Pewter pocket watch. [Massachusetts?], n.d. Finely engraved to reverse, "C.W. Hanson / 39 Ms. Inf." 

A lovely pocketwatch engraved to a hard-fought soldier, Captain Charles W. Hanson of the 39th Massachusetts Infantry.

When he was 36 years old, he enlisted as a 1st Sergeant on 26 July 1862 and was mustered into Company A of the 39th Massachusetts Infantry. The regiment initially participated in the Defences of Washington before moving to Maryland and joining the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns in 1863. 1864 brought heavy fighting as they were attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, V Corps and fought at the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Laurel Hill, and Cold Harbor before joining the Siege of Petersburg. 

Hanson saw consistent promotion several times and was 1st Lieutenant when he fought at the Battle of Weldon Railroad and was captured as a prisoner of war. He was confined at the infamous Libby Prison in Richmond before he was exchanged in February 1865. During his imprisonment, he was promoted to captain but not mustered in. His regiment participated in the Appomattox Campaign, witnessing Lee surrender on April 9th. It is unclear if Hanson was present, however, as he was discharged for disability on 22 April 1865 and may have been in recovery from his time at Libby. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate]  [Relics, Militaria] [Medals, Corps Badges, Badges] [Prisoner of War, POW, Andersonville, Libby Prison]