Original stamped brass artillery insignia, river recovery 1985 at City Point (SOLD), VA

This is a fantastic piece being offered, it is a gilt stamped brass artillery insignia, measuring 2 ½” x 1 ½”. These insignias became popular among militia units in the 1850s. They were based on the illustrations of the 1851 regulations published in the Horstmann catalogue. The market expanded dramatically among the volunteers in the Civil War. This piece is higher quality and often purchased by officers, who had to supply their own uniforms, and also by enlisted men who wanted something a bit nicer than the issued versions.

This is one of the artifacts recovered by divers in 1985, from the confluence of the James and Appomattox Rivers, near City Point, Virginia., City Point was the site of Gen. U.S. Grant’s sprawling headquarters, base of operations and supply base, during the Siege of Petersburg (see pictures).

A successful blow was delivered on August 9, 1864, when a Confederate operative named John Maxwell planted a time bomb (which he called a "horological torpedo") aboard a munitions barge docked near the shore. The resulting explosion destroyed several large buildings, 180 feet of wharf, two million dollars of munitions and supplies, and killed more than forty workers. The blast rained potentially lethal debris all across City Point, including U. S. Grants headquarters. Grant was not injured, but one staff officer was struck, and an orderly killed.

River-recovered pieces have a distinct patina attained while submerged and covered by silt, creating an anaerobic environment, thereby preventing deterioration. This insignia is simply in beautiful condition, even having the attachment pins remaining on the reverse – never seen on ground recoveries. This is one of the nicest examples I have come across, and difficult to find in this condition. This is a nice piece with a lot of history behind it. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.