We recently acquired a sizeable group of artifacts preserved for the last 150 years in the family of George W. Mowers of Fayetteville, Pa. Mowers was 18 years old and working in his father’s wagon shop when he enlisted in the 21^st PA Cavalry, a sixth-month unit during the Gettysburg campaign, and then later joined the 87^th PA Infantry in late February 1865, seeing action at Petersburg and Sailor’s Creek. Mower’s property was directly along the Confederate advance to Gettysburg from Chambersburg on July 1 and also at the retreat route followed by Lee’s wagon train on the night of July 4. He gathered relics from Gettysburg, but also brought home some of his own material and this was likely his own mess fork from one or both of his terms of service.

This is, in fact, the folding fork half of one of the popular combination mess sets that were marketed commercially to volunteers as a substitute for the often flimsy issue gear, and of course a “modern convenience” in that it could be folded and locked together with the other half that had a knife and spoon attachment. Period advertisements praised it for its compactness, convenience in not having to fish around in a haversack for separate elements, or tear up one’s gear with an exposed blade or tines. The outer side of the handle is dark wood. The inside has two studs that would lock into grooves on the other half of the utensil. The fork has two tines and could fold back. This would be a nice addition to a display of soldier’s effects and mess gear in particular. We sometimes see these on the loose. Finding one with a dead-real Civil War identification is unusual.

George Mowers was born 27 December 1844, the son of David and Sarah Ritter Mowers.  In 1860 the family is listed as living in Greene Township of Franklin County, with a post office address of Fayetteville. David Mowers listed as a wagon-maker and George followed in his footsteps, appearing in the 1870 census as a wagonmaker as well, and referenced in his pension file as having taken over the estate from his father, which consisted of a small farm, but also “a blacksmith and wheel-wright shop.”

Mowers did two tours of duty, his first just a few months after his eighteenth birthday, when he enrolled at Chambersburg on 7/11/63 and mustered in as a private at Harrisburg on 7/15/63 in Co. D of the 21^st Pennsylvania Cavalry. This regiment was organized during the Gettysburg Campaign, being recruited under the President’s call of June 15, 1863, militia to be called up for six months’ service. After being equipped and mounted at Harrisburg the regiment was sent to Chambersburg for training and in late August several companies were sent to Scranton and Pottsville, one company to Gettysburg, and the remainder, Mower’s company among them, were sent to Harpers Ferry, where they served in the Department of the Shenandoah. Mowers is recorded as present in the company muster rolls for its entire period of service from 7/15/63 to his muster out on 2/20/64.

Mowers reenlisted a little over a year later, signing up in late February 1865 and mustering in on 3/17/65 as a sergeant in Co. K of the 87^th Pennsylvania, part of the 6^th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. The regiment had suffered heavy losses and been reduced to a battalion of five companies. Mowers was part of five new companies that joined the regiment in March to bring it back up to strength. During his service in the 87th it took part in the final assault on Petersburg on April 2, 1865, losing 2 officers and 6 enlisted men killed, 3 officers and 22 enlisted men wounded and 5 enlisted men missing (OR.) The regiment was also engaged in the pursuit of Lee, losing one man wounded at Sailors Creek on April 6. After the surrender at Appomattox the regiment moved to Burkeville Station, and from there on April 23 to Danville, arriving there on April 27. On May 16, after the surrender of Johnston, the regiment moved by rail to Manchester, where there was opportunity to visit Richmond. From there it marched to Washington starting on May 24, but Mowers was hospitalized on May 23 and was discharged on a surgeon’s certificate 29 June 1865, the day the regiment was mustered out. He returned to Franklin County, married, fathered four children and died there 28 January 1895, aged 50. He is buried in the Union Cemetery in Fayetteville.

This is a nicely identified piece that would add to a display of soldiers’ personal effects. We don’t often see material like this coming out directly from families any more.  [sr]

Note: If you wish to have a copy of Mowers' military and pension records, it is an additional $40.00 charge.

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