Civil War Battlefield Bayonet

Civil War socket bayonet recovered from battlefield. Click photo and "Detailed Description".

Civil War socket bayonet. This is the typical bayonet which was used on Civil War .58 caliber muskets. It measures approximately 20 inches long. It was recovered on private property at the Port Hudson, Louisiana Battlefield. In cooperation with Major General Ulysses S. Grant's offensive against Vicksburg, Union Major General Nathaniel P. Banks’ army moved against the Confederate stronghold on May 21, 1863 at Port Hudson on the Mississippi River. 

On May 27, their frontal assaults were repulsed. African American soldiers bravely advanced over open ground in the face of deadly artillery fire. Although the attack failed, the black solders proved their capability to withstand the heat of battle. The Federals settled into a siege which lasted for 48 days. Banks renewed his assaults on June 14 but the defenders successfully repelled them. On July 9, 1863, after hearing of the fall of Vicksburg, the Confederate garrison of Port Hudson surrendered, opening the Mississippi River to Union navigation from its source to New Orleans. It was a Union victory, but at a high cost. The estimated casualties were 5,000 Union and 7,208 Confederate. 

Chances are that this bayonet belonged to one of those brave soldiers. The bayonet is rusty as can be seen in the photographs, but it is about 95% complete and remains relatively solid. It has a thin varnish coating and is not flaking.