D, 138th Indiana Infantry.

The overall length of the carbine is 41.00 inches and all metal surfaces are dark iron except for the buttplate which is brass. The nose cap, which also would have been made of brass, is missing.

The barrel has a .58 bore and meas. approx. 25.00 inches long. Left barrel flat has a faint “V P” stamp. Rear sight is missing but the “T” shaped mortise for it is present. The front sight is a crude iron post with a base that is mortised in. Bore is dark with built-up dirt. Rifling is otherwise fair. The barrel is attached to the stock by two flat barrel bands that have off center “U” stampings. Bands are dark and match the rest of the weapons metal surfaces. Nipple is complete and dark with some light surface rust on the crown. Bolster has a slightly worn clean-out screw.

Lockplate is the “low hump” or Type III as classified by John M. Murphy in his book “CONFEDERATE CARBINES & MUSKETOONS.” Clearly visible on the lower forward portion of the lock is “C.S.” over “RICHMOND, VA.” A worn “1864” is stamped vertically behind the hammer. Lock and hammer surface have patina to match the barrel. Hammer will stop at half-cock position but does not hold when the trigger is squeezed. At full-cock position the hammer operates properly. Hammer screw is missing.

The stock is Richmond made and is in overall good but worn condition. The brass nose cap is missing as is the sling swivel which is usually screwed into the stock to the rear of the triggerguard. The surface of the wood shows light to moderate surface scratches throughout. There is an old 3.00 inch section of wood missing along the left front side, extending forward from the first barrel band to the area of the missing nose cap. The only visible crack is a closed one that begins at the front edge of the lock and runs horizontally forward for 2.00 inches. This is very minor. There is some tape residue on the butt in the area of the above mentioned missing rear sling swivel. The left butt is carved with the initials “Br.” Buttplate is of brass and has a patina to match the rest of the weapon. Iron triggerguard has a sling swivel at the front while the forward band has another. Iron tulip head ramrod is correct type, is full length and has the threaded tip still intact. Patina matches the barrel perfectly.

What sets this Richmond carbine apart from others is the wonderful carving on the top of the left butt. Strongly carved in letters that vary in size from 1.00 inch to half inch is “S. H. CARPENTER / MORGANS DEVILS.”

Research by a previous owner has tracked the identity of “S. H. Carpenter” to Samuel Carpenter of Company G, 13th Kentucky Cavalry.

The 13th Kentucky was originally organized as the 10th Kentucky Rifles in September of 1862 but in March of 1863 its designation was changed to the 13th Kentucky Cavalry. The regiment was also known as “Caudills Army” after its Colonel Ben E. Caudill and the thirty-three other members of the Caudill family who served within the regiment’s ranks. The 13th saw action in numerous skirmishes in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee and were with John Hunt Morgan during his last raid in June of 1864. At the close of the war the regiment was one of the last to surrender.

According to National Archive records Samuel Carpenter enlisted for 3 years as 2nd Corporal of Company G, 13th Kentucky Cavalry on October 1, 1862 at Breathitt, Kentucky. By August of 1863 he was listed as a deserter. The only other information on him was found on findagrave.com. That sight shows that Carpenter was born on February 14, 1844 and died in Breathitt County, Kentucky on January 2, 1899 and is buried in the Ed Carpenter Cemetery there. His tombstone bears a Masonic symbol showing that he was also a mason.

With the carbine is a hand drawn copy of the original period label that originally came with the item and is now lost. This drawing looks to date from the mid to late 20th Century and reads “CARBINE CAPTURED FROM MORGAN ??? BIG WAR FOR C ??? CARVED ON STOCK S. H. CARPENTER MORGAN’S DEVIL’S PROPERTY OF E. A. JERNEGAN.” With this is a color Xerox of a postwar cabinet card photo taken in Mishawaka, Indiana showing a gentleman who is believed to be the E. A. Jernegan mentioned on the carbine’s tag. He wears a dark suit with what is most likely a GAR lapel button. Matching this photo with another one published with Jernegan’s obituary, the ID seems to be correct.

Edward A. Jernegan was born in Laporte, Indiana on January 27, 1846. At age 14 he enlisted in the 73rd Indiana as a drummer boy on August 18, 1862. He served with the 73rd until March 19, 1863 seeing action at Perryville and Stones River. After his discharge Jernegan served as a clerk with his father who was a Paymaster on the USS COMMADORE BARNEY. Then on May 27, 1864 he enlisted in the Army again, this time as Private in Company D, of the 138th Indiana Infantry for one hundred days. He was mustered out on September 30, 1864.

After the war Jernegan worked with his father in newspaper business in Michigan City, Indiana. In 1872 he moved to Mishawaka, Indiana where he founded and published the Mishawaka Enterprise for 50 years until his death on March 5, 1922. Today he lies in the Mishawaka City Cemetery.

This rare, captured Confederate identified carbine comes with all documentation mentioned above.  [ad]

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