A MOST INTERESTING GROUPING IDENTIFIED TO AN OFFICER IN THE 2ND REGIMENT NEW JERSEY WHO WAS A FAMOUS PYROTECHNIST

A MOST INTERESTING GROUPING IDENTIFIED TO AN OFFICER IN THE 2ND REGIMENT NEW JERSEY WHO WAS A FAMOUS PYROTECHNIST

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Item Code: 286-1489

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Company D 2nd Regiment New Jersey Militia (known in some sources as the 18th New Jersey Infantry) was formed and expenses paid for by Captain Gustavus Adolphus Lilliendahl. Soon this company was accepted in state service for three months at Greenville District, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey this was on the 17th of April 1861. The company and regiment were mustered in United States service for three months at the State House, on State and Delaware Streets, Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, on May 1,1861. After involvement in the Manassas Campaign, the regiment returned to New Jersey and was mustered out July 31, 1861. Please view this link (2nd New Jersey Militia | First Bull Run | The Manassas Campaign, Virginia, July 21, 1861)'

The grouping, which came to our consignor indirectly from the Lilliendahl family, consists of the following: A unique military 16 carat gold medal; an officer's sword belt; a maroon sash; photographs and related old and newer documents.

THE MEDAL. This 16-carat about 1 ounce gold medal was presented to Lilienthal in 1859 who was then a captain in a New Jersey State militia organization called the Greenville Guards. The medal is a stylized open work Maltese Cross. It measures 2 1/4 inches by 2 1/4 inches. and is suspended from a red, white and blue silk ribbon. On the obverse which shows beautiful floral designs in the center is a round disc with the engraved intertwined initials "GAL" (Gustavus Adolphus Lilliendahl). On the plainer reverse is a shield that is engraved: " Presented by the Greenville Guard to Capt. G. A. Lilliendahl Decr. 15th 1859". With this is a 4 inch by 5-inch albumen photograph of Lilliendahl in his pre-Civil War militia uniform wearing this medal suspended from its tri-color ribbon. On the back, in ink, is written "Capt. Gustavus A. Lilliendahl 1861" and below this in pencil "grandfather of L...". This albumen dates about 1870 and there is a reproduction of this also that was done about 1910. It should be mentioned here that there is a ca. 1855 ambrotype of Lilliendahl that measures 2 inches by 3 inches and it is in its original leather case. Inside is a typed note that reads: "GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS LILLIENDAHL Great Grandfather of (actor) RHYS WILLIAMS".

THE BELT: This is a classic infantry officer’s sword belt rig in very good condition; actually wearable. The belt is constructed of folded leather. There is simulated (tooled) stitching along the outer top and bottom edges of the belt. The leather measures approximately 29” long by 1 3/4 wide, with about 7 inches extra that could be expanded. The leather is smooth and supple with light wear and scuffing. All stitching on the belt remains unbroken. There is a leather “uniform protector”, which sits behind buckle, this is attached to the “keeper” end of the belt. Upon this is a 19th century handwritten tag that reads: "This was used by Capt. G.A.L in 1861. Protecting the Government as Captain first N.J. volunteer Reg." The belt has one long and one short sword drop. These drops are firmly sewn into place and are unbroken with brass hardware including snap hooks at the ends.  The Pattern 1851 officer's style of buckle features high relief details on front and a 1/2 tongue silver soldered on the back. The letter “E" is stamped into the reverse of the buckle and its female keeper. Another later family loose note from the 2001 reads: Belt states: This was used by Captain G.A. L.... This was found in a filing cabinet-separate from box on Gustafus A. Lilliendahl-but part of his Civil War Uniform. E.W. May 2001."

THE SASH: This is an original Civil War officer’s sash in excellent condition. Worn by officers in most of the branches of the United States Army, the waist sash was a common uniform accoutrement that signified a symbol of authority in the military during both field operations and camp duty. The sash, when worn over the frock coat, was wrapped around the waist and looped on the left side. The officer’s leather sword belt was worn over the sash. This particular specimen was worn by Captain Lilliendahl. It still exhibits a rich, vibrant maroon color and is approximately 3.5” wide and 105” long including the tassels at the ends. The tassels themselves are 7” in length. Overall in excellent condition, just a few very minor barely noticeable snags.

There is a host of documents and papers with the grouping. This archive assembled by family and the current owner actually tells us so much about this Renaissance man; this of course passes to the purchaser. Gutavus Adolphus Lilliendahl of Germanic (Nordic) origin and whose namesake was the great 17th century warrior king of Sweden was born in 1829 in New York City the son of businessman Christian Lilliendahl. In 1848 he went to California to mine gold, staking and soon selling his claim. He returned to NYC in 1849 and became successful in the business of pyrotechnics or the art of manufacturing fireworks. He was able to acquire a large fortune as a result of his mastery and manufacture of fireworks and related devices. In 1860 he arranged for the fireworks to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales to Montreal Canada and simultaneously the opening of the Victoria Bridge there. Involved with his local militia when the Civil War began, he immediately raised Co D 2nd New Jersey at his own expense. Upon the expiry of his 3-month service in 1861 he was approached by the US Secret Service. Under their auspices " He invented a signal rocket for the navy. In his factory in Greenville were manufactured odd contrivances, half pistol and half blunderbuss, which were used to fire signal rockets". A reference in his 1907 obituary recalls the famous "Coston Night Signals" invented by Mrs. Mary Coston not Lilliendahl he was the manufacturer of the "flares" and certainly a close associate. Please follow this link (Martha Coston - Wikipedia). In the archive passing with the group is some old firsthand material on Mrs. Coston.  A few years after the Civil War Lilliendahl got involved in multiple aspects of the Whaling industry here but mostly abroad. Following this he was investigating involvement in the railroad business in Mexico. It was in Mexico in 1907 that he died. His body was returned to the US. Interestingly among the many papers, old and contemporary, that are with this group is a 1895 source by Simon Wolf called "The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen" shows on page 232 (Name) "LILIENDALL, GUSTAV  Captain"  (Company) "D"  (Regiment) "2nd Infantry". This is not our man nor a relation to G.A. Lilliendahl but rather "Gustav Lilienthal (d.1933), brother and collaborator of Otto Lilienthal in aerial navigation... The Lilienthal brothers are responsible for the first practical demonstration of man’s ability to fly. This demonstration was carried out with a pair of curved wings designed for soaring and took place in 1891. Gustav Lilienthal was associated with his brother Otto’s flying experiments for a period of twenty-five years". So, the grouping does not "fly" as Judaica as our consignor and prior researchers believed.

This is a fascinating grouping that invites a lot more research on this individual and his endeavors military, scientific and civilian; this officer and gentleman wore many hats and led a most interesting life.    [pe] [ph:L]

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