A collection of items related to American and Confederate military officer Samuel Gibbs French (1818-1910). Items include: 

 

1. Clipped signature of Samuel Gibbs French as Major General of the Confederate States Army. Matted and framed with an albumen CDV portrait of French in civilian clothes. 

 

2. Clipped signature of Samuel Gibbs French. Framed with portrait of French in uniform. 

 

3. Sharps & Hankins Breechloading Pepperbox. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Sharps & Hankins, 1862-1867. Top of barrel stamped: "Address Sharps & Hankins. Philadelphia, Penn." Side of lower frame stamped (worn): "C. Sharps Patent / Jan. 25. 1859." Serial number "10557" stamped to underside of frame. 

 

A 4-barrel pepperbox, each barrel .32 short rimfire by way of a single action hammer with a rotating internal firing pin. 

 

4. Portrait of Samuel Gibbs French in uniform. Etching. New York: Chas. B. Hall. Facsimile signature to lower margin. Handsomely displayed in early mat and gilt frame. 

 

5. Samuel G. French. Two Wars: An Autobiography of Gen. Samuel G. French. Nashville: Confederate Veteran, 1901. 8vo. Original illustrated cloth. First Edition. Nevins, I 91. Housed in a shadowbox frame. 

 

5. World War I medal. Obverse with a depiction of Victory. Reverse features a fasces superimposed over a "US" shield. With the legend "The Great War for Civilization" and a list of Allied countries.

 

6. United Daughters of the Confederacy's Cross of Military Service for World War I Roll. Issued to lineal descendants of Confederate soldiers and sailors who served in World War I. 

 

7. Veterans of Foreign Wars medal. 

 

8. Staghorn switchblade knife. 

 

9. Framed portrait of Samuel Gibbs French as an older man.

 

10. [Louis Prang, after Thure de Thulstrup]. The Battle of Allatoona Pass, October 05, 1865, Barstow County, Georgia. 1887 chromolithograph published by Louis Prang depicting the Battle of Allatoona Pass. 

 

11. [after Louis Prang, after Thure de Thulstrup]. The Battle of Allatoona Pass, October 05, 1865, Barstow County, Georgia. Modern poster after the 1886 chromolithograph originally published by Louis Prang depicting the Battle of Allatoona Pass. 

 

12. Vintage wooden yarn winder. 

 

13. Shadowbox with mounted bullet and small metal relic from the Battle of Alatoona Pass.

 

14. World War I Naval Officer's sword. E. A. Armstrong Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Illinois. 

 

29 3/4" single-edged, spear-point blade with 22" stopped median fuller. Overall 36". Dolphin-head gilt brass quillion with solid guard and counter guard. Guard is cast "USN" with acorn motif. Grooved wood grip with white shagreen and 12 wraps of coiled wire. Ricasso etched with E. A. Armstrong mark: "E. A. Armstrong / MFG Co. / Chicago, Ill." Reverse Ricasso stamped "GERMANY." Both sides of the blade are etched with foliate and maritime motifs. Leather scabbard bears the white paint inscription "R. A. French."

 

15. World War I United States Naval Captain's jacket.

 

The jacket is stylistically reminiscent of the Model 1895 jackets used by various branches of the United States military during the Spanish American War. 

 

16. United States Naval Academy double-breasted Midshipman's jacket, c. early 1900s.

 

17. World War I olive tunic and trousers.

 

The tunic bears a Victory Medal Ribbon and Campaign Star. United States Army Service Corps patch and collar devices.

 

18. Sam Browne belt attributed to R. A. French.

 

17. "Aztec Club / U. S. Army 1847" Mexican-American War era medal commemorating the occupation of Mexico City.

 

18. Framed photograph of R.A. French in naval uniform, ca. WWI.

 

19. Framed post-war photograph of R. A. French with Victory Medal Ribbon.

 

Additionally, there are 3 large binders of paper ephemera relating to the French family.

 

Samuel Gibbs French (1818-1910) graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1843. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a captain and served in the Mexican-American War, during which he was wounded in action at the Battle of Buena Vista. After his marriage in 1856, he left the army to manage a plantation in Mississippi.

 

At the outbreak of war, he joined the Confederate Army and was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel, later earning promotions to Brigadier General and Major General. After initial service in Virginia and North Carolina, he moved to the Western Theater and commanded a division in Jackson, Mississippi, to relieve the Seige of Vicksburg. He later fought in the Atlanta Campaign, including at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, and in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. 

 

One of his sons, Robert Abercrombie French (1872-1959), was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in France during World War I, likely the recipient of the World War I medals as well as the owner of the sword and various uniforms included in the lot. 

 

An excellent assemblage of weaponry and ephemera from the French family.

 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio. 

 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Relics, Militaria] [Medals, Corps Badges, Badges] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs] [Books, Bibles, Soldier's Bibles, Prayer Books, Ephemera, Pamphlets, Publications, Booklets] [Guns, Firearms, Revolvers, Rifles, Longarms, Handguns, Arms & Armor]