This item was purchased right from the family of the soldier who carried it in the war. This is a .44 cal. Colt Amy revolver with serial number 77599. This number matches throughout, even on the wedge pin. The ID to the weapon was made by matching this serial number with records in the National Archives. 

The weapon was heavily cleaned by the family but the cylinder scene is still strong and the barrel stamping is crisp. The metal surfaces of the weapon are “gun metal” gray with light pitting and mottling. Cylinder spins free at half cock and indexes well when hammer is drawn to full cock. (Cylinder wiggles just a bit when the weapon is fully cocked.) All the stops are present. Walnut grips have inspector’s cartouche on both sides. A hole was bored through both of the grips for use with a lanyard. One of these holes is right through an inspector’s cartouche but the one on the opposite side is not affected. There were also two holes worked into the bottom of the grips to pass a lanyard through. The muzzle shows some wear from being in a holster. 

With the weapon is a quarter plate tintype. This is a full standing view of a young soldier wearing a frock coat and holding a pistol by his side. He stands in front of a painted backdrop of a fort on a hill with a camp scene across from the fort. The face of the soldier is slightly obscured by scratches. There is also a small area of discoloration in the area of the soldier’s head and to one side. The image came from the family with the weapon and is believed to be the owner of the pistol but there is no ID on it. Image comes with a full mat and case that is split at the hinge. 

This weapon is ID’d to Sergeant Richard Ross of Co. L, 16^th PA Cav. Ross enlisted Sept. 20, 1862 and served until March of 1863 when he deserted. After the war Ross tried to get the charge of desertion removed from his record and collect a pension. He was not successful. In the records Ross states that he was given a 10 day furlough in March of 1863, which is true. However, he states that he got sick while on furlough and after a few weeks went to a civilian Dr. to be examined. This Dr. told Ross he was unfit for duty and would never be able to return to his regiment. In June of 1864 he approached a Provost Marshall in Pennsylvania and asked for money to pay for his return trip to his unit. The Provost Marshall arrested Ross for desertion. Two days later Ross deserted from the Provost Marshall and returned home. He never returned to his regiment. In the 1880’s when Ross applied for the charge of desertion to be removed from the record the War Department declined. They said that since he deserted again after he was arrested there was nothing they could do. Military and Pension records accompany the item. Also with the item is a copy of the ordnance record for the 16^th PA Cav. which show the serial number of this weapon next to Ross’ name. Above the serial number on the record is the word “Stolen.” This shows without doubt that Ross brought this weapon home.