“Union/ Knife Co.” maker-mark appears at the base of knife blade. This “Union” utensil set was a common item, sold by camp sutlers to countless union Soldiers. It featured a folding knife and spoon (3.5”) and two pronged fork (3”) built into a 4.25” wooden handle secured by three rivets. In this particular set, while the knife and spoon fold smoothly, the interior fork is frozen. Knife blade exhibits darkened patina With some pitting and slight resistance to full closure; spoon displays age and condensation spots. Else VG. In black riker box, 12.25 x 8.25”, on white foam, w/inked card: “Pocket Knife-Fork/Spoon Sold by Camp Sutlers/ This Set Carried by: Joseph P. Biddle/ Co. “I”/ Wounded at Fair Oaks.”

A farrier by trade, 25 year old Joseph P. Biddle mustered as a Private in Co. “I”, 104^th PA Infy, 10/08/1861. He was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks (gunshot wound through the right thigh, and left leg above the ankle). After six months recuperation at an Annapolis, MD, hospital, he returned to the regiment and was later transferred to Co. “D” and promoted to Corporal 1/1/1864. He mustered out of service at the expiration of his three enlistment, 11/11/1864, and re-enlisted as a Private in Co. “H”, 3^rd Regiment, Veteran Volunteers, 1^st Army Corp, March 17, 1865, receiving a 366 2/3 dollars bounty, to be paid in monthly installments. Serving as a cook and later a teamster, Biddle was mustered out a year later in Springfield, IL, 3/31/1866. He later received an invalid pension of $6 per month for his 1862 Fair Oaks wound, and died in 1904, aged 68.

Solid “Union” knife, fork & spoon display set. Verbal family ID. Accompanied by military & pension records from the National Archives.  [jp]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’