Whitney Navy Revolver Id’d to the “Ordnance Sergt 12th CT.”

Whitney Navy Revolver Id’d to the “Ordnance Sergt. 12th C.V. (Connecticut Volunteer Infantry)”.”  This Whitney Navy revolver, 2nd Model serial number on underside of barrel – A 2815, .36 caliber, 6 shot, with cylinder having good traces of Eagle, Shield and Lion engraving. Two piece walnut grips, with some traces of finish overall mixed with age patina. Functions well, barrel marking in two lines, E WHITNEY / N.HAVEN. Brass trigger guard.

The backstrap is engraved (look like factory work), “…..Ordnance Sergt. 12 C.V.” Upon closer inspection it appears that the name of this sergeant was removed, most likely by family, embarrassed by having to sell it perhaps.  The revolver may have been a gift or purchased privately by this sergeant directly from Whitney. A quick research of a quartermaster sergeant on Civil War Data, id not yield any name, as one would have to go through every listing of the soldiers of the regiment. A project for the next owner.

The 12th Connecticut Infantry was initially sent to the Department of the Gulf in March of 1862, joining General Butler’s Expedition, and would have many skirmishes and battles, Siege of Port Hudson being the largest they participated in, May of 1863 to July of 1862. In the beginning of 1864, the regiment was sent east to Virginia, being assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah see heavy combat Winchester and Cedar Creek, Virginia.

In the after action report of the Battle of Cedar Creek, on October 19th, “the regiment bore a conspicuous part, eing engaged  at close quarters, “where bayonets dripped blood and skulls were broken by clubbed muskets.”   The loss of the regiment was 170 killed, wounded, and missing,  Cedar Creek was the last engagement of the war for the 12th CT Vols.   The regiment mustered out in December of 1864.

A nice honest and historical Whitney revolver.  If this does not sell in a short matter of time, I may pull it and do the research.