.30RF. 3" fluted 4-barrel cluster. SN: 812. Blued finish, silver plated brass frame, checkered Gutta Percha grips. Single action spur trigger sliding barrels four-shot pistol with rotating firing pin, frame groove rear sight and brass cone front sight. Standard Sharps' markings on frame. Matching serial numbers on butt of pistol and under barrels. This pistol descended in the family of General James Hill and did not leave the family until acquired by the consignor. The pistol is accompanied by an old glass topped display box with a type written tag that reads in part: "This pistol was carried by Jonathan A Hill one in command of the 11th Main (sic) Vol. Regiment." The tag also includes some information about his service. The pistol is additionally accompanied by a clipped corner CDV of Hill by Brady as a Captain in the 11th Maine Infantry. The CDV is marked on the rear in period pen: "Capt. J.A. Hill/Commanding Co K 11th Reg/MVM" and is in a an old envelope that is marked in a period hand in pencil: "Grandfather's portrait". An old pamphlet about the Hill family and in particular the Revolutionary War period General James Hill, great uncle of Johnathan Hill is also included.

Johnathan Augustus Hill (131-1905) was born in Milo, ME and a resident of Stetson, ME when he was commissioned a Captain, commanding Company K of the 11th Maine Volunteer Infantry on November 2, 1861. The 1860 Census showed that Hill was a farmer in Stetson, ME with real estate valued at $4,600 and a personal estate valued at $300. The 11th Maine was initially put into service in the defense of Washington in November of 1861 and took the field in the spring of 1862 as part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Corps of the Army of the Potomac, where it participated in the Peninsula Campaign. The regiment saw action at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, the Seven Days, Bottom's Ridge, White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill. In December of 1862 the regiment moved to Morehead City, NC where it participated in the expedition against Charleston, SC in April of 1863, eventually seeing service in Florida during the summer, before being relocated to Morris Island where it participated in the Siege of Fort Wagner (as depicted in the film "Glory") and additional operations against the City of Charleston. In the Spring of 1864 the regiment returned to Virginia as part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The regiment took part in the occupation of City Point and Bermuda Hundred and saw action in a number of the operations in and around that area before joining the Federal forces arrayed before Petersburg in mid-June of 1864. About 10 days before joining the army at Petersburg, Hill was promoted to major of the regiment, following some actions at Bermuda Hundred. The regiment was engaged at Deep Bottom on June 20 and 25 and Hill was promoted to lieutenant colonel on June 25th, making him the executive officer of the regiment. In August the regiment was engaged in the Second Battle of Deep Bottom Run, where Hill was wounded in the right arm, which resulted in the arm being amputated. The regiment spent the balance of 1864 in the Petersburg vicinity, both in the trenches and seeing combat in a number of smaller related actions to the campaign, including Strawberry Plains, Chaffin's Farm and Fair Oaks, to name a few. In December there regiment was reassigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Corps in the Army of the James. In the spring of 1865 the regiment took part in the final days of the Petersburg Campaign, the breakthrough and the following Appomattox Campaign. On April 5, 1865 Hill was promoted to colonel and command of the regiment. Two days later the regiment fought at High Bridge and on April 9th they were present for Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. The typed noted accompanying the pistol notes that "Gen. Hill lost his right arm at the battle of Deep Run in Virginia Aug. 16th 1864. He acquired this pistol after rejoining the regiment because it could be loaded with one hand." After the war Hill returned to farming in Maine, but eventually relocated to Pennsylvania where he served as the Director of the Union Trading Company. Hill died in 1905. {ANTIQUE}

[Civil War][11th Maine][General Johnathan A Hill]

Good to Very Good. Bores dark, oxidized and with evenly distributed light pitting. Barrels with a rich, untouched plum brown patina and no finish remaining. Barrels with some lightly scattered minor oxidized surface roughness and some pinpricking. Markings remain clear and legible. Frame with much of the heavily tarnished thinning silver remaining. Mechanically functional action. Grips crisp with sharp checkering and showing some light handling marks and two small chips out of the lower rear trailing edges. Typed note with moderate wear and good age, CDV with some foxing and a trimmed border. Display box needs some repairs a one hinge had popped free and the wood border that retains the glass top had popped free.