This iron wagon wrench was once in the collections of Miller G.A.R. Post 551, Department of PA, located in York Springs, here in Adams County, who were in a very good position to acquire relics from the battlefield. When the post disbanded sometime between 1919 and 1924 the relics were entrusted to David Starry, reportedly the youngest member or the post, and a former Post Adjutant and Post Commander. These included tagged and un-tagged relics from the battlefield and a few tagged pieces from elsewhere. These remained in Starry’s family until purchased by well-known Maryland antique and Civil War dealer Tom Gordon and his father in the 1970s and we have handled a number of pieces from this collection over the years.

The Miller Post had been chartered (or “mustered”) July 2, 1887, and was named after a member of the 30^th Pennsylvania killed at South Mountain. David Starry had served twice in the war: in the 165^th PA Drafted Militia and in the 21^st PA Cavalry. He returned to Adams County after the war, married in 1868 and reared twelve children. We know from the February 1924 obituary of another former member of the Miller Post #551 that the post had disbanded by that point. Ironically, though entrusted with the relics as the youngest member of the post according to the family, he died in 1925, outlived by at least one other member, who died in 1931, reportedly as the last survivor.

Measures 10 1/2" in length. [sr][ph:L]

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