site search
online catalog
IDENTIFIED SAXHORN, CDV, MUSIC BOOK, AND DANCE CARD: SAMUEL PRESCOTT 1st MASS HEAVY ARTILLERY BAND
Hover to zoom
$9,500.00 ON HOLD
Quantity Available: 1
Item Code: 1268-176
A great looking identified grouping from a member of the 1st Battalion Massachusetts Heavy Artillery band, the post band at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. The group consists of the soldier’s excellent condition over-the-shoulder saxhorn, a 24-page music book with his name it, a Carte-de-visite photograph of him in uniform with period pencil identification, and a program/dance card from a June1865 ball at Fort Warren for which the band provided the music.
The saxhorn is brass, rotary valve, complete and in excellent condition, with no bends, dents or cracks, measures 32-1/4 inches overall and has a 7-1/4 inch bell likely making it an Alto or Tenor horn. The bell has a garland crimped over the edge. We see just a short section of the turned-under edge of the garland that may have chipped away with some thin solder applied. Otherwise, the mouthpiece, rotary valves, etc., are all in place, including a small lyre-shaped spring-clasp music holder into which the music book fits very nicely for display. The brass has a pleasing, untouched patina showing just some scattered age stains.
The music book has 24 pages filled out in brown ink and the inside cover has both Prescott’s initials and his name with “South Hampton, NH,” where he later lived. The dance program is titled on the cover, “FORT WARREN, BOSTON HARBOR, JUNE 23, 1865” with a list of “Managers” on the back cover consisting of three officers and a civilian, and the “MUSIC- Band of the First Battalion Heavy Artillery Mass. Volunteers.” The interior lists 21 dances on the left and has space for 21 “engagements” on the right, 13 of which are filled out with names. This would have been a lady’s dance card, of course, that was probably picked up and retained as memento of the occasion by Prescott.
The photograph has a Boston backmark and tax stamp. Prescott is identified in period pencil on the lower reverse and has the name “Mae” at top and “Sam” further down, likely indicating it was a gift to his future wife Mary Emily Cate. He is shown ¾ length, seated, wearing what was clearly a uniform adopted by the band, who were usually uniformed at the taste of the unit commander and cost of a regimental (or battalion) fund. He wears a dark kepi with light band around the base and a small lyre on the front and a dark frock with brass buttons, open from the collar down to show a lighter color vest and a watch chain. Coat and vest have military brass buttons. The coat collar and cuffs are trimmed with a light color band, forming on the cuffs a large chevron, looking at first like a veteran’s stripe, but clearly meant simply as ornamentation, as are a pair of narrow shoulder straps. His trousers have two rows of dark piping along the outer seam, with possibly a slightly lighter color between.
Samuel Melcher Prescott was blacksmith living in Amesbury, Mass., when he enlisted in Company C of the 1st Battalion of Massachusetts Heavy Artillery on August 10, 1864, mustering in as a private for 3 years at Fort Warren on August 17. The unit initially consisted of four companies of Massachusetts unattached heavy artillery, companies recruited to man Boston harbor defenses and occasionally detailed elsewhere to man coastal defenses or maintain civic order such as during the 1863 draft riots, with many of the companies subsequently organized into regiments of heavy artillery that saw field service. Company C was the old 4th Unattached Company, formed in 1863 and combined with three other such companies to form the 1st Battalion, supplemented by two other companies of one-year men. The battalion was headquartered at Fort Warren, a key part of the Boston Harbor defenses, and also a high-security prison for high-profile captured Confederates such as CS ambassadors Mason and Slidell and several generals.
Prescott had been born in Rockingham County, NH, in 1832, where is first listed as a farmer, but by the beginning of the war was in Essex County, Mass., listed as a blacksmith, and later as a “carriage blacksmith” perhaps indicating he was employed in a larger scale industrial capacity. He shows up in the draft registration records of Essex County in 1863 and the prospect of being drafted or the lure of a bounty likely led to his enlistment. He was described as age 32, with a light complexion, blue eyes and light hair is listed on “extra or daily duty” in September 1864 and from October 1864 to September 1865 as a member of the Post Band. He was mustered out October 20, 1865. He seems to have returned not long after to New Hampshire, where he married in 1869 and lived the rest of his life, raising at least three children and passing away in 1921 at South Hampton.
Saxhorns were very popular band instruments during the war. Invented by Adolphe Sax in France, they began appearing about 1843 and by the late 1850s formed the majority of instruments in American brass bands. Comprising a family of seven instruments, they were carried by bands accompanying many of the early-war volunteer regiments, with their “over-the-shoulder” configuration, played with bell facing the rear, particularly fitting them for use in a band marching at the head of a column of troops. Regimental bands were generally abolished in Fall 1862, but continued as post bands, like that of the 1st Battalion, which was headquartered at Fort Warren, and remained authorized at brigade and other levels throughout the war.
This is an impressive, nicely identified grouping that displays well with no apologies needed. Please see our photos. [sr] [ph:m]
Additional shipping charge may be required.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,
MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.
THANK YOU!
Inquire About IDENTIFIED SAXHORN, CDV, MUSIC BOOK, AND DANCE CARD: SAMUEL PRESCOTT 1st MASS HEAVY ARTILLERY BAND
Most Popular
Historical Firearms Stolen From The National Civil War Museum In Harrisburg, Pa »
Theft From Gravesite Of Gen. John Reynolds »
Selection Of Unframed Prints By Don Troiani »
Fine Condition Brass Infantry Bugle Insignia »
featured item
RARE PACK OF CONFEDERATE, RICHMOND ARSENAL, ARTILLERY FRICTION PRIMERS
Offered here is a very rare, nice condition, original pack of artillery friction primers manufactured at the Richmond Arsenal in Virginia during the Civil War. These “primers” are what was placed in the cannon vent hole and attached to a lanyard… (1268-512). Learn More »
site search
