Bill Gavin - Fredericksburg Hamilton's Crossing

BILL GAVIN COLLECTION - FREDERICKSBURG - MEADE'S ATTACK AT HAMILTON'S CROSSING

Several cases of relics in the collection were identified as being found at Fredericksburg, usually with the specific location of Hamilton's Crossing with the added information that this was the area of Meade's attack. One case (#78) had a breast plate with a label on the back that indicated that it was dug in 1960 (the items from this case are currently on Bill Gavin Page 2). Perhaps the fiercest fighting during the Battle of Fredericksburg, fought on December 13th, 1862, took place when Franklin's left grand division attacked the Confederate left held by Stonewall Jackson's Corps. this attack was spearheaded by General George Gordon Meade's Pennsylvania Reserves. Meade's attack crossed swampy ground and hit the Confederate line at a weak point just north of Hamilton's Crossing. The Pennsylvanians made a temporary breakthrough, but a lack of support and Confederate reinforcements sent to plug the gap, prevented a potential disaster for Jackson. The fighting on this part of the field was intense and, according to a recently published article, ultimately much more important to the outcome of the battle than the much more famous attacks upon the stone wall at Marye's Heights.

NEW RELICS WERE ADDED TO THIS PAGE ON NOVEMBER 27TH.

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NOVEMBER 27TH - NEW!!! - Bill Gavin Collection - Fredericksburg / Meade's Attack

"Blow Thru" Confederate Gardner Bullet

This "blow thru" Confederate Gardner bullet (the result of a weak nose in the bullet - the ignition of the powder actually blew through the nose upon firing) was in one of Gavin's groups of relics that were identified as having been found at the site of Meade's Attack (Hamilton's Crossing) at Fredericksburg. Gavin probably dug this in 1960 (the same year he dug a plate from this site). The case that this relic was in was unnumbered. The lead does have some bubbling (this is not uncommon in the Gavin bullets - apparently they were exposed to dampness for a long period of time) and it does look like Gavin may have scraped it with his shovel when it was dug. A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

Item Number BG20001

Price - $25.00

CASE #61 - "FREDERICKSBURG - HAMILTON'S CROSSING - MEADE'S ATTACK - 13 DEC 1862"

Case #61 - Fredericksburg Hamilton's Crossing

The case identified as #61 has some very interesting items including U.S. plate skins, a shoulder scale, a sword belt plate keeper and numerous bullets.

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Bill Gavin Collection - Fredericksburg / Meade's Attack

Small Sized "Baby" U.S. Plate Skin

From case #61 of the Bill Gavin collection - relics recovered from Hamilton's Crossing, site of Meade's Attack during the Battle of Fredericksburg. This is the skin from the much rarer small sized, sometimes referred to as the baby, U.S. plate. The skin is just over 1 3/4 wide. It has been split into two pieces - Gavin originally had them held together in the display case with a piece of tape. There is a crack through the "U" with a tiny bit of loss. There is a slightly different patina on the two pieces but they clearly come from the same plate. I suspect that they were not recovered from the same hole and the different ground conditions caused the slight patina difference. A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer. This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

Item Number BG06101

SOLD!

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Bill Gavin Collection - Fredericksburg / Meade's Attack

U.S. Plate Skin

From case #61 of the Bill Gavin collection - relics recovered from Hamilton's Crossing, site of Meade's Attack during the Battle of Fredericksburg. This is the skin from a standard sized U.S. plate. The skin is 3 1/2 inches wide. There are creases and small holes have developed along several of them. There are some splits coming in from the edges and the edges are rough. A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer. This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

Item Number BG06102

SOLD!

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Bill Gavin Collection - Fredericksburg / Meade's Attack

Soldier's Shoulder Scale

From case #61 of the Bill Gavin collection - relics recovered from Hamilton's Crossing, site of Meade's Attack during the Battle of Fredericksburg. This is most of a soldier's shoulder scale. The key and a couple of the scales are missing and the scale is in three pieces (two large pieces and the rim). This type of large relic rarely comes out of the ground at major sites today - Gavin probably dug this in 1960 (the same year he dug a plate from this site). A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer. This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

Item Number BG06103

SOLD!

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Bill Gavin Collection - Fredericksburg / Meade's Attack

Sword Belt Plate Keeper

From case #61 of the Bill Gavin collection - relics recovered from Hamilton's Crossing, site of Meade's Attack during the Battle of Fredericksburg. This is the keeper from a sword belt plate. There is a very tiny bend in the post, but overall it is in good condition. Gavin probably dug this in 1960 (the same year he dug a plate from this site). A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer. This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

Item Number BG06104

SALE PENDING

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Bill Gavin Collection - Fredericksburg / Meade's Attack

Soldier's Mess Knife

From case #61 of the Bill Gavin collection - relics recovered from Hamilton's Crossing, site of Meade's Attack during the Battle of Fredericksburg. This is a complete soldier's mess knife - although the wood handle has deteriorated away. It measures 8 inches in length (from end to end). Gavin probably dug this in 1960 (the same year he dug a plate from this site). A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer. This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

Item Number BG06105

Price - $25.00

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Bill Gavin Collection - Fredericksburg / Meade's Attack

Eagle Button

From case #61 of the Bill Gavin collection - relics recovered from Hamilton's Crossing, site of Meade's Attack during the Battle of Fredericksburg. An eagle button (21 mm) with no back mark. Gavin probably dug this in 1960 (the same year he dug a plate from this site). It is in very good condition. A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer. This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

Item Number BG06106

SOLD!

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Bill Gavin Collection - Fredericksburg / Meade's Attack

Confederate Gardner Bullets

From case #61 of the Bill Gavin collection - relics recovered from Hamilton's Crossing, site of Meade's Attack during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Confederate Gardner bullets that Gavin probably dug in 1960 (the same year he dug a plate from this site). A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer. This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

Item Number BG06107

Price - SALE PENDING