ID Request: Buckle
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MosbyRanger
Established Users
That would be a two piece Louisiana sword belt plate. State seal it looks like. Very rare item!!!!!!
spector551
Established Users
Yes, that is exactly correct. That is one hell of a specimen. Is it for real?
Memphislady
Established Users
Are you all sure that is what it is?
Could you please tell me more about this buckle. I also have two clips and some sort of other piece, maybe for a belt, that seem to be from the same material. I know that he enlisted in the Army of Tennessee at 16 and spent 4 years in a "Yankee prison." I know this because my aunt has his diary by that name. My brother got the sword which was first used at the Alamo by his father or Grandfather, who was the surgeon general of the Navy of Texas. My grandfather then carried it in WW I and my dad in WW II. All their names and the dates are engraved on the sword.
This plate, and the pieces that went with it have been in a jar that used to be on my grandfather's chest of drawers, then was in the closet at my dad's after grandpa died. No one ever mentioned what this was. I have had it since dad died, in the same jar, and that was in 1988. I went to Shiloh a few weeks ago and saw some similar buckles in the museum and went, "Oh, My God. That looks like the one in dad's jar." Then I went looking for this site.
I also have been told that his wife was the last survivor in the Confederate Soldier's home in Mississippi before it was made into a museum. If this is really his sword buckle, I may have to find out all the details from my aunt who is well into her eighties now. Any thing I should look for? I could have sworn there was also some grape shot or something, but I can't find it any more.
I uploaded photos of the other three pieces from the jar but they don't seem to be posted. I know that my GG Grandfather is buried in the tomb of the Confederate Soldier in New Orleans and my aunt has done the work to be a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy. But no one knew this might be his sword buckle unless my grandfather did. He didn't tell any one if he knew. It couldn't have been used; it is so clean except for a few tiny spots .
What do you know about it and is it valuable? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Memphislady.
Could you please tell me more about this buckle. I also have two clips and some sort of other piece, maybe for a belt, that seem to be from the same material. I know that he enlisted in the Army of Tennessee at 16 and spent 4 years in a "Yankee prison." I know this because my aunt has his diary by that name. My brother got the sword which was first used at the Alamo by his father or Grandfather, who was the surgeon general of the Navy of Texas. My grandfather then carried it in WW I and my dad in WW II. All their names and the dates are engraved on the sword.
This plate, and the pieces that went with it have been in a jar that used to be on my grandfather's chest of drawers, then was in the closet at my dad's after grandpa died. No one ever mentioned what this was. I have had it since dad died, in the same jar, and that was in 1988. I went to Shiloh a few weeks ago and saw some similar buckles in the museum and went, "Oh, My God. That looks like the one in dad's jar." Then I went looking for this site.
I also have been told that his wife was the last survivor in the Confederate Soldier's home in Mississippi before it was made into a museum. If this is really his sword buckle, I may have to find out all the details from my aunt who is well into her eighties now. Any thing I should look for? I could have sworn there was also some grape shot or something, but I can't find it any more.
I uploaded photos of the other three pieces from the jar but they don't seem to be posted. I know that my GG Grandfather is buried in the tomb of the Confederate Soldier in New Orleans and my aunt has done the work to be a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy. But no one knew this might be his sword buckle unless my grandfather did. He didn't tell any one if he knew. It couldn't have been used; it is so clean except for a few tiny spots .
What do you know about it and is it valuable? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Memphislady.
emike123
Established Users
It is potentially very valuable. Contact this guy:
http://www.confederatebeltbuckles.com
...and tell him you have Plate #276 from his book. He is THE CS buckle expert and can appraise it for you.
Not sure how your ancestor kept it if he got captured (nor for that matter how another one kept his sword from the Alamo). He must have come into this buckle after he was freed because he would have been "relieved" of it while imprisoned.
http://www.confederatebeltbuckles.com
...and tell him you have Plate #276 from his book. He is THE CS buckle expert and can appraise it for you.
Not sure how your ancestor kept it if he got captured (nor for that matter how another one kept his sword from the Alamo). He must have come into this buckle after he was freed because he would have been "relieved" of it while imprisoned.
Memphislady
Established Users
Thank you for the reply
Thank you for the lead. I will contact him and see what he says.
You have two very good points. I know the Alamo guy was legit, there is a VFW post named for him in Alamogordo, Texas...so he couldn't have been a total coward and run off with his sword still shiny and engraved??? The Civil war man must have been pretty strange wanting to be buried with the Confederates rather than the family, and I could never figure out why the old lady wanted to be in the Confederate nursing home instead of the family home which was still owned when I was a child. There was a lot of inbreeding. The whole family is pretty goofy.
Thank you for the lead. I will contact him and see what he says.
You have two very good points. I know the Alamo guy was legit, there is a VFW post named for him in Alamogordo, Texas...so he couldn't have been a total coward and run off with his sword still shiny and engraved??? The Civil war man must have been pretty strange wanting to be buried with the Confederates rather than the family, and I could never figure out why the old lady wanted to be in the Confederate nursing home instead of the family home which was still owned when I was a child. There was a lot of inbreeding. The whole family is pretty goofy.
Memphislady,
Ma'am, You have a very interesting account. I would encourage you to visit your Aunt and find out anything she knows about the family members associated with these items. I would take a notepad or recorder and make a record of anything she might be able to share. Don't ignore the things of which she may uncertain and take in all, even the things that seem unrelated. It may be that through some information she imparts that you may secure documentation that will support the family history concerning these items. I can tell you as a genealogist that it will require some effort and time and can be very tedious. But in your situation it can only add to the value of these family heirlooms and perhaps significantly so. An item that has good documented provenance might double (or more) in value. Should the items remain in the family, generations to come will bless your name for securing the information.
Regards,
Ernie
Ma'am, You have a very interesting account. I would encourage you to visit your Aunt and find out anything she knows about the family members associated with these items. I would take a notepad or recorder and make a record of anything she might be able to share. Don't ignore the things of which she may uncertain and take in all, even the things that seem unrelated. It may be that through some information she imparts that you may secure documentation that will support the family history concerning these items. I can tell you as a genealogist that it will require some effort and time and can be very tedious. But in your situation it can only add to the value of these family heirlooms and perhaps significantly so. An item that has good documented provenance might double (or more) in value. Should the items remain in the family, generations to come will bless your name for securing the information.
Regards,
Ernie
Memphislady
Established Users
Following up on all your good ideas.
I followed up on your idea and spent several hours on the phone with my Aunt. I found out that the soldier's name, my great grandfather, was Lewis Fisher Levy. He joined Yerger's Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry and, in his first battle, near Yazoo city in 1863, his horse was shot from beneath him and he was captured. He was sent , first, to a prison in Ohio, probably Camp Chase, and was then transferred to the dreaded Camp Delaware, where he remained until the end to the war. I have sent for a copy of the paper which he signed stating that he would never rise up against the Union again. He was released to Virginia and then returned to New Orleans.
He applied for and was accepted into the Army of Tennessee, a Confederate Veterans group and is buried in their tomb in Metarie Cemetery, New Orleans. The buckle, as someone suggested, must have been purchased after her returned to New Orleans. He never carried his father's sword....And the reason that Albert Levy still had the sword after the Alamo was because he went off to join the Navy of Texas right before the Alamo. He served on the battleship Independence until Texas was liberated.
I have contacted Mr. Mulllinex about the buckle and will be sending him the pictures, etc. for identification. Thank you all so much for helping me. Now I am really fascinated by all this. And to think, it was there in that jar, forgotten all these years. Without you who helped, and this site, I might have ended up tossing it out in one of my spring cleanings. I had no idea it might have so much information attached.
Thank you again. I will post whatever information I get from Mr. Mullinex.
I followed up on your idea and spent several hours on the phone with my Aunt. I found out that the soldier's name, my great grandfather, was Lewis Fisher Levy. He joined Yerger's Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry and, in his first battle, near Yazoo city in 1863, his horse was shot from beneath him and he was captured. He was sent , first, to a prison in Ohio, probably Camp Chase, and was then transferred to the dreaded Camp Delaware, where he remained until the end to the war. I have sent for a copy of the paper which he signed stating that he would never rise up against the Union again. He was released to Virginia and then returned to New Orleans.
He applied for and was accepted into the Army of Tennessee, a Confederate Veterans group and is buried in their tomb in Metarie Cemetery, New Orleans. The buckle, as someone suggested, must have been purchased after her returned to New Orleans. He never carried his father's sword....And the reason that Albert Levy still had the sword after the Alamo was because he went off to join the Navy of Texas right before the Alamo. He served on the battleship Independence until Texas was liberated.
I have contacted Mr. Mulllinex about the buckle and will be sending him the pictures, etc. for identification. Thank you all so much for helping me. Now I am really fascinated by all this. And to think, it was there in that jar, forgotten all these years. Without you who helped, and this site, I might have ended up tossing it out in one of my spring cleanings. I had no idea it might have so much information attached.
Thank you again. I will post whatever information I get from Mr. Mullinex.
MosbyRanger
Established Users
Glad to hear you have gotten some information on that buckle MemphisLady. It is a very nice piece and any and all info you can get will help improve its value both sentimentally and monetary. Can't Wait to hear more about it.
Respectfully,
MosbyRanger
Respectfully,
MosbyRanger
Memphislady,
Ma'am, I'm delighted your aunt was so helpful in providing correct information concerning your family history about the sword and buckle. A quick search on the Internet revealed your great grandfather belonged to Company F of Yeager's Reg't and held the rank of Private throughout the War. It is very possible you might find other information pertaining to this Reg't on line. Also, he may have applied for a pension if he were still alive when the Gov't made them available to veterans. I'm not sure when this happened in LA but it was after 1900 in NC. My great grandfather applied in 1901. The point being in the application he would have given a summary of his service.
There are a number of possibilities as to why he acquired the buckle, perhaps he purchased it as a keepsake from the War, perhaps some veteran or widow needed a little money and sold it to him, it might have even been a gift. My guess would be he bought it to wear during veteran events as you mentioned he belonged to a veteran's organization and you also have found what sounds like the hanger, clips, etc. that he would have used in wearing it. Even though he did not carry it in the War, a genuine LA buckle is still a valuable item and a true treasure. Thank goodness it didn't get thrown out during a Spring cleaning!
It sounds as if Albert Levy and his military service would make for an interesting research project also.
Regards,
Ernie
Ma'am, I'm delighted your aunt was so helpful in providing correct information concerning your family history about the sword and buckle. A quick search on the Internet revealed your great grandfather belonged to Company F of Yeager's Reg't and held the rank of Private throughout the War. It is very possible you might find other information pertaining to this Reg't on line. Also, he may have applied for a pension if he were still alive when the Gov't made them available to veterans. I'm not sure when this happened in LA but it was after 1900 in NC. My great grandfather applied in 1901. The point being in the application he would have given a summary of his service.
There are a number of possibilities as to why he acquired the buckle, perhaps he purchased it as a keepsake from the War, perhaps some veteran or widow needed a little money and sold it to him, it might have even been a gift. My guess would be he bought it to wear during veteran events as you mentioned he belonged to a veteran's organization and you also have found what sounds like the hanger, clips, etc. that he would have used in wearing it. Even though he did not carry it in the War, a genuine LA buckle is still a valuable item and a true treasure. Thank goodness it didn't get thrown out during a Spring cleaning!
It sounds as if Albert Levy and his military service would make for an interesting research project also.
Regards,
Ernie
Memphislady
Established Users
More about the Louisiana buckle
I spoke with Mr. Mullinex after sending him the pictures. He confirmed that it is, indeed, a "very rare...his words" Louisiana state buckle. It was made in approximately 1850 by the state of Louisiana and not the confederate army issue. He said that it was, therefore, possible that it belonged to Private Levy prior to the war and not obtained after wards.
I also went to visit my Aunt and got a copy of the story that the original owner wrote, " Two Years in a Northern Prison" a portion of which is published in the Confederate Veteran Volume 14, 1906 . I also got a picture of the old gent taken in 1900 which I will try to include in this post. This marvelous site, and all of you, have given me more information on my own past than you can imagine. Thank you all.
Mr. Mullinex said that the buckle should sell for between $4,500 and $5,500 due to its rarity and the information which documents it. Just for fun, I posted it tonight on eBay for that figure. If it sold, I could turn the attic into two bedrooms for my three adopted Vietnamese kids. Wouldn't that be a gift from the distant past. They are all grandchildren of U. S. service men. It would be as though an old soldier reached out from the grave to help the children of later soldiers. Something to ponder.
Again, thank all of you who helped. The kids loved meeting Aunt Jessie and love the stories she shared with us. http://pak04.pictures.aol.com/NASApp/ygp/Login?event=DirectView&shareInfo=esv4e%2b9w77m724LwDZiT5CbxDqb%2b3W%2fqz3zQuZ9wioq%2fjFCnkV3ciA%3d%3d&pageName=AlbumViewFromEmails&locale=en_US
noopyd's Album:Lewis Fisher Levy
I spoke with Mr. Mullinex after sending him the pictures. He confirmed that it is, indeed, a "very rare...his words" Louisiana state buckle. It was made in approximately 1850 by the state of Louisiana and not the confederate army issue. He said that it was, therefore, possible that it belonged to Private Levy prior to the war and not obtained after wards.
I also went to visit my Aunt and got a copy of the story that the original owner wrote, " Two Years in a Northern Prison" a portion of which is published in the Confederate Veteran Volume 14, 1906 . I also got a picture of the old gent taken in 1900 which I will try to include in this post. This marvelous site, and all of you, have given me more information on my own past than you can imagine. Thank you all.
Mr. Mullinex said that the buckle should sell for between $4,500 and $5,500 due to its rarity and the information which documents it. Just for fun, I posted it tonight on eBay for that figure. If it sold, I could turn the attic into two bedrooms for my three adopted Vietnamese kids. Wouldn't that be a gift from the distant past. They are all grandchildren of U. S. service men. It would be as though an old soldier reached out from the grave to help the children of later soldiers. Something to ponder.
Again, thank all of you who helped. The kids loved meeting Aunt Jessie and love the stories she shared with us. http://pak04.pictures.aol.com/NASApp/ygp/Login?event=DirectView&shareInfo=esv4e%2b9w77m724LwDZiT5CbxDqb%2b3W%2fqz3zQuZ9wioq%2fjFCnkV3ciA%3d%3d&pageName=AlbumViewFromEmails&locale=en_US
noopyd's Album:Lewis Fisher Levy
MosbyRanger
Established Users
I am glad to hear you had some luck getting all the info you were looking for MemphisLady! That is truly a wonderful piece of history you have in your hands. I am sorry I don't have that kind of cash to bid on it!!!!
Memphislady
Established Users
Another question.
I received a request from Hannover Brass saying that it should sell for $7,500 + and that I should have let them cast it for me prior to sale. If it doesn't sell, should I let them cast it, and, if so, under what terms? Sorry to be such a bother, but I am really not knowledgeable in these matters. If you can advise, it would be much appreciated. Thank you again.
I received a request from Hannover Brass saying that it should sell for $7,500 + and that I should have let them cast it for me prior to sale. If it doesn't sell, should I let them cast it, and, if so, under what terms? Sorry to be such a bother, but I am really not knowledgeable in these matters. If you can advise, it would be much appreciated. Thank you again.
MosbyRanger
Established Users
My personal opinion is that you shouldn't let anyone touch it unless they are going to buy it. But..that's just my opinion!!!!!!! I am not sure if by "casting" you mean they want to make a copy? They probably know what they are doing but I would be all paranoid about the original sustaining some damage. But....like I said...if it were mine, no one would be getting their hands on it...unless they were buying it!!! Just a very humble opinion! You should try to contact North South Trader magazine!!! They would probably love to see it and maybe publish this buckle in an issue...especially now that you have documentation! They also have a price guide and they may also give you an estimate!
J.A.Morrow
Established Users
Hi,
The 4,500.00 quote is WAY TO CHEAP.
A good example of an ORDINARY Confederate belt plate can go for around that price.Refer to some of the Civil War relic sites to get an idea of what I'm talking about...
Harry Ridgeway has a very good reference site for dealer listings.Go there...
Don't be in a hurry to sell it.
I think the offers,so far,are pretty conservative and that's putting it mildly...
As to loaning it for a restrike-that's very risky(though I let Hanover brass cast an original South Carolina buckle of mine years ago,with no problems.
But I realize now that I took a "chance"and was just lucky that the post mail did'nt lose it.
Great find.But you can get much better offers than this,so far...
The 4,500.00 quote is WAY TO CHEAP.
A good example of an ORDINARY Confederate belt plate can go for around that price.Refer to some of the Civil War relic sites to get an idea of what I'm talking about...
Harry Ridgeway has a very good reference site for dealer listings.Go there...
Don't be in a hurry to sell it.
I think the offers,so far,are pretty conservative and that's putting it mildly...
As to loaning it for a restrike-that's very risky(though I let Hanover brass cast an original South Carolina buckle of mine years ago,with no problems.
But I realize now that I took a "chance"and was just lucky that the post mail did'nt lose it.
Great find.But you can get much better offers than this,so far...
Memphislady
Established Users
The Story of the Louisiana sword belt plate goes on. After giving the buckle to my aunt because she had nothing that had belonged to her grandfather, my great grandfather, Lewis Levy, I stopped looking at this site.
In June my aunt died and today the buckle was returned to me. Is any one interested in purchasing it. I would really like for some one who treasures it to have it. My brother could care less and my children are adopted Vietnamese and don't really see the Civil War as part of their history. Don't really know the best way to proceed and had an ugly experience on eBay as already explained.
In June my aunt died and today the buckle was returned to me. Is any one interested in purchasing it. I would really like for some one who treasures it to have it. My brother could care less and my children are adopted Vietnamese and don't really see the Civil War as part of their history. Don't really know the best way to proceed and had an ugly experience on eBay as already explained.
Selma Hunter
Established Users
MemphisLady -
Thank you for your postings. One thing you should NOT overlook is the written account left by your ancestor of his time in the yankee prison camp. I am currently having a journal appraised for a friend of mine - it contained an account of a young man who was in Co. K 5th Infantry in Virginia. Captured at Spotsylvania Courthouse, he was sent north to Fort Delaware. In his journal he names names of the worst of the guards, tells of the intentional abuse, starvation and neglect, and generally tells a story of systemic mistreatment. After the war he was also involved in the emerging photography business in Lexington, VA, and eventually moved to Texas where he continued that profession.
That journal is going to appraise for upwards of $5-6,000 and will likely be donated to an institution there in VA where so much of the provenance began.
If you want a contact for such an appraisal let me know and I'll send you the man's info.
Take good care of your artifacts ma'am.
Thank you for your postings. One thing you should NOT overlook is the written account left by your ancestor of his time in the yankee prison camp. I am currently having a journal appraised for a friend of mine - it contained an account of a young man who was in Co. K 5th Infantry in Virginia. Captured at Spotsylvania Courthouse, he was sent north to Fort Delaware. In his journal he names names of the worst of the guards, tells of the intentional abuse, starvation and neglect, and generally tells a story of systemic mistreatment. After the war he was also involved in the emerging photography business in Lexington, VA, and eventually moved to Texas where he continued that profession.
That journal is going to appraise for upwards of $5-6,000 and will likely be donated to an institution there in VA where so much of the provenance began.
If you want a contact for such an appraisal let me know and I'll send you the man's info.
Take good care of your artifacts ma'am.
Selma Hunter
Established Users
MemphisLady -
I have no idea how this posted twice!
Ah well.
I have no idea how this posted twice!
Ah well.
Gary Deaton
Established Users
Appears to be a Louisiana state seak on the plate.