In order to kill the boredom of the relentless field drills and camp chores many soldiers would take discarded beef bones and carve trench art to send home or as gifts to comrades. This bone ring was at some point during the war presented to Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. It is believed it was carved by a union POW. Here it is pictured on display at the Chamberlain Museum in Brunswick, Me.

Joshua L. Chamberlain Bone Ring

Leather Wallet as seen at Antietam Battlefield Museum

Here we have a well preserved Civil War era leather wallet. There is a twin to this wallet on display in the park headquarters museum ant Antietam National Military Park

Bone with brass hardware day calendar. These were light weight handy little note pads that would easily fit in a soldiers knapsack and could be erased. The soldier could keep track of his duties and schedule on a weekly basis without having to worry about keeping a paper notebook dry. These added little weight to the soldiers burden.

6 Day Bone Calendar

Heading 6

Bone Dice and Clay Marbles

There were long spells of boring days with nothing but drills to occupy the soldiers. The men needed to fill these days with something other than chit chat. Keeping weight restraints in mind these small gaming items were very popular. Clay marbles and small bone dice added little weight and created hours of healthy competition between the troops.

Typical Civil war eating utensils

The Union soldier was expected to supply and maintain their own eating utensils. This resulted in many a mothers silverware drawers being invaded as the sons went off to war. Here is a nice matched pair of era knife and fork and a large spoon. The spoon is from a post war era but illustrates the style used in the day

Regulation Tin Cup

An excellent example of a regulation 4 1/2 inch diameter by 4 1/2 inch high cup. Once again these tin cups were designed with weight in mind. The large diameter lent them to use for soups and chowder, when such luxuries were available, as well as coffee.

This 3/4 " by 9" tin plate was the standard size used by the majority of the soldiers on both sides. Keeping with the theme of weight efficiency these little plates fit the bill. I have seen many pewter plate advertised as civil war relics but I have my doubts. If you ever encounter a pewter plate in an antique shop take a moment and check the weight vs a tin plate and you will agree with me. They may have been some officers that used pewter or even china but I am sure someone else was carrying it for them after dinner.

9 Inch Mess Plate and Utensils

American Bible Society pocket Bible

The American Bible Society is credited with handing out thousands of these little bibles during the war. In general the American population was much more devout then than they are now. In many cases this is the only reading material that the soldiers had available to them other than an occasional newspaper or a letter from home. These little pocket versions were just the ticket.

As a footnote. Col. Joshua Chamberlain's brother, John, was in Gettysburg as a missionary handing out bibles on July 2, 1863. Col. Chamberlain requested his brother to be the person to hand out the bibles to his regiment. It is reported that John, Joshua and Thomas Chamberlain(another brother who was the regiment adjutant were all together until moments the 20th Maine was called to LIttle Round Top.

Guess what it is?

Answer, A button polishing guide. Officers used these to shield their clothing from being soiled when they polished their brass buttons

Brass button shining shield

Another lightweight monotony killer. These dominos are constructed of Bone and ebony, held together with 3 brass pins and usually came in little wood boxes with a sliding door top. Many of these were made in the field. Look at the crude craftsmanship in the placing the dots on the piece. Many are out of alignment and off center. With the 3 brass pins these were probably used by Union men. Most Confederate dominos have only one pin.

Dominos

PLaying Cards

Believe me when I tell you the soldiers didnt just play games. But here is another pass time for the boring stretches. Poker was vey popular and many a fight broke out the evening after payday when a soldier lost his months pay.

Document and Dispatch case

At first look one would have mistaken this for a wallet but upon closer examination it turned out to be a dispatch case. Used to carry messages from one unit or commander to another.

Billfold

Here is a very plain and simple wallet. This style would have been popular among the lower ranking soldiers or men from poorer backgrounds.

Gen. Charles Tilden presentation spoon. Gen. Tilden commanded the 16th Maine Infantry at Gettysburg. The L. C. Osborn presenter is still a mystery but Gen. Tilden's wife's maiden name was Osborn so we believe it was a relative of hers.

Gen. Charles Tilden spoon

Whiskey Flask inscribed to Lt. B. L. Crosby of the 7th Maine INfantry Regt.

Lt. B. L. Crosby Whiskey Flask

Artillery Manual

Artillery manual belonging to Benjamin Griffin and Thomas Gifford of the Maine 1st Heavy Artillery. Both their names are signed inside the front cover. Both survived the war. Corp. Griffin was from Lowell, Me and was listed as wounded 6/18/64 at Petersburg. Sergt. Gifford was from Lincoln and was listed as wounded at Boydton Plank Rd, Va.

Tin drinking/measuring cup belonging to Private John Lynch of Ellsworth, Maine. He was a wagoner listed as wounded at Spotsylvania Courthouse. He died of wounds on 11/28/1864.

Cup is inscribed with:

J. Lynch

Wagoner. Co. I 1st

Maine art.

Measuring/Drinking cup

Captain. /later Brig Gen. Ellis Spear was second in command to Joshua Chamberlain at Little Round Top on July 2nd 1863 at Gettysburg. He commanded the left flank of the Regt. during the famous bayonet charge that day. This walking stick was purchased at an estate sale of the family home in Wiscasset Maine in 2002. It was used by the old General late in life.

Gen. Ellis Spears walking stick

Rare blank letter of Col. Daniel Chaplin of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. The unit that suffered the most casualties in a single battle than any other Regt. in the Union or Confederacy. This occurred on June 18th 1864 before Colquitt's salient during the siege of Petersburg. The 1st Maine led the charge where the entire division was supposed to follow but no other units responded. The regiment lost 2/3 of its numbers in 20 minutes. Col Chaplin was so distraught that it is said he was careless with his life in subsequent battles. A habit is did cost him his life.

Letter Head of Col Daniel Chaplin, 1st Me HA

Folding camp chair belonging to Capt. William Seymour of the 14th NY Inf. Manufacturer stamp B J Harrison on the seat rear rail along with "Capt Seymour 14th NY Inf." stenciled on the same rail.

Captain Seymour Campaign Chair

Veterans Regimental I. D. Tags for the 27th Maine Infantry. The famed Metal of Honor Regiment.