A resident of Taunton, MA, Erastus L. Dean was 18 years and employed as a machinist when he enlisted in the 39th Massachusetts Infantry on 8/8/62; he served with the regiment until his death on 8/27/64 at Laurel Hill, VA. Further research on Dean is certainly a possibility.

The leather storage case bears a nice, stenciled ink ID "E. L. Dean/39 Reg. Mass Vols." on the reverse, and is in excellent condition with closure strap at the top. A second, handwritten ink ID is on the bottom of the case which reads, "Erastus L. Dean 39 Reg. / Mass. Volunteers".  The britannia ware cup is neatly engraved in script letters "E. L. D". The heavy roll up leather storage case, which stores in the cup, contains a folding fork, folding spoon, fancy cork screw and britannia ware condiment container. It doubtless originally contained a folding knife which is now missing. The silver mounted and touched fork and spoon have ivory grips with silver escutcheon which are also inscribed "E.L. D." Grip of the spoon with one small chip and the fork with a minor age crack, otherwise excellent with nice mellow patina.

Additional information on Dean is found in the following sources:

From Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War by Adjutant-General's Office of Massachusetts, 9 volumes (Norwood Press, 1931-37), Vol. 4, page 79: Erastus L. Dean, resident of Taunton, Mass., occupation machinist, enlisted at age 18 as a Private in Company F, 39th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on Aug. 8, 1862; mustered into national service Aug. 27, 1862; killed May 8, 1864, Laurel Hill, Va.

In the same source, Volume 4, page 46, it states that the 39th Regiment M.V.I. was: "Moving on the night of the 7th [of May 1864] toward Spottsylvania, it was engaged on the 8th and 10th on the Brock road near the Spindle farm, losing a total of 135 men of whom 32 were killed or mortally wounded.  The fighting on this part of the field of Spottsylvania was known as the battle of Laurel Hill.  Laurel Hill was a name by which the old William E. Jones farm was locally known..."

From The Thirty-ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers 1862 - 1865 by Alfred S. Roe (Worcester, Mass., 1914), page 405, it adds that Erastus L. Dean was single, gives enlistment date as Aug. 22, 1862, and says killed May 8, 1864, at Spottsylvania.

A photo of Dean's grave may be seen on FindaGrave.com.

A rare Civil War utensil set with great history.Ex - John Henry Kurtz collection.

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