A unique small wood object, dated June 7^th, 1863, collected from Yorktown, VA by Private Edwin J. Everden of company A, 143^rd NY infantry. The sliver of wood is written on in period black ink “Edwin J. Everden/ Private Co. A 143^rd Reg./ NYSV Yorktown, Va./ June 7^th 1863” on one side. The other side is written “In Memory of the/ Surrender of Lord/ Cornwalis to/ Washington. The wood appears to be pine that has oxidized to a medium brown color. The size is about 1/8” thick by 1 3/4” long and 5/8” high. The souvenir is housed in a small pewter box that appears to have originally been a snuff container. No hallmarks and probably American manufacture.

The 143^rd NY infantry moved to Suffolk, VA on April 18^th 1863. On June 24^th they began the Peninsula campaign and moved back to the DC defenses by July 10^th. Private Everden seems to have taken his relic just prior to Dix’s campaign. The significance of the wood is unknown. Cornwallis’s Yorktown headquarters was and still is standing, or it could be a random tree that he decided to carve a piece of.

Regardless, Private Eveden continued on with the 143^rd NY until his luck ran out. On July 20^th, 1864 he was killed at the battle of Peach Tree Creek near Atlanta, GA. He was one of 7 men killed that day. A personal item from a time period relating to two major conflicts in American history. Formerly part of “The Old Stone House Museum” collection in Windsor, NY. [stp]ph:L]

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