Wooden field desk with brass and ivory furniture, ca. 1862-1865. Front painted: "Capt. / Henry Norton / A.D.C." The central board to the verso has become separated, else in very fine condition. With functioning lock and key.

On 28 March 1862, Henry Norton enlisted as a first lieutenant of the 63rd New York Infantry, alternatively the 3rd Irish regiment, at the age of 21. The regiment, as part of the Irish brigade, would go on to see extensive bloodshed at a number of key battlefields. Norton, however, would be promoted out of the regiment less than a month before its first major engagement at the Battle of Antietam, at which more than half of the regiment would be killed or mortally wounded. 

This field desk was evidently obtained by Norton during his second commission. He would serve as a captain and aide-de-camp from 20 August 1862 until 5 May 1865. In General Orders, No. 11., Headquarters of Defenses of Washington, 6 December 1862, Norton is listed by name and rank among those to be transported to the headquarters by the orders of Major-General Heintzelman. 

Norton would go on to see a fruitful postwar military career until 1871. He would be commissioned into the 6th United States Volunteer Infantry Regiment and sent far westward into Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah, being twice promoted by brevet during this time. 

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, Accouterment, Equipment, Uniforms]

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