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GETTYSBURG RELIC DISPLAY OIL LAMP: MILLER POST 551, YORK SPRINGS, ADAMS COUNTY, PA
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$2,250.00
Quantity Available: 1
Item Code: 1202-868
Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer
To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail
We highly recommend this item be picked up rather than shipped due to the glass involved, and it also appears to still contain some oil.
This oil lamp is 22-inches tall would be a great focal point for a G.A.R. memorabilia or Gettysburg relic display. Members of the Miller G.A.R. Post 551, Department of PA, were well positioned to acquire Gettysburg relics: the post was located in York Springs, here in Adams County. This is a wonderful oil lamp with a glass vase base used to display relics from the battlefield, many bearing their original numbered labels that would have corresponded to a list giving their specific find locations. Mixed in with these, in a typical Victorian sort of hodgepodge, or cabinet of curiosities, are a couple of other vintage souvenirs, including a celluloid pin with two crossed U.S. flags and a miniature beer mug, which might have a lot more to do with post meetings and reunions than the war itself. The lamp is in excellent condition with the relics it contains well preserved and fully visible. We note only some wear to the stepped base. The relics include a shell fragment, a number of bullets, a Spencer cartridge, etc., please see our photos.
The Miller Post had been chartered (or “mustered”) July 2, 1887, and was active until disbanded sometime between 1919 and 1924, with its relics left in the hands of David Starry, likely its youngest member, but also its post adjutant and the post commander in 1919 at least, at which time the post was down to just seven “comrades.” These remained in the hands of the Starry family until purchased in the 1970s by well-known Maryland antique and Civil War dealer Tom Gordon and his father. Starry served twice, mustering into service at Gettysburg November 6 as a musician (drummer) with Co. A, 165th Pennsylvania Infantry and was honorably discharged with his company July 28, 1863, in Gettysburg. He enlisted a second time February 1, 1864, mustering in as a Private in Co. B of 21st PA Cavalry on February 3, 1864, and mustering out with the company July 8, 1865. Starry was both a member of the post and its commander in 1919, and perhaps at other points as well. The family tradition was that he had been entrusted with them as the youngest member of the post though, ironically, he was not the last survivor. The post disbanded sometime prior to 1924; Starry died June 9, 1925; but, we find another slightly longer-lived former member of the post who died in 1931. The reason for the post’s disbanding is not stated, but is not hard to guess: when Starry commanded it in 1919 there were just seven “comrades” left.
We have handled quite a few relics from the post preserved by Starry and his descendants, some tagged with specific find locations and others not. The printed numbers on the bullets indicate they likely came from one of the relic dealers in town, though others may have been added by a veteran or veterans in the post- that would certainly seem to be the case with the other souvenirs included with bullets and shrapnel.
The base of the lamp has a printed tag that presents a bit of a puzzle. It appears to read, “Daniel H March C / ABBOTTSTOWN / Adams Co. Pa.” We find a Daniel H. March who died in Abbottstown in 1874, but it is not clear if he had military service and this was too early to have been a member of the post. A Daniel S. March who passed away in Adams County in 1912, did have Civil War service in at least two units: the 87th PA, in which he was wounded at Petersburg in June 1864, and the Veteran Reserve Corps, in which he served after recovering from his wound, which had cost him two fingers. The letter “C” following his name is a bit of a puzzle- though in checking some records he seems to have been in both Company C and Company H of the regiment, but the middle initial does not line up and he seems to have been a member of another post when he died. It has also been suggested that what appears to be an “H” on the printed label is actually a “II,” meaning that in printing the label things were transposed and the name was actually Daniel C Marsh II. This has the advantage of landing on Civil War veteran Daniel C. Marsh, who served in the 130th Pennsylvania and is buried in Abbotstown, but his father was named John, making it difficult to make him a “Second,” even if there was some confusion in setting the type from a handwritten note, so the board is still open and bets are still being taken. We still tend to think it more likely that Daniel H. March made the lamp and a veteran later brought it into the post, though that still leaves the wandering “C” to be explained.
Whatever the exact maker’s history, though, this has a solid connection to the post and Gettysburg, a great look to it and would make a wonderful addition to a G.A.R. or relic display. [sr] [ph:L]
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