This is the typical dark brown cloth covered pocket testament given out by Chaplains during the Civil War. The book was printed by the New York Chapter of the American Bible Society and was printed in 1861. This copy is in good condition with only light wear on the exterior surfaces and the word “TESTAMENT” embossed in worn gold on the spine.

Inside the front cover is a full color US flag above a riband that reads “TO THE DEFENDERS OF THEIR COUNTRY! PRESENTED BY THE NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. NOVEMBER 1861.” Below this are some scriptures printed in blue and red. On the first page in very light pencil is “W. H. BINGHAM, MANCHESTER, MASS.” Then below this in darker pencil is “RECEIVED DEC. 1861 IN NEW YORK BY WILLIAM H. BINGHAM WHO CARRIED IT ALL THROUGH THE WAR AND PRESENTED IT TO ME OCT. 11 1891. CHAS. O. LEE.”

Item is in very good condition. It is tightly bound with a clean interior and some gold gilt still remaining on the page edges.

William H. Bingham was born on October 4, 1825. When the Civil War began he was working as a chair maker in Manchester. He enlisted for three years as a Private in Company H, 19^th Massachusetts Infantry on November 26, 1861. At the time he was 36 years old. The history of the 19^th Massachusetts is a long one. After covering the retreat of Union forces following the battle of Ball’s Bluff the regiment joined the 2^nd Division of the 2^nd Corps, Army of the Potomac and fought with them in almost every battle from the Peninsula Campaign to Appomattox. Private Bingham was wounded in the groin at Fredericksburg. He became a re-enlisted veteran in December of 1863 and was mustered out on June 30, 1865. After the war he returned to Manchester where he was a member of the Allen Post #67 of the GAR. He died on April 27, 1903.

Here is a good opportunity to own a pocket testament ID’d to a soldier who really stuck to his duty and served through all the hardships of the many campaigns in the Eastern Theater of the war.

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