A collection of relics, photographs, and documents from Frank E. Dickinson, Co. H, 21st Massachusetts Infantry. Some highlights include a cast iron flagpole stand from the Woman’s Relief Corps, most likely from his second wife; a photo album full of CDVs of presumably family members but also important professional figures, such as Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant; and military ephemera, like a breast plate, GAR badge, promotion documents, and more. 

Dickinson mustered into Company H on 5 August 1861 and became attached to Gen. Burnside’s Expeditionary Corps by the beginning of 1862. In the ensuing years, Dickinson would have been present at the Battles of Roanoke Island, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Stone Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Cold Harbor, as well as the Knoxville and Petersburg Campaigns. 

This regiment also knew Clara Barton (1821-1912) well, since she was a teacher to several of the soldiers prior to the war and helped treat many of them. 

In 1864, Dickinson was promoted first to corporal of Company H in February, then to sergeant of Company C of the 21st regiment in September. On 21 October 1864, he transferred to Company H of the 36th Massachusetts as sergeant, most likely participating in the Appomattox Campaign. Then on 8 June 1865, he transferred to Company F of the 56th Massachusetts Infantry again as sergeant, presumably staying on duty in Alexandria, Virginia, where he was eventually mustered out on 12 July 1865. 

After the war, Dickinson joined GAR Post #10 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Additionally, he was a member of the Massachusetts State Militia, Company C, 2nd Regiment of Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the state militia in 1873. 

He married twice, his first wife having passed away in 1881. His second wife, Caroline, was very involved with the Woman's Relief Corp, an auxiliary of the GAR. Dickinson would end up having 8 children total, 5 with his first wife and 3 with Caroline. He passed away on 5 November 1922. 

This collection of his items not only highlights his military life but also offers glimpses into his personal life after the war, making it a unique collection.

Relics

1. Cast iron flag pole stand. Minneapolis, Minnesota, 25 June 1924. Approx. 8 x 8 x 3 in., with flag pole diam. of 7/8 in. Top shows design of a corps badge with “WRC 1883” in each section. Around the design are the words “Auxiliary / to the Grand / Army of the / Republic.” Bottom provides issuer’s date and location stamped into metal. Some rust and wear on bottom, but otherwise in good condition. 

2. Brass U.S. eagle breast plate. Features a spread eagle clutching arrows and olive branches. Diam. approx. 2 1/2 in. Missing loops on reverse. 

3. Detached type V GAR badge. Approx. 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. Features eagle above crossed cannons, with reverse showing stamped patent date and campfire scene, and including pinback enclosure. American flag ribbon is attached to the eagle. Separated star medal that says “Grand Army of the Republic / 1861 Veteran 1866” with engravings of people and regiment insignia. Star reverse features corps badge insignia. 

Documents

1. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Promoting Dickinson to sergeant of Company C, 21st Massachusetts Infantry. N.p., September 1864. 1 page, 14 3/4 x 9 1/2 in., with eagle illustration near top border. Very aged and writing is very faint. 

2. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Electing Dickinson to first lieutenant of Company C, 2nd Regiment of Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division of the Massachusetts State Militia. Signed by William B. Washburn as governor and commander-in-chief of Massachusetts. [Massachusetts], 4 March 1873. 2 pages, 10 1/2 x 14 1/4 in. With embossment. Docketing to verso indicating when Dickinson took oaths as first lieutenant. 

3. Autograph letter signed by S. Elwina Dickinson, secretary of Geo. H. Ward of Woman’s Relief Corps No. 11. Worcester, Massachusetts, 8 November 1922. 1 page, 6 1/4 x 9 in., on Woman’s Relief Corps stationary. Affixed to paper. 

4. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Discharge papers for Dickinson from Company H, 21st Massachusetts Infantry on 31 December 1863. Massachusetts, 26 January 1864. 1 page, 8 1/2 x 11 in., with patriotic eagle illustration near top. Dickinson would re-enlist to the same regiment on 1 January 1864. Affixed to paper. 

5. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Pension certificate for Dickinson. Massachusetts, 18 April 1914. 1 page, 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. Affixed to paper. 

6. “Two Voices.” Clip from newspaper. Features poems from the Atlanta Constitution and the Minneapolis Journal. N.p., post-war. 1 page, 5 x 4 1/4 in. Affixed to paper. 

7. “Pay Final Tribute to Frank E. Dickinson.” Clip from newspaper. The Gazette, 9 November 1922. 1 page, 2 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. Modern pen notation identifying day Dickinson died. Affixed to paper. 

8. Collection of six (6) typed reunion invitations for the 21st Massachusetts Infantry for the years 1906-1909, 1912, and 1915. All 8 x 10 1/2 in. except for 1915 invitation (8vo). Affixed to paper. 

9. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Promoting Dickinson to corporal of Company H, 21st Massachusetts Infantry. Signed by Lt. Col. George P. Hawkes. Petersburg, Virginia, 2 July 1864. 1 page, 14 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. Some stains. Affixed to paper. 

10. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Promoting Dickinson to corporal of Company H, 21st Massachusetts Infantry. Signed by Lt. Col. George P. Hawkes. Bealeton Station, Virginia, 2 May 1864. 1 page, 14 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. Affixed to paper. 

11. Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Declaration for increase of pension for Dickinson due to “partial inability to earn support by manual labor.” Worcester, Massachusetts, [1900]. 2 pages, 8 x 11 in. Docketing to verso. Modern tape used to keep document together. 

12. “Aged Boys in Blue at Reunion Tell Stories of Civil War Days.” Clip from newspaper. N.p., [1922]. 1 page, approx. 6 x 9 in. Affixed to paper. 

Photographs

1. Photo album. N.p., n.d. 5 x 6 in. Original calf binding with gilt and brass hinge closure. Endpapers affixed to interior front and rear boards. Front and rear free endpapers. With title illustration and 2 pages of blank index pages. Includes 49 CDVs held in cardstock board pages. Some CDVs include of Abraham Lincoln with Tad Lincoln, George B. McClellan, Ulysses S. Grant, and Ambrose Burnside. 

2. Outdoor full-length albumen photograph of Caroline and Frank Dickinson. [Massachusetts], 1920. 6 1/2 x 9 in. Affixed to paper. 

3. Outdoor full-length albumen photograph of two women with children. N.p., n.d. 7 x 5 in. Affixed to paper. 

4. Outdoor full-length albumen photograph of a woman wearing a hat. N.p., n.d. 5 x 7 in. Affixed to paper. 

5. Outdoor waist-up albumen photograph of two women. N.p., n.d. 6 x 4 in. Affixed to paper. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate]  [Relics, Militaria] [Medals, Corps Badges, Badges] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]

Conditions vary.